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Mine Action Clearance Operations Set To Begin In Tajikistan, Kevin Dansereau, Ian Clarke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in conjunction with the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) signed an agreement in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, at the end of May that will begin the first internationally-supported mine action program in Tajikistan. The following article provides a brief discussion of the landmine situation in Tajikistan and the goals of the new mine action project.

Ddg Initiates Mre In Ingushetia And Chechnya, Michaëla Bock Pedersen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Danish Demining Group (DDG) aims to educate internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mine Risk Education (MRE) through public institutions, food distribution points, traffic junctions, services at mosques and school programs.

Demining Law In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Marija Alilovic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In February 2002, a unique state-level Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Center (BHMAC) structure was created. The adopted law created a legal framework for demining operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Following is an overview of the BHMAC structure and operations.

From Puppets To Empowerment: The Bosnia And Herzegovina Genesis Project, Dijana Pejic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Genesis Project is a local, non-governmental, non-profit, humanitarian organization established in June 1996 in Banja Luka, Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). The main project objectives are the following:

• Interactive education of children through live puppet show performances representing diverse educational topics (mine risk education (MRE), children’s rights, prevention of all sorts of addictions, etc.).

• Education of children and youth about healthy lifestyles.

• Community strengthening with the purpose of informing the public on freedom of speech, democracy and fundamental human rights.

• Assistance to war-traumatized children and their families.

• Development and support through various coexistence initiatives throughout BiH.

• Building of …

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In The Name Of Humanity, Eddie Banks

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A recent study of the Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) mine action programme concentrated on the effective use of donations from political, financial and productivity perspectives. The premise of the study was that similar tasks, undertaken by a similar work force, with similar training and equipment, in the same time period, should be achieved with comparable timeframes and costs. Results and analysis of the BiH programme from the past several years are discussed below.

Use Of Landmines In Azerbaijan And Its Consequences, Hafiz Safikhanov

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenian over the last decade featured the widespread use of landmines. While the Journal of Mine Action does not take a position on which nation opened hostilities or first employed landmines against the other, the author of the following article lays out his interpretation of the major events of the conflict as well as the possibility of both countries banning landmines in the near future.

Nato-Sponsored Project Reduces Massive Mine Stockpile Across Eastern Ukraine, Kevin Dansereau

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Ukraine recently destroyed 400,000 landmines in its effort to reduce the millions of landmines stockpiled within its boundaries. The following article discusses the destruction project, which began in 2002 and was sponsored by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as part of the Partnership for Peace Program (PfP) and involved Ukrainians destroying and recycling mines into children’s toys.

Summary Of Mag Achievements In Iraq, March–May 2003, Sean Sutton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article highlights the demining efforts and accomplishments of the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Iraq during recent months.

Socio-Economic Impact Of Landmines In Iraq, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Years of war and internal conflict have left Iraq littered with landmines, UXO and stockpiled munitions. Mr. Johan Van Der Merwe of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and Colonel Lionel Dyck, MineTech chairman, describe the hazards Iraqis face that threaten normal activity and disrupt socio-economic redevelopment.

The Progress Of Mozambique’S Accelerated Demining Programme, Florencio Chongo

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In order to help make Mozambique a safer place, the Accelerated Demining Program (ADP) has expanded its capabilities with the addition of more mine detection dogs (MDDs) and a new mechanical clearance device.

Opportunities For Regional Cooperation In Mine Action In Southeastern Europe, Ian Mansfield

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The goal of addressing landmine problems in southeastern Europe (SE Europe) with a regional approach entails the cooperation of countries on a number of complex issues. The following article discusses some of the primary issues involved in the process of incorporating a regional approach to landmine problems in SE Europe.

An Update On The Mine Action Support Group, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article highlights the recent activities of the Mine Action Support Group (MASG). This includes updates on the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Programs In The Balkans And Caucasus, Whitney Tolliver

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since the establishment of the Republic of Slovenia’s International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF) in 1998, the United States has provided more than $52 million (U.S.) in humanitarian demining assistance to the countries in southeast Europe. This includes the recent expansion of funding assistance to countries in the Caucasus region. Together, the United States, the ITF, the mine-affected countries in the region and an impressive number of donors have demonstrated the success of regional cooperation.

Bosnia And Herzegovina Mine Problem: Priority Setting, Darvin Lisica

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With so many tasks to complete and limited resources with which to complete them, the importance of priority setting to mine action cannot be overstated. The author describes how priority setting relates to mine action in Bosnia and Herzegovina and suggests how to go about setting such priorities.

Kosovo After The Unmacc And Beyond, Steven E. Saunders

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Over the past few years, the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Centre (UNMACC) has transferred mine action responsibilities to national organizations within Kosovo. The following article discusses how a number of different agencies within Kosovo are working together in various capacities to address mine action issues.

Mine Action In Bosnia’S Special District: A Case Study, Matthew Bolton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Brčko Municipality, located in northeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), was a fierce battleground during the war from 1992 to 1995. Because of the Brčko district’s unique, strategic and symbolic significance to all sides of the conflict, it was the only issue left unresolved by the Dayton Peace Accords that ended the war in December 1995, which had divided the country into two decentralized semi-autonomous “entities”: the Republika Srpska (populated mostly by Serbs) and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (populated mostly by Bosniaks and Croats).

Gis Helps Harvest The Dragon Seed, Jim Baumann

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In an effort to establish regional coordination of demining activities in southeast Europe, the European Commission (EC) prepared and proposed a Geographic Information System (GIS) project called the “Geographical Information System for Mine Action in Southeast Europe” (GISMASE). The goal of the project is to create high-definition maps that will include the identification of mined areas and their socio-economic and security implications, as well as the development of GIS training capabilities so that the project can be locally supported.

Women Deminers In Croatia, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Female deminers are a minority in a region where, at present, Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) is the only organization in which women are working as deminers. Vanja Raznjevic, Silvija Bogdany and Vjekoslava Goricanec are three women who were hired by NPA to work as deminers in Croatia.

A War Far From Over: Iraq’S Landmine Struggle, Nicole Kreger

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With the end of major hostilities, there comes an urgent need for UXO/ mine clearance teams to start tackling their arduous task. A number of countries and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have begun to take on this responsibility, hoping to eliminate fear and restore a sense of security to the newly freed Iraqi people.

Stop Mines Launches Landmine Survivor Project, Radosav Zivkovic, Megan Burke

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Stop Mines, a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in the Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), is currently training 10 landmine survivors to become beekeepers through the “May Life Be Sweet” project. A small portion of the money raised through the sale of honey will be used to fund the training of other landmine survivors. This project has been funded by Adopt-A-Minefield (AAM), a program of the United Nations Association of the U.S.A. and in partnership with the Better World Fund, through its survivor assistance program.

Chechnya: Reconstruction Amidst The War, Kristina Davis

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In 2003 the need for mine action assistance in the northern Caucasus remains formidable. By furthering mine awareness, survivor assistance and data collection, organizations such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) are helping the people of Chechnya do what they can to survive during times of war.

Mine Problem In The Region Of Southeastern Europe: The Itf And Seemacc, Damir Gorseta, Eva Veeble, Sabina Beber

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

SE Europe is one of the most mine-affected regions in the world. This article examines the extent of the mine and UXO problem in each of the mine-affected countries in SE Europe, as well as discusses the steps being taken by various organizations in order to solve the mine-related problems in the region.

Deminers Facing More Responsibilities In Developmental Phase, Leng Mouly

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In Cambodia, mine action is no longer only about saving lives; it is also about supporting development efforts. However, in the context of development, the quality of mine clearance will be scrutinized. A recent mine accident during road construction has raised new issues involving the responsibilities of deminers.

Hierarchic Approach To Mine Action In Croatia, Nenad Mladineo, Snjezana Knezic, Damir Gorseta

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Republic of Croatia is one of the 10 most mine-contaminated countries in the world. There are almost 750,000 mines on 1,630 sq km of mine-suspected areas. About 170 sq km are actual minefields, while the rest of the area is contaminated with individual explosive ordnance. Mine-affected areas that have not been used for years, pose a huge economic problem and obstruct infrastructure development, reconstruction, and return of displaced persons to their normal lives. They also pose a significant safety problem. In particular, any activities carried out in mine-contaminated areas significantly threaten human lives and material assets. It is estimated …

Saloglu Project: Process Launched, Shirin Rzayeva

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On April 28, 2003, at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Headquarters in Brussels, the presentation of a project on clearance and destruction of pieces of UXO on the territory of a former Soviet military warehouse near Saloglu village in Azerbaijan took place. The presentation was part of the Regular Meeting of Political Military Steering Committee of NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PfP) Program. The project has been approved and the “green light” has been given for the fundraising process and subsequent implementation of the Saloglu Project to begin.

Eudem2: Overview And Some Early Findings, Karin De Bruyn, Mike Barais, Claudio Bruschini, Jerzy Wtorek

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

After the overwhelmingly positive feedback and encouragement in response to the EUDEM1 project, work on EUDEM2 has begun. This article describes the second version of the EUDEM study and some of its initial results.

Itep Work Plan, Marta Garotta

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The author presents an overview of Test and Evaluation (T&E) projects within the International Test and Evaluation Program for Humanitarian Demining (ITEP). ITEP is involved in testing and evaluating equipment, systems and methods.

Logistics-Explosives-Safety, Rolf Oechslin, Jørgen Schneider

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Cost, safety, and compliance with international regulations are among the most important factors with respect to shipping explosives. The following article gives detailed insight into the transport and storage of explosives necessary for destroying mines and UXO.

Ccmat Update, Cisr Jmu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article includes excerpts from the Canadian Center for Mine Action (CCMAT) Newsletter intended as a means of keeping the public up to date on CCMAT programs.

Mine Free Planet: A Sri Lankan Vision, Michael Pickering

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

One organisation is determined to make a difference in the lives of thousands living in mine-affected areas of Sri Lanka. Conservative estimates reveal the humanitarian demining work to be carried out in Sri Lanka will take between 10 and 15 years. Although an official figure is yet to be confirmed, a recent report suggests an estimated 900,000 mines have been laid in Jaffna and Killinochchi districts alone. This does not include UXO and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).