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Full-Text Articles in Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration

U.N. Announces Nepal Is Minefield-Free, News Brief Jul 2011

U.N. Announces Nepal Is Minefield-Free, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 14 June 2011, the U.N. declared Nepal to be minefield-free. Nepalese troops cleared the last of the 53 minefields remaining from Nepal’s 10-year civil conflict (1996–2006).


Lessons Learned: Sri Lankan Mine-Action Staff Visit Cambodia And Lao Pdr, Sebastian Kasack Jul 2011

Lessons Learned: Sri Lankan Mine-Action Staff Visit Cambodia And Lao Pdr, Sebastian Kasack

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The need for a comprehensive mine-action program is not always recognized as countries pursue demining efforts. This article describes Sri Lankan mine-action groups’ efforts to create a more comprehensive and cohesive mine-action program through regional visits to Cambodia and Lao PDR. It offers insight and advice to groups interested in pursuing the same avenue.


Linking Mine Action And Development: Local-Level Benefits And Challenges, Russell Gasser Jul 2011

Linking Mine Action And Development: Local-Level Benefits And Challenges, Russell Gasser

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In many post-conflict regions, landmines and explosive remnants of war remain, limiting recovery and development even after mine-clearance projects are completed. A number of mine-clearance organizations are starting to promote “linking mine action and development” as a better alternative to a separate and uncoordinated approach.


Clearing Cluster Bombs On The Ho Chi Minh Trail Video Wins Cnn Award, News Brief Jul 2011

Clearing Cluster Bombs On The Ho Chi Minh Trail Video Wins Cnn Award, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

CNN announced the video Clearing Cluster Bombs on the Ho Chi Minh Trail as winner of the CNN iReport Community Choice Award on 15 March 2011 for best iReport submitted in 2010.


Amatc: Sustainable Solutions For Humanitarian Mine Action, Karen Reed-Matthee Jul 2011

Amatc: Sustainable Solutions For Humanitarian Mine Action, Karen Reed-Matthee

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Kabul’s Afghan Mine Action Technology Center employs disabled deminers to create demining products. AMATC donates part of its revenue to local physical rehabilitation and treatment facilities, and now employs 11 disabled employees full time.


Organization Profile: Regional Centre On Small Arms And Light Weapons, Cisr Journal Oct 2010

Organization Profile: Regional Centre On Small Arms And Light Weapons, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The following article examines the Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons, which was created in March 2000. Since its inception, RECSA has provided its member states with support in the creation of National Focal Points on small-arms control and management. With its help, seven of RECSA’s member states have developed National Action Plans with goals including SA/LW marking, weapons disposal, and SA/LW education/awareness. Two additional countries are expected to have Action Plans in place in 2011.


A Survivor’S Successful Story: Sadafmo, Reykhan Muminova Oct 2010

A Survivor’S Successful Story: Sadafmo, Reykhan Muminova

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

As one of more than 800 Tajik landmine victims, Rahmatova Sadafmo is a 32-year-old woman living in the small mountainous village of Dashtijum on the Tajik-Afghan border. Despite losing her leg in a tragic landmine accident, Sadafmo is able to support herself and her young son with assistance from the Tajikistan Mine Action Centre. She helps other landmine victims and looks toward her future with hope and enthusiasm.


D-Mine Training System: Safer And More Efficient Training Aid For Manual Deminers, Hans Johnsson Oct 2010

D-Mine Training System: Safer And More Efficient Training Aid For Manual Deminers, Hans Johnsson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

D-MINE™ is a training system that organizations can utilize to simulate situations deminers will actually face in the field. It has proven to be an effective and efficient means of preparing deminers both technically and mentally before they encounter any real mines.


Mine-Action Activities In Western Sahara, Ginevra Cucinotta Oct 2010

Mine-Action Activities In Western Sahara, Ginevra Cucinotta

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 2007, the United Nations Mine Action Service has been implementing mine-action activities in Western Sahara. Although the parties to the conflict generally abide by a 1991 ceasefire, the expansive territory remains contaminated by an unknown quantity of mines and explosive remnants of war. The Mine Action Coordination Centre has provided technical coordination and quality assurance and plans to expand its mine-action operations.


Integrating Erw Programs: The Case For Consolidating Cwd Activities, Mark Adams Oct 2010

Integrating Erw Programs: The Case For Consolidating Cwd Activities, Mark Adams

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

For years, the mine-action community has been revising its definition of explosive remnants of war. Viewing unexploded ordnance, landmines, ammunition stockpiles, and small arms/light weapons as individual threats, the mine-action community has created distinct budgets, programs and policies to address each of them. What were beginning to realize, however, is that a more integrated approach allows for greater progress in reducing the ERW threat.


The United Nations Portfolio Of Mine Action Projects, Cisr Journal Oct 2010

The United Nations Portfolio Of Mine Action Projects, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In Xieng Khouang, Lao PDR, an all-female demining team assesses and clears unexploded ordnance-contaminated land. In Bogotá, Colombia, a team of practitioners nationalizes a plan to train local health personnel about the psychosocial needs of explosive-remnants-of-war victims. In Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, primary schoolchildren attend educational puppet shows about small-arms-and-light-weapons risks. At the heart of each initiative is a collaborative resource-mobilization system called the Portfolio of Mine Action Projects, and in 2010 it gives life to 277 projects in 27 countries.


Mine-Action Program In Southern Sudan, Margaret M. Mathiang Oct 2010

Mine-Action Program In Southern Sudan, Margaret M. Mathiang

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Following more than two decades of civil war between Northern and Southern Sudan, much of Southern Sudan has been left contaminated with landmines and explosive remnants of war. As a result, the Southern Sudan Demining Authority, along with the United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Mine Action Office and other organizations, have been diligently working toward clearing 80 percent of the mines in Southern Sudan by 2011.


Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme, Edwin Faigmane Oct 2010

Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme, Edwin Faigmane

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In this article, UXO Lao reports on its development from 1996 to the present. Focuses include issues related to productivity, quality control, capacity building, gender equality, UXO clearance, and development and funding.


Hero Profile: Aki Ra, Cisr Journal Oct 2010

Hero Profile: Aki Ra, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Khmer Rouge made Aki Ra a soldier when he was still a child. Now, close to 30 years later, he can be found working tirelessly to remove landmines and unexploded ordnance in Siem Reap, Cambodia—some planted by his own hands. As a result of his work, the Cambodia Landmine Relief Museum Facility houses thousands of detonated landmines and UXO, and provides a home for orphaned landmine victims. Aki Ra has received international recognition for his humanitarian efforts, including his recent selection as a Top 10 candidate for the CNN Hero of the Year award.


The Growing Threat To Humanitarian Operations, Adrian King Oct 2010

The Growing Threat To Humanitarian Operations, Adrian King

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Deminers and other humanitarian-aid workers around the world, though previously viewed as off-limits, have become targets of distrust and even violence by certain groups. This article explores the reasons for this shift in ideology, and what action humanitarian organizations must take in order to protect their personnel.


Strengthening The Demining Sector Response To Hiv/Aids In Sub-Saharan Africa, Martin Chitsama Oct 2010

Strengthening The Demining Sector Response To Hiv/Aids In Sub-Saharan Africa, Martin Chitsama

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In this article, the author explores how HIV/AIDS affects deminers in the African areas where the disease is most prevalent. He considers how deminers’ lifestyles make them especially susceptible to HIV/AIDS and suggests mobile HIV/AIDS programs can effectively combat this growing threat.


Economic Reintegration And Rehabilitation Of Nepalese Landmine/Ied Victims, Purna Shova Chitraker Oct 2010

Economic Reintegration And Rehabilitation Of Nepalese Landmine/Ied Victims, Purna Shova Chitraker

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article examines the effectiveness of a victim-assistance program in Nepal conducted by Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL). In the program’s two phases, the organization helped rehabilitate 67 victims of landmines and improvised explosive devices and reintegrate them into society. The report details the NCBL’s program goals, activities and outcomes, and addresses the challenges and future aspirations of victim assistance in Nepal.


In Remembrance: Stephen “Darby” Allan, Cisr Journal Oct 2010

In Remembrance: Stephen “Darby” Allan, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Stephen “Darby” Allan, a Technical Field Manager with Mines Advisory Group, died on 15 October 2010, following an explosion in which he was critically injured. The explosion took place around noon as Darby was doing mine-clearance work at a site near Kapoeta, in southern Sudan. He died a few hours later. Darby is survived by his wife Karen and his children, Sarah and David.


Mine-Action Funding: Gichd Survey Of Donor Countries, Jean Devlin, Sharmala Naidoo Oct 2010

Mine-Action Funding: Gichd Survey Of Donor Countries, Jean Devlin, Sharmala Naidoo

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A recent survey of donors conducted by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining found that, while short-term donor support remains strong, levels of funding may decrease and become more unpredictable over the coming years.


The Mine Action Programme Of Afghanistan, Mohammed Haider Reza Oct 2010

The Mine Action Programme Of Afghanistan, Mohammed Haider Reza

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan, coordinated by the Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan, faces a unique set of challenges in combating the national mine/explosive-remnants-of-war contamination problem. The ongoing war and changing political climate force the country’s mine-action plan to adapt to meet new demands as they emerge. The following summary of MAPA’s activities highlights these challenges and their implications for the continued humanitarian effort in Afghanistan.


Organization Profile: Small Arms Survey, Cisr Journal Oct 2010

Organization Profile: Small Arms Survey, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Established in 1999, Small Arms Survey is an independent research project providing public information on all aspects of small arms and armed violence. The project conducts and collaborates on research efforts related to small-arms issues worldwide, seeking to further the theory and practice of disarmament and reduction of small arms. Its most recent yearbook focused on armed groups, gangs, and their small-arms holdings and means of acquisition.


Profile: “Remnants Of A War,” Directed By Jawad Metni, Documentary Review Oct 2010

Profile: “Remnants Of A War,” Directed By Jawad Metni, Documentary Review

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

During the 2006 Israeli-Hezbollah War, Israeli forces dropped more than four million cluster munitions on Southern Lebanon. By conservative estimates, these bombs fail to detonate 30 percent of the time. This rate, when coupled with a 2009 stall in the funding process, has left more than 12 million square meters (2,965 acres) of land threatening the safety and lives of local residents. Responding to this danger, Director Jawad Metni uses his film,“Remnants of a War,” to document the trained, local deminers of Southern Lebanon as they diligently work to remove the remaining munitions more than three years after the …


Demining Albania 2000–2009: Successes And Lessons Learned, Gregor Sancanin Jul 2010

Demining Albania 2000–2009: Successes And Lessons Learned, Gregor Sancanin

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Following the 1999 Kosovo conflict, Albania sought the most efficient method for demining its land. Mine-action efforts were effectively jump-started with the creation of the Albanian Mine Action Executive, as well as the ratification of the Ottawa Convention. Support from mine-clearance partners and international donors has significantly enhanced the demining effort. This article reviews lessons learned in the process of demining Albania that can be used in future mine-clearance operations.


The Halo Trust Activities In Kuando Kubango, Angola, Rory Forbes, Marie Demulier, Andrew Genung Jul 2010

The Halo Trust Activities In Kuando Kubango, Angola, Rory Forbes, Marie Demulier, Andrew Genung

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The HALO Trust employs over 900 national staff with eight expatriate managers in Angola. In 2008 HALO was responsible for 47 percent of the mined area cleared and 87 percent of the mines cleared in Angola. Its recent focus has been Kuando Kubango province—one of the most heavily mined areas of Angola and also one of the least economically developed provinces. This article begins with a case study to demonstrate the local mine problem, elaborates upon the full scope of HALO’s activities, analyzes HALO’s statistical achievements toward mine reduction, and concludes with HALO’s recent successes and future prospects.


Peer-To-Peer Support Vital To Survivors, Ken Rutherford Jul 2010

Peer-To-Peer Support Vital To Survivors, Ken Rutherford

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Landmine victims suffer not only from physical trauma, but also from intense emotional, psychological and social difficulties. As a landmine survivor and person with a disability myself, I know the challenges of recovery firsthand. On a personal level, I feel I can better communicate challenges with other landmine survivors and people with disabilities rather than my doctors, family and friends; peer-to-peer support helped me face the difficulties I encountered following the loss of my legs.


The Roots Of Peace Model: Demine-Replant-Rebuild, Gary Kuhn Jul 2010

The Roots Of Peace Model: Demine-Replant-Rebuild, Gary Kuhn

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Roots of Peace is an organization dedicated to the demining and redevelopment of mine-affected regions. It believes that it is not enough for organizations to just clear land of explosive remnants of war but that the land must be made livable and productive again. ROP suggests that the Demine-Replant-Rebuild model may be a good model for other organizations as well.


Community Empowerment And Leadership In Cambodia, Ruth Bottomley, Chan Sambath Jul 2010

Community Empowerment And Leadership In Cambodia, Ruth Bottomley, Chan Sambath

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In an effort to strengthen the ability of Cambodian villagers living with landmines and explosive remnants of war to manage the mine/ERW threat, the Cambodian Mine Action Centre implemented the Community-Based Mine Risk Reduction project. The CBMRR project, with support from CMAC, helps local populations participate in mine-action projects and access victim-assistance services and community-development activities to alleviate mine risk.


Mag: Paving A Mine-Free Path To Prosperity In Angola, Kate Wiggans Jul 2010

Mag: Paving A Mine-Free Path To Prosperity In Angola, Kate Wiggans

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In Angola’s eastern Moxico province, MAG (Mines Advisory Group), through its humanitarian mine-action program, is making substantial inroads into improving the residents’ socioeconomic situation. The almost immediate improvement to people’s lives is so visible that from one week to the next, MAG’s teams working on the outskirts of Luau, the regional urban center, can actually see families building homes on the land they have only recently cleared.


Redefining Success: Whose Reality Counts?, Asa Massleberg Jul 2010

Redefining Success: Whose Reality Counts?, Asa Massleberg

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article redefines how the mine-action community should measure accountability and effectiveness, suggesting that more thoughtful effort should be taken to measure success. It discusses recent developments in evaluating mine-action activities, examines the increased role of local communities as stakeholders and details the use of Mines Advisory Group’s impact-assessment tool in Sudan.


Consolidating Peace Through Pssm Projects In Burundi, Julie Claveau Jul 2010

Consolidating Peace Through Pssm Projects In Burundi, Julie Claveau

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Small arms and light weapons have been a problem in Burundi due to the Burundi Civil War. This article focuses on the programs that (MAG) Mines Advisory Group and the Burundian police have instituted to reduce stockpiles and improve physical security and stockpile management in the country.