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

Detecting And Classifying Uxo, Laurens Beran, Barry Zelt, Stephen Billings Apr 2013

Detecting And Classifying Uxo, Laurens Beran, Barry Zelt, Stephen Billings

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article presents state-of-the-art unexploded ordnance detection and classification, including examples from recent field-demonstration studies. After reviewing sensor technologies, with a focus on magnetic and electromagnetic systems, the authors discuss advanced processing techniques that allow for reliable discrimination between hazardous ordnance and harmless metallic clutter. Finally, the article shows results from a large-scale field demonstration conducted in 2011. In this case study, electromagnetic data acquired with an advanced sensor is used to identify ordnance at the site, reducing the number of excavations required with conventional metal detectors by 85%.


Pm/Wra Director Jim Lawrence Retires, Leaves A Legacy, Lois Carter Crawford Apr 2013

Pm/Wra Director Jim Lawrence Retires, Leaves A Legacy, Lois Carter Crawford

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

By integrating the public and private sectors, Jim Lawrence of the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA) has brought energy, innovation and passion to mine action. Through anecdotes, coworkers and friends remember Lawrence and his influence on the field as he retires.


In Remembrance: Lawal Johnson, Cisr Journal Apr 2013

In Remembrance: Lawal Johnson, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

With great sadness, Novetta Solutions announces the unexpected death of Lawal Johnson, who died 2 January 2013.


Poland Ratifies The Apmbc, News Brief Apr 2013

Poland Ratifies The Apmbc, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 4 December 2012 Poland became the 161st state to ratify the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention or APMBC).


Republic Of The Congo Is Mine-Free, News Brief Apr 2013

Republic Of The Congo Is Mine-Free, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In January 2012, the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of the Congo asked Norwegian People’s Aid to assist in fulfilling its Article 5 obligations to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention or APMBC).


Ernest Konschel: Inventor Of Early Mine Clearance Vehicles, News Brief Apr 2013

Ernest Konschel: Inventor Of Early Mine Clearance Vehicles, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

After the death of a relative by a landmine in 1974 during the Rhodesian Bush War, Ernest Konschel, a self-employed electrical and mechanical engineer, took an interest in how to minimize damage and fatalities from landmine incidents.


Building Capacity To Clear Erw In Georgia, Gvantsa Kvinikadze Apr 2013

Building Capacity To Clear Erw In Georgia, Gvantsa Kvinikadze

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

From October 2010 to September 2012, NATO’s Georgia Explosive Remnants of War and Medical Rehabilitation Partnership for Peace project provided extensive explosive ordnance disposal training to the Georgian Military Engineering Brigade and supplied needed medical rehabilitation equipment to Gori Military Hospital.


A Review Of External Post-Clearance Inspection: How Cost-Effective Is It?, Åsa Gilbert, Aron Larsson Apr 2013

A Review Of External Post-Clearance Inspection: How Cost-Effective Is It?, Åsa Gilbert, Aron Larsson

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining conducted a study in early 2012 to consider the effectiveness of performing external post-clearance inspections. GICHD took into account the practices of the International Mine Action Standards, the International Organization for Standardization and the numerous mine action programs worldwide. It also worked with the Swedish company Preference Consulting to determine the mathematical probability of finding a mine/explosive remnant of war during external post-clearance inspections. Lastly, GICHD examined the normative effect of external post-clearance inspections as well as the financial cost associated with their execution.


Legal Aspects Of The Land Release Process, Pehr Lodhammar Apr 2013

Legal Aspects Of The Land Release Process, Pehr Lodhammar

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article explores areas of liability in mine action operations. It defines the concept of residual risk after completion of survey and clearance efforts and presents methods of assigning responsibility for it. The author offers further legal considerations in mine action, including the extent to which contractors are liable for their equipment, employees and the cleared land both during and after operations as well as the process by which national mine action standards are incorporated into the legal liability of all concerned actors.


Aicma Helps Demine Nicaragua’S Gocen District, Addison Embrey Apr 2013

Aicma Helps Demine Nicaragua’S Gocen District, Addison Embrey

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Gocen district of the Mateare municipality in Chiltepe Peninsula, 20 km (12 mi) outside of Managua, Nicaragua, was contaminated with explosive remnants of war from the artillery school that operated nearby. With support from Acción Integral Contra las Minas Antipersonal (Comprehensive Action Against Antipersonnel Mines, AICMA), a program of the Organization of American States, a large portion of the contaminated land in Gocen was cleared and released in 2012.


Minesweepers: Towards A Landmine-Free Egypt, An Outdoor Humanitarian Demining Robotic Competition, Alaa Khamis Apr 2013

Minesweepers: Towards A Landmine-Free Egypt, An Outdoor Humanitarian Demining Robotic Competition, Alaa Khamis

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Listed as one of the most contaminated countries in the world, Egypt has an estimated 22.7 million landmines and other explosive remnants of war. In order to foster the research, development and application of robotics in humanitarian demining in Egypt, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Robotics and Automation Society – Egypt Chapter organized Minesweepers: Towards a Landmine-Free Egypt, an outdoor robotic competition hosted by the German University in Cairo from 15–17 September 2012.


Post-Conflict Recovery: Gender And Age Issues, Stella Salvagni Varó, Ciro Hamo Apr 2013

Post-Conflict Recovery: Gender And Age Issues, Stella Salvagni Varó, Ciro Hamo

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Despite improvements in victim assistance programs, injured survivors of landmines/explosive remnants of war still struggle to obtain health care and employment. Differentiating between the age and gender of survivors will enable service providers to identify socioeconomic needs.


Women After The Rwandan Genocide: Making The Most Of Survival, Cameron Macauley Apr 2013

Women After The Rwandan Genocide: Making The Most Of Survival, Cameron Macauley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 2009, IBUKA’s peer-support program for genocide survivors in Rwanda has given observers a unique opportunity to work with women who experienced the violence of 1994. In 2010 James Madison University’s Center for International Stabilization and Recovery began providing technical assistance for this program. This article describes some of the particular characteristics of women survivors in the 19 years since the genocide.


Munitions Risk Education In Cambodia, Sambath Chan Apr 2013

Munitions Risk Education In Cambodia, Sambath Chan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Contamination from landmines and unexploded ordnance in Cambodia poses a serious threat to citizens and impedes economic progress. The Cambodian Mine Action Centre’s Mine/UXO Awareness Programme focuses on educating citizens and refugees on landmine and explosive remnants of war safety. CMAC, together with other organizations, also implements the Community Based Mine/UXO Risk Reduction Project, a program that emphasizes community participation with mine action services.


Geneva Call Launches First Ansa Database, News Brief Apr 2013

Geneva Call Launches First Ansa Database, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In November 2012 Geneva Call launched "Their Words,” an information database. The database provides published commitments and internal rules and regulations of armed non-state actors.


The Need For Collaboration Between Ordnance Manufacturers And Uxo Clean-Up Personnel, Jack Imber Oct 2012

The Need For Collaboration Between Ordnance Manufacturers And Uxo Clean-Up Personnel, Jack Imber

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The ability to locate unexploded ordnance remotely and accurately increases the safety and efficiency of clearance efforts. To achieve maximum effectiveness, UXO manufacturers and removal groups should coordinate resources and information to create new and practical technologies to assist in efforts to identify failure rates and prevent civilian casualties. The Lost Puppy Proposal is one example of a life-saving technology that could result from such collaboration.


Darfur: Baseline Kapb Survey, Beatrice Winkler, Shaza Ragab Oct 2012

Darfur: Baseline Kapb Survey, Beatrice Winkler, Shaza Ragab

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article summarizes the first baseline Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices and Beliefs Survey conducted in Darfur since 2003. The purpose of the survey was to gain a better understanding of the knowledge, attitudes, practices and beliefs of the at-risk population in Darfur regarding explosive remnants of war, and to evaluate aspects of transfer of knowledge, use of mass media and surveillance mechanisms.


Cisr Donates 200 Mobile Phones To Peer-Support Workers, Cameron Macauley Oct 2012

Cisr Donates 200 Mobile Phones To Peer-Support Workers, Cameron Macauley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 11 June 2012, the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at James Madison University donated 200 mobile phones to its partner organization IBUKA (“Never Forget” in Kinyarwanda), the largest support network for genocide survivors in Rwanda.


Victim Assistance And Disability Rights: Beyond The Rhetoric, Sheree Bailey Oct 2012

Victim Assistance And Disability Rights: Beyond The Rhetoric, Sheree Bailey

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article provides a brief overview of the evolution of victim assistance, the coherence between victim assistance and the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and stresses the importance of moving beyond disability rhetoric by turning ideas and words into concrete action.


Hiv/Aids Survey In Southern Angola, Martin Chitsama, Joao Artur Dumba, Charlotte Mabhiza-Berejena, Nzola Dimbu Oct 2012

Hiv/Aids Survey In Southern Angola, Martin Chitsama, Joao Artur Dumba, Charlotte Mabhiza-Berejena, Nzola Dimbu

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Deminers in Angola have a higher than average risk for HIV infection and transmission as a result of their work in border areas and their high mobility. The Demining HIV/AIDS Partnership conducted a Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors and Perceptions survey to explore deminers’ HIV/AIDS knowledge in Cassinga, southern Angola. Among other conclusions, the results stressed the need for an increase in HIV/AIDS education.


Peer Programs Across Disability Groups: A Partnership For Human Rights, Sam Nickels Oct 2012

Peer Programs Across Disability Groups: A Partnership For Human Rights, Sam Nickels

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In looking at the approach taken by three different articles that deal with mental illness, the author finds peer-to-peer support to be a common thread among all three.


Advocacy For Persons With Disabilities In Tajikistan, Reykhan Muminova Oct 2012

Advocacy For Persons With Disabilities In Tajikistan, Reykhan Muminova

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 2007, the Tajikistan Mine Action Centre, in cooperation with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan and its partners, has organized a range of activities to increase awareness on the rights of persons with disabilities and to advocate for the country’s accession to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilitie.


Providing Safe Drinking Water In Post-Civil War Sri Lanka, Hartmut Thoms Oct 2012

Providing Safe Drinking Water In Post-Civil War Sri Lanka, Hartmut Thoms

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

After decades of Civil War, Sri Lanka is making positive strides toward recovery. As former refugees return home, it remains to be seen whether the poorest districts will have access to one of the most basic human necessities, clean water. Fondation Suisse de Déminage (Swiss Foundation for Mine Action) hopes to alleviate this situation by clearing contaminated wells.


Sri Lanka: A Photographic Essay, Sean Sutton Oct 2012

Sri Lanka: A Photographic Essay, Sean Sutton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Since 1997, the author has worked for MAG (Mines Advisory Group), documenting the impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war on countries such as Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Sri Lanka and Sudan. Through a multimedia approach, Sutton creates photo exhibits and films to educate the public on landmines, unexploded ordnance, and small arms and light weapons.


The Lethality Ratio Of Anti-Vehicle Mines, Armen Harutyunyan Oct 2012

The Lethality Ratio Of Anti-Vehicle Mines, Armen Harutyunyan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

TheConvention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention or APMBC) brought AP mines to the forefront of many people’s minds. Anti-vehicle mines, however, remain the most lethal mines today, and they are not banned under international conventions.


Relationship Between Imas, Nmas And Sops, Faiz Paktian Oct 2012

Relationship Between Imas, Nmas And Sops, Faiz Paktian

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

To avoid confusion in application, this article clarifies the roles and responsibilities of mine action entities in relation to International Mine Action Standards, National Mine Action Standards and Standard Operating Procedures


Humanitarian Demining Symposium In Šibenik, Croatia, Nicole Neitzey Oct 2012

Humanitarian Demining Symposium In Šibenik, Croatia, Nicole Neitzey

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article highlights the events of the 9th Annual Humanitarian Demining Symposium and Equipment Exhibition in Šibenik, Croatia, held 2426 April 2012.


5d: A Gis-Based Approach For Determining And Displaying The Degree Of Operational Difficulty Of Demining, Pierre Lacroix, Rocío Escobar Oct 2012

5d: A Gis-Based Approach For Determining And Displaying The Degree Of Operational Difficulty Of Demining, Pierre Lacroix, Rocío Escobar

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Clearance operations highly depend on environmental, geographic and socioeconomic conditions. These conditions make demining easier, more difficult or nearly impossible. This article proposes an analytical method called 5D (Determining and Displaying the Degree of Operational Difficulty of Demining), which classifies degrees of difficulty as low, medium, high or extreme.


Grenade Depot Blast Kills 25 In Turkey, News Brief Oct 2012

Grenade Depot Blast Kills 25 In Turkey, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Examiners continue investigating the 6 September 2012 blast that killed 25 soldiers and injured four more at a Turkish ammunition depot in the western province of Afyonkarahisar, Turkey.


Small Arms Survey Creates Playing Cards, News Brief Oct 2012

Small Arms Survey Creates Playing Cards, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In August 2012, Small Arms Survey, in partnership with the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs (PM/WRA), released a third set of small arms informational playing cards, the Marking, Record Keeping and Tracing Implementation Support Cards.