Peace and Conflict Studies Commons^™

Evolution Of Disability Rights In Iraq, Ken Rutherford, Megan Hinton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Due to the many years of conflict in Iraq, landmines and explosive remnants of war resulted in a large population of persons with disabilities. People with disabilities in Iraq lack adequate housing, medical care, educational opportunities and legislation protecting their rights. Now is the time to create the legal framework protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.

Project Renew’S Prosthetics And Orthotics Mobile Outreach Program, Dang Quang Toan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Project RENEW established a mobile outreach program to provide prostheses, orthotics and education to explosive remnants of war survivors in the remote communities of Vietnam.

Effectiveness Of Gis In Mine Action, Hansie Heymans, Arie Claassens

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

According to a survey conducted by Geometric Solutions, Ltd., the usage of a geographic information system (GIS) stands to benefit the mine action community within the context of strategic planning and operational decision-making. Furthermore, web-based GIS can provide mobile spatial data for operations and lead to an overall improvement of mine action operations.

Roots Of Peace: Cluster Munitions To Crops, Tucker Kuhn, Heidi Kuhn

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

By facilitating the removal of explosive remnants of war in rural Vietnam, Roots of Peace (ROP) aims to restore contaminated farmland to a safe, productive state. ROP encourages economic empowerment by training farmers in the production of cash crops, such as black pepper and taro.

Collaborative Ordnance Data Repository (Cord), Dionysia Kontotasiou, Olivier Cottray

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Until recently, the mine action and broader humanitarian disarmament community have relied on ORDATA for ordnance information. However, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, James Madison University and software-development company Ripple Design developed a novel aid to using ORDATA: the Collaborative ORDnance data repository (CORD). Representing a significant update to the data set, CORD is an ordnance-identification system featuring Web 2.0 concepts that allow individual users to contribute updates to the data.

Landmines In Croatia Pose Threat To Incoming Refugees, News Brief

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

After Hungary formally closed its border with Serbia on 15 September 2015, refugees fleeing conflict in the Middle East, Central Asia and Northern Africa have turned next to Croatia as a gateway to reach countries such as Sweden and Germany. The influx of refugees traversing the areas near the Croatia-Serbia border has raised concerns that refugees will encounter residual landmine contamination in Croatia as they make their way to Slovenia and Hungary. The contamination dates back to the four-year conflict which followed the disintegration of the former Yugoslavia from 1991 to 1995. The Croatian Mine Action Centre (CROMAC) estimates that …

The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 19.3 (2015), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Focus: The Middle East | Feature: Victim Assistance | Special Report | Notes from the Field | Research and Development

Providing Integrated Peer-Support Assistance To Landmine Survivors, Amir Mujanovic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Landmine Survivors Initiatives implemented a three-pronged, peer-support assistance system to meet landmine survivors’ needs in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This practice is the combination of an approach and methodology to provide integrated assistance to landmine survivors.

Boko Haram Uses Landmines And Ieds To Threaten Nigeria, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Forces from Cambodia, Chad and Nigeria have repeatedly combated Boko Haram’s attempts to terrorize civilians, capture hostages and hinder military advances with landmines and booby traps.

Issue 19.2 Endnotes, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Issue 19.2 Endnotes

Vietnam 40 Years After The War, Sean Sutton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Sean Sutton, photographer and international communications manager for MAG (Mines Advisory Group), provides a photographic essay of MAG's clearance work in Quang Binh and Quang Tri provinces, Vietnam.

The Journal Of Erw And Mine Action Issue 19.1 (2015), Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Focus on Vietnam

Feature: Cultural and Environmental Issues in Demining

Notes from the Field

Research and Development

Post-Clearance Inspection: How Much Is Enough?, Russell Gasser

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Post-clearance inspection serves to check contamination of land on a per square meter basis. Although inspection does little in the way of explaining the quality of the work done in demining operations, it can be important in providing an incentive for deminers to produce higher quality work.

Healing And Reconciliation For Survivors Of War In North Central Colombia, Cameron Macauley

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Between 2009 and 2011, a project was implemented to help survivors of war in a small Colombian community learn how to help each other recover from their trauma. Twenty local residents received extensive training on how to lead peer groups to help survivors come to terms with the past and coexist peacefully with ex-combatants. The project concluded with the construction of a memory wall to honor victims of armed violence.

Mre Certification Courses In Mali, Sri Lanka And Tajikistan, Sebastian Kasack

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

UNICEF developed a mine risk education (MRE) certification course to regulate the accreditation of MRE educators. The certification courses have had varied success in Mali, Sri Lanka and Tajikistan.

Mine Action In Myanmar, Roger Fasth, Pascal Simon

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In two Myanmar states, Danish Demining Group and Danish Refugee Council recently conducted a landmine victims survey that helped to document the epidemiology of landmine accidents and the situation of landmine victims more efficiently as well as recommend improved services to landmine survivors and persons with disabilities.

Unplanned Explosions Of Munition Stockpiles, Ken Rutherford, Matthew Williams

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Unplanned explosions at munition sites in places such as Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the United States result in mass casualties to civilians and government personnel. Although new ammunition-storage practices in the United States expanded to include a military role, not all countries have evolved their practices as quickly, leaving them more susceptible to continued explosions. The increasing role of urbanization will make ammunition site management even more important in the 21st century.

Islamic State Plants Landmines Around Palmyra Ruins, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Militants of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) laid landmines around the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Palmyra in Syria.

Observations On Cluster Strike Patterns In Laos, Roly Evans

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Cluster strike footprints are being surveyed and subsequently cleared in Laos. Little information is available regarding the nature of cluster munition strike patterns. If more evidence from different types of strike footprints is collected, analyzed and distributed, operators will be better prepared for future survey and clearance tasks

Influence Of Mre Education On Explosive Ordnance Disposal In Quang Tri, Hien Xuan Ngo, Phu Thanh Nguyen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In collaboration with local and international organizations, Project RENEW is facilitating comprehensive mine risk education initiatives in Vietnam’s Quang Tri province.

The Democratic Republic Of The Congo’S National Landmines Contamination Survey, Pascal Simon, Kevin Thoma

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The absence of accurate data on the scope and location of landmine contamination negatively affected more than a decade of mine action activities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This article discusses the 2013 National Landmines Contamination Survey and its results.

Building Capacity To Promote The Rights Of People With Disabilities In Vietnam, Cameron Macauley, Heather Holsinger

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In Vietnam, legislation to guarantee the rights of persons with disabilities has advanced significantly during the past decade; however, implementation of laws and reduction of social barriers has been slow. An ongoing campaign focuses on changing the attitudes of Vietnamese government officials and of the public to promote education, employment and inclusion for Vietnam's large population of persons with disabilities.

Mine Risk Education In Vietnam, Ta Thi Hai Yen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Catholic Relief Services (CRS) has focused their recent efforts on successfully implementing mine risk education (MRE) programs in Vietnam that have proven to increase knowledge and awareness about landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). This teacher and student MRE training prevents mine/ERW incidents in high-risk areas of Vietnam.

Train-The-Trainer Trauma Care Program In Vietnam, Dang Quang Toan

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

By conducting a train-the-trainer trauma care program in collaboration with the Norwegian Tromsø Mine Victim Resource Centre and the Quang Tri Department of Health, Project RENEW hopes to develop the first-aid capacity of first responders in order to minimize the number of deaths and injuries caused by incidents involving landmines and unexploded ordnance.

Vietnam Veterans Of America Foundation, Ha Nguyen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) expanded its scope by developing a national system to coordinate mine-action activities in Vietnam. VVAF’s previous collaboration with organizations served as a fundamental step toward establishing an effective national program.

Quality Management In Vietnam: Building A National Iso 9001 System, Russell Gasser

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Vietnam’s pilot quality management (QM) project in Ha Tinh province has proven successful in its implementation of the international QM standard ISO 9001. The next step for GICHD and partners will be to support Vietnam in establishing ISO 9001 QM on a national scale.

The Quang Tri Integrated Survey And Clearance Project, Jonathon Guthrie, Portia Stratton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Surveys estimate that as much as 83 percent of land in Quang Tri province in Central Vietnam is contaminated by explosive remnants of war. Recent advances in information management and operational methodology have significantly reduced this figure. This article looks at a coordinated response currently being implemented in Quang Tri province in collaboration between MAG (Mines Advisory Group) and Norwegian People's Aid, and the key factors involved in successfully facilitating this process

Protecting The Environment: Mine Clearance In Skallingen, Denmark, Martin Jebens

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Denmark has long been affected by landmines. Environmental factors such as landscape, wildlife and endangered species make mine clearance difficult. However, through environmental legislation and mine clearance, Denmark has reestablished areas in Skallingen for use.

Mine Risk Education In Uganda, Harriet Akello

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Although Uganda declared itself mine-free in 2012, explosive remnants of war (ERW) still contaminate the country. To prevent resulting deaths and injuries, ERW risk education must be accessible to civilians.

Impact Of Flooding On Mine Action In Bosnia And Herzegovina, Croatia, And Serbia, Milan Bajic, Tamara Ivelja, Emina Hadzic, Haris Balta, Goran Skelac, Zoran Grujic

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Devastating floods swept through Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, and Serbia in May 2014. The destructiveness of the floods, landslides and sediment torrents on minefields resulted in significant environmental and security issues. These three countries’ mine action centers launched a joint project cofunded by the Republic of Croatia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to develop effective and efficient methods and technologies that might improve the situation. Their research seeks to provide reliable assessments of the flood damage to minefields and generate accurate implications for potential hazardous areas.