Peace and Conflict Studies Commons^™

An African Perspective On The Cluster Munitions Convention, Sheila Mweemba

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

On 30 May 2008, the international community adopted the Convention on Cluster Munitions. It is little wonder that those who were against a convention of this sort are still reeling from the shock of it. Africa, on the other hand, can give itself a well-deserved pat on the back for having played a pivotal role in the adoption of a groundbreaking, legally-binding instrument of which posterity will judge the results.

Increasing Female Voices In Mine-Action Planning And Prioritization, Catherine Cecil, Kristen Rasmussen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Community Strengthening and Gender Mainstreaming in Integrated Mine Action Project focuses on one of the greatest challenges women face in mine affected areas of Cambodia: to be actively and meaningfully involved in the decision-making process in mine action. Three international organizations have collaborated to develop a complex plan addressing the issues and impediments facing the residents of many Cambodian villages. Its implementation demonstrates the sweeping changes necessary for participation by all villagers and the promise of truly integrated mine-action strategies.

Ncdr And Women In Jordan, Adnan Telfah, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

High levels of gender inequality exist within Jordan—inequalities that affect the workforce. In a nation like Jordan, where women have minimal political participation and only 26 percent of women are active economically, it is difficult for women to be incorporated into the workforce. Fewer women are employed outside of the home when compared to men, with only 9 percent of Jordanian women above the age of 15 working outside their homes. Among females, unemployment rates are double those for males; further, high percentages of women are discouraged from seeking employment outside of the home. Women who are employed are typically …

United Nations Office For Disarmament Affairs, Cisr Journal

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs is the global community’s chief authority on the issues of weapons reduction. Among its responsibilities UNODA acts as the U.N. Secretary-General’s liaison in fulfilling the obligations established by both the Ottawa Convention and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. The Office for Disarmament Affairs’ Geneva branch oversees these activities and is responsible—in accordance with the Ottawa Convention—for collecting Article 7 reports, maintaining the list of Article 8 experts and organizing meetings of States Parties, as well as organizing meetings pertaining to the CCW.

Ec-Funded Mine Action In Latin America Volume 2 - Country Reports, Russell Gasser

Global CWD Repository

The EC Anti-Personnel Landmine Regulation of 2001 mandated evaluations of EC Mine Action strategy every three years. The first report was a Global Evaluation published in 2005, but this report forms one part of the 2008 evaluation by regions and covers Latin America, 2002-2007.

Total EC funding for mine action in Latin America in the period 2002-2007 was about 8 million euros, roughly 2% of the EC total world wide budget for mine action. Sixty-eight percent of the eight million euros was from the dedicated thematic Anti-Personnel Landmine budget line and 31% was from the geographic budget for Colombia. There …

Mine Action Programme For Afghanistan, Mine Action Strategic Guideline (2008-2013), Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This document outlines the 5-year strategic plan for the Mine Action Coordination Centre for Afghanistan from 2008 to 2013. It includes an overview of the landmine and explosive remnants of war contamination in Afghanistan as it stands in 2008 and outlines the Afghan Government's strategic plan to achieve identified targets in remediating contaminated land.

From Paris 2005 To Accra 2008: Will Aid Become More Accountable And Effective?, International Cso Steering Group

Global CWD Repository

This draft position paper has been prepared by the International CSO1 Steering Group (ISG) coordinating the “CSO Parallel Process to the Ghana High Level Forum Network”. The ISG coordinating CSO Parallel Process to the Ghana High Level Forum network brings together various local, national, regional and international NGOs who are engaged in development issues, particularly the aid architecture and the aid effectiveness agenda. This network is involved in a multi-stakeholder process of engagement leading towards the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness, to be held in Accra, Ghana, in September 2008.

National Mine Action Plan For Completion - Mauritania, Government Of Mauritania

Global CWD Repository

The National Mine Action Plan developed by the Government of Mauritania, written in 2007, to achieve goals and outcomes sought by the Mine Ban Treaty and Ottawa Convention.

Recommendations For The Victim Assistance Provisions In A Treaty Banning Cluster Munitions: A Practitioners’ Perspective, Hi

Global CWD Repository

With the aim of contributing to the Oslo process, Handicap International launched an initiative with civil society and international organizations to find common recommendations for the victim assistance provisions in a treaty banning cluster munitions. Together we shared our experience in affected countries and our lessons learned, exchanging ideas through an electronic discussion forum and then meeting in a practitioners’ workshop in Paris. Colleagues from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iraq, Lebanon, Tajikistan and Uganda participated in these exercises along with practitioners from a variety of backgrounds experienced in working on victim assistance programs in mine and cluster munition affected countries.

This document …

8th Meeting Of The States Parties To The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (2007), Apmbc

Global CWD Repository

The 8MSP was a formal meeting of the 156 States which have accepted the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. It was held in accordance with Article 11 of the Convention and pursuant to the decisions of the 2004 First Review Conference and the 2006 Seventh Meeting of the States Parties (7MSP).

The 8MSP took place two months after the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the Convention. This, and the fact that a Meeting of the States Parties (MSP) was held for the first time in …

Implementing The Ottawa Convention In Southeast Europe: Meeting Expectations In A Challenging Environment, Kerry Brinkert

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

As the 10-year deadline for fulfilling Article 5 of the Ottawa Convention is rapidly approaching for the first States that ratified or acceded to the Convention, each State Party faces the requirement that all known anti-personnel mines be destroyed. The author examines the progress and challenges that remain in Southeast Europe regarding Article 5 implementation

Capacity Building In Mine Action: Are We There Yet?, Olaf Juergensen

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This article flags some of the major debates within the broader development literature and introduces concepts that might help to better define and identify what is meant by "capacity development."

Quality Management In Demining Organisations, Charles Loxton

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

In this article, the International Standards Organization 9001:2000 Quality Management System is compared to what leading actors in quality management and business management deem to be current best practise. The aim of this paper is to show the universal application of the ISO 9001:2000 system as a quality-management system and that it complies with best practises in business and quality management around the world. This article will highlight a few of the most important ISO clauses and show how they are supported by best practises.

2007 Marks 10th Anniversary Of Mine Action Standards, Faiz Paktian

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The International Mine Action Standards are guidelines set by the United Nations to implement mine action programs safely and effectively. The author discusses the purpose and processes of the IMAS as well as provides various references for those interested in learning more about the IMAS.

Armed Non-State Actors: Their Contribution To Solving The Landmine Problem, Anki Sjöberg

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Armed non-state actors are currently involved as fighting parties in conflicts all over the world; hence, for a true universalization of the rules and principles of human rights and international humanitarian law, the involvement of NSAs must be considered. This is equally true for prohibiting the use of AP mines because NSAs currently employ these devices. As NSAs are part of the problem, any solution must include them.

Rapid Humanitarian Assessments And Rationality: A Value Of Information Study From Iraq, 2003-2004, Aldo Benini, Charles Conley

Global CWD Repository

This is an extended case study of a rapid humanitarian assessment and the factors that shaped a long series of decisions during its design and execution. The subject matter-contamination with landmine and Unexploded Ordonance (UXO)- and the settings- Iraq in 2003 and 2004- are almost incidental. The focus is on the rationality of decision-making during the assessment, meaning in this case, the value of the information produced versus the effort needed to produce it.

Aimad Land Titling Pilot Project: Research On Post Clearance Land Titling, Srin Davy, Mao Vanna

Global CWD Repository

During the Democratic Kampuchea regime (1975-79), all cadastral records were destroyed. This disrupted continuity of land titling and caused many uncertainties. Currently there are a range of laws relating to land ownership that must be considered in the context of allocating demined land to beneficiaries. It is important that beneficiaries are able to secure legal title to the land they are allocated, to ensure their future security and long term benefits of the demining process overall. Therefore, the objective of this research is to pave the way for Austcare to develop a procedure or procedures to integrate the relevant legal …

Integrated Mine Action: Lessons And Recommendations From Austcare's Program In Cambodia, Sally Campbell Thorpe

Global CWD Repository

This report identifies lessons learned and best practices from Austcare’s Integrated Mine Action (IMA) Program in Cambodia. It provides key recommendations for Austcare to consider implementing, while also highlighting broader perspectives that may be of interest to other agencies involved in IMA or seeking to develop a similar approach. To date, few organisations have documented their field-based experiences in IMA. This report explores Austcare’s experience in Cambodia to explain and advocate the benefits of IMA, as well to identify some of the challenges involved. It is hoped that the results will encourage a broader discussion and exchange on the subject. …

Budget, State And People Budget Process, Civil Society And Transparency In Angola, Jan Isaksen, Inge Amundsen, Arne Wiig, Cesaltina Abreu

Global CWD Repository

The Norwegian Embassy in Luanda, through Norad, has contracted the Chr. Michelsen Institute to conduct this study on obstacles and opportunities for increased transparency and popular consultation in the prioritisation of state expenditure and handling of revenue. The overall objectives of the study are (a) to contribute to increased insight into the present state of budgetary transparency and openness to the public in Angola, and (b) to indicate ways in which such transparency and openness may be increased. The conclusions and recommendations in the report stand for the authors of the report and are not necessarily shared or supported by …

Cambodia Country Case Study: Integration Of Mine Action Into The Country Development Framework, Cida's Mine Action Unit (Mau)

Global CWD Repository

Internal CIDA country case study which outlines benefits and rationale for integrating mine action into official development programming in mine affected regions. Aimed at CIDA country desk officers.

Cambodia was chosen for a country case study based on criteria it met for the Government of Canada's International Policy Strategy as a bilateral country of priority and the criteria created by the CIDA Mine Action Unit: Cambodia ratified the Ottawa Convention in 1999; its mine and UXO contamination are a large obstacle in Cambodia's development of poverty reduction; and the bilateral desk has the potential to integrate mine action into their …

Convention On The Rights Of Persons With Disabilities, Unmas

Global CWD Repository

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its Optional Protocol (A/RES/61/106) was adopted on 13 December 2006 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, and was opened for signature on 30 March 2007 and entered into force on 3 May 2008. It is the first comprehensive human rights treaty of the 21st century and is the first human rights convention to be open for signature by regional integration organizations.

The Convention has particular significance for mine action as it details the rights of survivors of mines and ERW. While the Convention does not identify new rights, …

The Mine Action Express… Or The Wreck Of The ‘09, Dennis Barlow

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The author discusses current challenges relating to an effective global mine action strategy; he considers approaches and policies that could enhance or impede demining efforts worldwide. There are many emerging concepts to consider in order to improve mine action, such as mainstreaming, risk management and national ownership. The author discusses potential future plans of action the community must undertake regarding these issues in order to deal effectively with landmines and explosive remnants of war.

Book Review: Commentaries On Arms Control Treaties, Vol. 1, The Convention On The Prohibition Of The Use, Stockpiling, Production, And Transfer Of Anti-Personnel Mines And On Their Destruction, J. Peter Pham

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Demining programs have evolved considerably since the first program for humanitarian demining, the Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan, began in 1988. Likewise, the legal bases for dealing with the problem of landmines have developed substantially from the minimalist 1980 Protocol II to the Convention on the Prohibition or Restriction on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May be Deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects, which entered into force in 1983, to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (also known as the …

Closing The Circle, Eddie Banks, Rob Shahmir

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The authors present a critique of the International Mine Action Standards currently in use. After highlighting gaps in IMAS related to assessment and survey, an improved aspect of mine-action planning methodology is presented, which includes a prioritization component using a socioeconomic approach. The result is LIRA: landmine impact combined with a new measurement of risk assessment. This updated model can contribute to improved safety, quality and productivity of landmine action through more effective strategic planning tools.

Successful Implementation Of Protocol V, Kerry Brinkert

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Protocol V of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons recently entered into force, and the author hopes lessons learned from the operations of the Ottawa Convention can be applied to this Protocol.

Master Thesis: Evaluation Of Embeddedness Of Humanitarian Mine Action Programs Funded By The Netherlands, For The Period 1996–2004, Michiel Van Bokhorst

Global CWD Repository

This research describes the evaluation of the HMA programs that are funded by the Netherlands for the period 1996–2004, specifically on their embeddedness into a broader development strategy. Embeddedness is defined as the extent in which other humanitarian objectives and programs are attached, combined or integrated with HMA programs. Embeddedness has increasingly attracted attention, because landmines and ERW are a direct threat to individuals and communities, but also indirectly by being a barrier for short-term emergency interventions and long-term development efforts. Nevertheless the Netherlands does not directly mention embeddedness of HMA in neither its HMA policy paper nor its 2003 …

7th Meeting Of The States Parties To The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (2006), Apmbc

Global CWD Repository

7th Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention held in Geneva, Switzerland from 18-22 September 2006,

Armed Non-State Actors: The Main Users Of The “Poor Man’S Weapon”, Anki Sjöberg

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This report, which builds on the 2004 Geneva Call initial analysis, provides a comprehensive mapping of the use, acquisition, production, transfer and stockpiling of landmines by armed non-state actors through a presentation of individual group profiles and a global analysis. The report records global occurrences of antipersonnel and anti-vehicle mine planting by NSAs during 2003–2005, whether activated by victims, vehicles or at a distance using command detonation.

Understanding The Ottawa Convention’S Obligations To Landmine Victims, Kerry Brinkert

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The Ottawa Convention is unique for a number of reasons, not the least of which being that the Convention has linked obligations concerning the use of a weapon with a requirement that Convention signatories assist a victim wounded by that weapon. When the Convention was adopted in September 1997, this aspect, while lauded by diplomats and activists, was certain to be a challenge to implement. The real work began once the Convention entered into force and states had to act on this responsibility. This article discusses in particular the Convention’s victim assistance obligations.

A Rose By Any Other Name: The Interrelationship Of Landmines And Other Explosive Remnants Of War, Richmond H. Dugger Iii

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

The author explores the vast diversification in landmine etymology, condemning efforts that sought to provide more information but only complicated an already difficult process. Dugger continues with a historical perspective on the progression of language and processes used to address problems posed by landmines and other explosive remnants of war.