Peace and Conflict Studies Commons^™

An Alternative Perspective On Landmines And Vulnerable Populations, Shelby Weitzel

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

By offering a different view on the International Campaign to Ban Landmines’ dominant message concerning mine action, this article presents an argument for possible alternatives. The author brings up such points as a lack of discussion and an acceptance of facts without proper checking of research. In addition, suggestions of constructive use of landmines in the defense of vulnerable populations are made to refute the idea of a necessary worldwide ban.

A Primer On Explosive Remnants Of War, Daniele Ressler

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

This primer reviews the legal and functional understandings regarding explosive remnants of war, particularly after the adoption of Protocol V in the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. It examines the tensions between the legal definition of ERW and the reality on the ground, and recommends clarifying the terms that bind post-conflict clearance efforts to ensure the greatest effectiveness of those campaigns

Mid-Term Review Of The Undp Integrated Mine Action Programme (Imap), Gichd

Global CWD Repository

The break-up of Yugoslavia led to the 1992-1995 Bosnian war, which resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, massive displacement, and widespread landmine contamination. There was no clear victor in the conflict, and the General Framework Agreement for Peace (GFAP) established a loose confederal structure, with a weak central government (the State), two Entities (the Federation of Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Republika Srpska or RS) and, within the Federation, ten cantons (each with its own constitution). Because of the danger of renewed conflict, NATO fielded an Implementation Force (IFOR) to enforce the military provisions of the GFAP, while the broader international community …

To Walk The Earth In Safety 6th Edition (Fy2004 And 2005), Us Dos Pm/Wra

Global CWD Repository

This sixth edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety summarizes the accomplishments of the inter-agency U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program for fiscal years 2004 and 2005. In a strict sense, it is a combined annual report for two years on what was then and still is the world’s largest such program. But it is also a chapter in a real-life story that has a beginning, middle, and, we now know because of more than fifteen years of practical experience, an end.

Public safety and regional stability can be endangered by illegally traffi cked small arms and light weapons, abandoned …

Mine Action In Afghanistan: The Way Ahead, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This paper presents the strategy for the Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan (MAPA), as the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is committed to the vision of a country free from landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), where people and communities live in a safe environment conducive to national development, and where landmine and ERW survivors are fully integrated in the society and thus have their rights and needs recognized and fulfilled. The Way Ahead paper provides a vision and establishes end goals for the Afghan mineaction programme that are consistent with Afghanistan’s Ottawa Treaty obligations. Moreover, the strategy paper was …

Developing Mine Action Legislation - A Guide, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This document is intended to assist governments, mine action professionals and others to develop national legislation to coordinate and regulate “mine action“ in a country affected by landmines and/or unexploded ordnance (UXO). It identifies the principal elements to be included in such a law and the issues which should be considered in its preparation. The information in this document is based upon the conclusions and recommendations of A Study of National Mine Action Legislation

Building Local Mine Action Capacity In Guinea-Bissau, Tracy Brown

Global CWD Repository

Specifically, the project sought to strengthen local capacity for Mine Action in accordance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) through budget support, technical assistance and accompaniment to HUMAID. The project was to benefit HUMAID's 77 staff members (deminers, other field staff, administrative and management personnel), and indirectly, the population of Bissau whose livelihoods would improve as a result of the reduced threat from landmines and UXO. In the end, direct beneficiaries also included deminers of LUTCAM, the one other mine clearance NGO in Guinea Bissau whose deminers participated in HI-facilitated technical training, and the staff of the national Mine Action …

An Operator’S Perspective On Ottawa’S Article 5, Per Nergaard

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Cost-effectiveness in the traditional sense of the word has many aspects and can be displayed in many ways. Several practical examples have been presented at various occasions involving issues like coordination, toolboxes, complementarities of methods, technologies, etc. I will attempt not to prod any further into that here.

Process Support Provided By The Implementation Support Unit Of The Gichd To States Parties To The Ap Mine Ban Convention That Have Reported The Responsibility For Significant Numbers Of Landmine Survivors, Apmbc

Global CWD Repository

At the First Review Conference of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, it was noted that while not forgetting the responsibilities to landmine victims wherever they may be, a greater emphasis must be placed on improving the quality of life of landmine survivors in the 24 State Parties which have indicated that they hold the responsibility for significant numbers of survivors. Subsequently, the 2004-2005 Co-Chairs of the Standing Committee on Victim Assistance and Socio-Economic Reintegration sought to maximize the Nairobi Action Plan as a basis for action …

Evaluation Of The Sliri/Landmine Action Socio-Economic Impact And Dangerous Area Surveys And Of Sliri's Organizational Sustainability In The Nuba Mountains, Jim Freedman Consulting

Global CWD Repository

From its inspired beginnings in 2001, the Sudan Landmines Information and Response Initiative (SLIRI) has had the potential to become an influential mine action organization with the capacity to use the mine action platform for engaging Sudan's adversaries in a peacebuilding dialogue. It is the only non-partisan indigenous organization in thecountry. Its first location – or Sector Operations Centre (SOC) as the site offices have been called - and the most innovative has been in the Nuba Mountains, where shortly after the cease-fire in January 2002 SLIRI first introduced two offices working in tandem on either side of the conflict …

Multi-Year Plan (2006-2011) - Sudan, Sudan Mine Action Sector

Global CWD Repository

The purpose of the Multi-Year Plan is to demonstrate the commitments of each partner in the Mine Action Sector in Sudan to implement mine action activities in accordance with the National Strategic Framework and towards meeting national and international obligations, most importantly the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty (the Ottawa Convention). Under Article 5 of the Ottawa Convention, each country must clear all known or suspect minefields within ten years after the Convention came into force in that country: Sudan's deadline for clearance is 2014.

This document presents the sector plan for the Phase 1 starting in January 2009, ending in …

6th Meeting Of The States Parties To The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (2005), Apmbc

Global CWD Repository

Sixth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,

Zagreb, Croatia 28 November – 2 December 2005

Mine Action: Lessons And Challenges, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

Mine Action: Lessons and Challenges represents the views of selected experts as to what some of the key lessons have been, and what challenges remain for the future.

Following an Executive Summary of its main conclusions and findings, this work is laid out in two parts. Part I looks at the core activities — the “pillars” — of mine action: advocacy, victim assistance, mine risk education, demining (survey, marking and clearance of mines and unexploded ordnance) and stockpile destruction. Part II looks at key management issues, specifically, programme coordination and management, information management and capacity development. This work concludes with …

Optimizing Mine Action Policies And Practice, Alan Bryden

Global CWD Repository

Landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) affect communities and individuals long after conflicts end and therefore have a profound effect on opportunities for post-conflict peacebuilding. In the immediate post-conflict phase the presence, or simply the threat, of landmines can hamper refugee return and the implementation of humanitarian assistance programmes. They pose a long-term social, economic and environmental threat that denies the use of fertile land and access to water and affects flows of people, goods and services. There is also an important security risk from abandoned explosive ordnance stockpiles or caches which, if not properly secured or destroyed following the end …

What Rights For Mine Victims? Reparation, Compensation: From Legal Analysis To Political Perspectives., Hi

Global CWD Repository

The work that we are presenting today is not only a legal exploration of current or future possibilities, of difficulties and pitfalls, outrageous oversights. It should also be seen as an indignant protest against the nonchalance of States and the producers of lethal devices, little inclined to acknowledge and assume their responsibilities. It should also be heard as an appeal to organisations and authorities specialised in the accompaniment of victims, particularly legal accompaniment, to take up this issue. Finally, it is a way of saying to victims that their determination is not in vain, that political intent constantly needs pointing …

Post War Legacy And Poverty: Case Study Of The Landmine/Uxo Problem In Rural Communities In Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, Duong Trong Hue

Global CWD Repository

Examines the links between postwar landmine/UXO contamination and poverty in two communes of Quang Tri Province.

Global Assessment Of Ec Mine Action Policy And Actions 2002-2004, Russell Gasser, Robert Keeley

Global CWD Repository

The Anti-Personnel Landmine Regulation mandates an overall assessment of all EC mine action every three years. This report contains the first such assessment for the period 2002-2004. The total funding by all EC budget lines for 2002-2004 for mine action was about 116M, of which the horizontal mine action budget line was nearly 40% at 45M. The total for the same period for all EU mine action, including contributions by Member States, was about 410M, of which the dedicated budget line is just 11%. The overall assessment reviewed four areas: 1) how the APL Regulation was used to generate mine …

Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Mine Clearance Operations In Cambodia, Bjorn Gildestad

Global CWD Repository

This cost-benefit analaysis of mine clearance operations in Cambodia was launched by the national regulatory and coordinating body, the Cambodian Mine Action and Victims Assistance Authority (CMAA) in cooperation with UNDP. The socio-economic benefits of mine action was assessed covering the period since the start of the programme in 1992, and a cost benefit analysis model developed for the use of the Royal Government of Cambodia and stakeholders involved in mine clearance.

Joint Evaluation Of Mine Action In Cambodia For The Donor Working Group On Mine Action, Robert Griffin, Robert Keeley

Global CWD Repository

This report presents the findings and recommendations of the Joint Evaluation of the Mine Action Sector in Cambodia to the Royal Cambodian Government and the donor Technical Working Group on Mine Action. The objectives of this evaluation are to provide an independent assessment of the achievements and challenges of the mine action sector in Cambodia; to present strategic recommendations for the orientation of future donor support to the sector, taking into account the need to strengthen the linkages between the mine action sector and national development plans and programmes; and to provide a common basis for a renewed donor-government partnership …

A Study Of The Development Of National Mine Action Legislation, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This document is intended to assist governments, mine action professionals and others to develop national legislation to coordinate and regulate mine action in a country affected by landmines and/or unexploded ordnance (UXO). It identifies the principal elements to be included in such a law and the issues which should be considered in its preparation. The information in this document is based upon the conclusions and recommendations of A Study of National Mine Action Legislation, published by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD).

Humanitarian Impact From Mines Other Than Anti-Personnel Mines, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This report summarises the capacity of the landmine clearance sector to respond to mines other than anti-personnel mines (MOTAPM), specifically anti-vehicle mines. It then looks at the humanitarian impact of MOTAPM contamination in a specific environment. A case study illustrates the efforts of humanitarian organisations to address problems faced by rural communities in Angola . These problems persist and are made worse because MOTAPM on roads prevent humanitarian organisations from gaining access to the population. MOTAPM are also seen to increase the cost of humanitarian assistance. The conclusions of the report complement evidence presented by the International Committee of the …

To Walk The Earth In Safety 5th Edition (Fy2003), Us Dos Pm/Wra

Global CWD Repository

This fifth edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety contains information on specific programs and accomplishments of the U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program through the end of 2003. Although the United States did begin providing substantial mine action assistance to Afghanistan as early as 1988 and then to Cambodia and some other countries starting in 1991, the formal program as we know it today really began in 1993. Thus, 2003 is a milestone, marking ten uninterrupted years of genuine and signifi cant U.S. action to eradicate persistent landmines—both anti-personnel and anti-vehicle—as well as unexploded ordnance wherever they threaten civilian …

Five Year National Strategic Mine Action Plan For Yemen, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

During this revised five-year period Strategic Plan the Yemen Mine Action Programme will meet the objective of the Ottawa Treaty and thus become one of the first mine affected countries in the world to make it happen. From April 1, 2009 the Government of Yemen commits itself to use its national human and financial resources in its effort to eradicate and negate the remaining mines and UXOs from the soil of Yemen.

United Nations Development Program: Small Arms Reduction Programme (Sarp) For The Great Lakes Region, Undp

Global CWD Repository

This assessment report shows that SARP has faced considerable political and logistical difficulties during its two years of operation. As a result, there is little doubt that the delivery rate has been low for a project of this size. There are a number of reasons for this that relate to the original programme design, the political situation, the role of UNDP COs, the involvement of other international actors, the management of the programme and the role of BCPR.

United Nations Development Programme: Small Arms Reduction Programme (Sarp) For The Great Lakes Region, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

This assessment report shows that SARP has faced considerable political and logistical difficulties during its two years of operation. As a result, there is little doubt that the delivery rate has been low for a project of this size. There are a number of reasons for this that relate to the original programme design, the political situation, the role of UNDP COs, the involvement of other international actors, the management of the programme and the role of BCPR.

Human Security In Cambodia: A Statistical Analysis Of Large-Sample Sub-National Vulnerability Data, Taylor Owen, Aldo Benini

Global CWD Repository

With the goal of measuring and analyzing Cambodia human insecurity, Dr. Aldo Benini and Taylor Owen have collected a large amount of data down to the local (1,600 communes) level. At their disposal is the largest existing geo-referenced database of Cambodian security and vulnerability data.They study four types of violence: landmine and UXO strikes (most of which are victim-actuated), as well as serious crime, land conflicts, and domestic violence (perpetrated by contemporary agents).

Serious crime lumps together murder, kidnapping, robberies, and theft, much of which obviously is violent. Using different types of regression models, socio-economic and war determinants are statistically …

The Rectangular Strategy For Growth, Employment, Equity And Efficiency In Cambodia, Kingdom Of Cambodia

Global CWD Repository

This strategy specifically links mine clearance to land reform.

Evaluation Of The Global Landmine Survey Process: Draft Final Report, Gichd

Global CWD Repository

Scanteam of Norway with Demex of Denmark were contracted by the Survey Action Center (SAC) to carry out an evaluation of the Global Landmine Survey (GLS) process with the objectives to examine the current GLS organisational structure and the Landmine Impact Survey (LIS) methodologies like procedures, tools and assumptions. The second objective was to evaluate the utility, efficacy and use of the survey results.

5th Meeting Of The States Parties To The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (2003), Apmbc

Global CWD Repository

The Final Report of the Fifth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction,

Bangkok, 15-19 September 2003

A Risk Strategy For Mine Action, Julian Williams

Global CWD Repository

A generic risk management methodology has been derived, and aspects of it were used to develop risk management strategies for Cambodia and Bosnia. These countries presented different problems and so required very different approaches. In Cambodia, the available resources are wholly inadequate to remove the risk from landmines in the medium-term. Moreover, the mine treatment options that might be practicable, even if they were available, are limited, because of the poor infrastructure and type of terrain where they would be applied. Nevertheless, there is some scope for using risk assessment to identify where the practicable mine treatment options (mainly manual …