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News Section Anti-personnel landmines and explosive remnants of war Section devoted to the victims of anti-personnel mines and other explosive remnants of war. It includes global information by region, press articles, photos, personal stories, publications and links towards relevant sites. There are also links to other sections within this website relating to ICRC campaigns against indiscriminate weaponry and its activities aimed at preventing accidents, helping victims and developing and fostering respect for international humanitarian law. Tenth anniversary of the Mine Ban Convention
Ending the deadly legacy of war, editorial by Philip Spoerri, ICRC's director of international law
Tenth anniversary of the Mine Ban Convention , by Peter Herby, Head of ICRC Arms Unit See also ©ICRC/KH-D-00075-22
Anti-personnel landmines and other explosive remnants of war continue to pose a threat and to maim and kill indiscriminately long after hostilities have ended. In addition, they hinder post-conflict reconstruction and economic development. Landmines are unique weapons in that the injuries they cause, such as the loss one or more limbs, are particularly horrific and their victims are usually civilians. Survivors are disabled for life and require long-term assistance. Humanitarian needs include lifelong assistance for the care, rehabilitation and socio-economic reintegration of victims and measures to prevent further casualties. To these ends, the ICRC provides assistance for emergency and hospital care and physical rehabilitation in mine-affected countries. In cooperation with national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies, the ICRC also supports preventive measures to protect people from death and injury by mines and unexploded munitions, including measures to facilitate safe access to food, water and other basic necessities of life.  Key document29-11-2007 Ending the deadly legacy of warThe Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines (known as the Ottawa Convention) marks its tenth anniversary on 3 December 2007. While considerable progress has been made in the past decade towards eradicating these weapons worldwide, major challenges remain - not least addressing the lifelong needs of hundreds of thousands of mine victims. Moreover, landmines are not the only type of weapon that go on killing after conflicts. Philip Spoerri, the ICRC's director of international law, explains. (Focus\Landmines) Official Statement 19-11-2007 Eighth Meeting of the States Parties to the Convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel minesEighth 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, statement by Mr. Olivier Vodoz, vice-president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Dead Sea, Jordan 18 November 2007 (Focus\Landmines) Official Statement 25-10-2007 The ICRC's position on cluster munitions and the need for urgent actionStatement to Geneva Diplomatic Missions by Dr Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 25 October 2007 (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Conventional weapons) Official Statement 19-10-2007 Tenth anniversary of the mine ban Convention - from mines to cluster munitionsMobilising to stop weapons which keep on killing. Notes from the presentation by Peter Herby, Head of the ICRC Arms Unit, Oslo, 18 September 2007 (Focus\Landmines) Official Statement Maps13-11-2007 Map: States parties and signatories to the Mine Ban Convention States parties and signatories to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. (Focus\Landmines) Atlas Includes Photo 13-11-2007 Map: ICRC physical rehabilitation and preventive mine action programmes ICRC activities to help the victimes of mines and to reduce the impact of these weapons (Focus\Landmines) Atlas Includes Photo 12-11-2007 Map : Deadlines for States Parties with Article 5 ObligationsLink to the Landmine Monitor website (Focus\Landmines) Atlas 12-11-2007 Map: Global contamination from mines and explosive remnants of warLink to the Landmine Monitor website (Focus\Landmines) Atlas 12-11-2007 Map : Mine and explosive remnants of war - CasualitiesLink to the Landmine Monitor website (Focus\Landmines) Atlas Event4-9-2007 Eighth Meeting of the States Parties to the Mine Ban Convention Dead Sea, Jordan, 18 – 22 November 2007
Eighth 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(Info resources\Events) Event Feature13-5-2008 Afghanistan: hope rising from the ashesInjuries from landmines over the last 25 years have left an estimated 100,000 or more Afghan people handicapped. Scattered throughout the country, landmines bring sudden and unexpected tragedy to many families. This is the story of Saddiq Ali, whose shattered life the ICRC is helping to rebuild. (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Afghanistan) Feature Includes Photo 21-11-2007 ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled: teaching does the most goodJacques Forget is one of five ortho-prosthetists with the ICRC Special Fund for the Disabled based in Addis-Ababa, who provide training and other support to rehabilitation centres in 17 African countries. He feels teaching provides the greatest impact in his line of work. (ICRC Activities\Assistance\Health\Physical rehabilitation) Feature Includes Photo 13-11-2007 Afghan mine victims brave the oddsAfghanistan is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. While considerable progress has been made in recent years in mine clearance, and the number of victims recorded each year has steadily decreased, the scale of the problem remains enormous. Tens of thousands of landmine victims need care and assistance. The ICRC is helping to address the plight of victims in Afghanistan through its orthopaedic programme, which has assisted almost 80,000 disabled people over the past two decades. (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Afghanistan) Feature Includes Photo 2-11-2007 Helping the disabled in Afghanistan: "Enough work for the next 40 years"Decades of war have left tens of thousands of amputees in need of care and support to help them build a future. Alberto Cairo has been running ICRC orthopaedic programmes in Afghanistan for nearly 20 years; in Kabul, he spoke to the ICRC's Claudia McGoldrick. (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Afghanistan) Feature Includes Photo 15-10-2007 Middle East and North Africa: anti-personnel mines, explosive remnants of war and cluster munitionsThe current situation in the region and the latest on the ratification of the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines, the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War. (Focus\Landmines) Feature Includes Photo 25-9-2007 Mine victims in Iraq: the story of Safin MustafaSafin Mustafa Aziz comes from a village near Erbil. He was out playing with his younger brother when the two were ripped apart by a mine. With courage and determination – and a little help from a blind donkey – he survived and prospered. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Feature Includes Photo 25-9-2007 Mine victims in Iraq: Fakhradin's storyFakhradin Najim Hawez lives in Erbil, northern Iraq. After fleeing from his home during the conflict of 1991, he reached safety – but was later maimed by a landmine when returning from a trip home to see his parents. More trouble was yet to come… (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Feature Includes Photo 24-9-2007 Iraq mine victims: Peshawa's storyPeshawa knew mines were dangerous, and refused to take home the curious object his friend wanted to give him. But he made the mistake of throwing it to the ground… Now, with one leg amputated, he works as a tailor near his home in Kirkuk. (The ICRC worldwide\Middle East and North Africa\Iraq) Feature 4-7-2006 Peru: landmines continue to claim victimsAlthough Peru's decades-old conflict has finally come to an end, the countryside is littered with 50,000 anti-personnel landmines that continue to claim victims among the civilian population. (The ICRC worldwide\The Americas\Peru) Feature Includes Photo ICRC film8-12-2004 Relay for lifeThis film presents the inspirational story of Najmuddin, Director of the ICRC orthopaedic centre in Kabul, Afghanistan, as he makes his way to Cairo to carry the Olympic flame and represent landmine victims throughout the world. Najmuddin lost both his legs at the age of eighteen when he drove over an anti-tank mine. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Films\Assistance) ICRC film Includes Video 31-12-2003 A new life for MohsinMohsin, a young man from Kabul, Afghanistan, was badly injured in an accident two years ago which left him paraplegic. This video tells the story of how he overcame his terrible injury and found a new role in life as a grocery shop owner, with the help of the ICRC's Home Care programme. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Films\Assistance) ICRC film 31-12-1999 The Ottawa treaty: towards a world free of anti-personnel minesIn order to overcome one of the most serious problems of our times, the international community signed a treaty in Ottawa outlawing an invisible enemy that strikes blindly: anti-personnel mines. This informative documentary reviews the prohibitions – on the use, development, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel mines – and the obligations instituted by the treaty: the destruction of existing stockpiles, the clearance of mine-infested areas and the setting up of preventions and assistance programmes. It serves to remind us that the treaty's provisions represent a complete plan of action eradicating this scourge – an objective that can only be reached if the treaty is actually applied on the ground. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Films\Prevention) ICRC film ICRC Publication11-1-2008 Cluster munitions: Decades of failure, decades of civilian sufferingCluster munitions have been a persistent problem for decades, killing and maiming tens of thousands of civilians in war-affected countries. These weapon's unique characteristics present grave dangers for civilian men, women and children, not only at the time they are used but also long after the fighting has ended. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Humanitarian law) ICRC Publication Includes PDF 21-9-2007 Weapon contamination manual: Reducing the impact of explosive remnants of war and landmines through field activitiesThis manual has been written to act as the ICRC’s Institutional reference on mine action, as a basis for ICRC mine action training and to provide guidance for those working in delegations where weapon-contamination is an issue. The manual consists of three books and it outlines a broad and flexible approach which includes rapid response, multisectoral approach (the application of assistance and protection to reduce impact) and cooperation/capacity building. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Prevention) ICRC Publication Includes PDF Interview20-12-2007 Anti-personnel landmines: the main challenges aheadIn November 2007, States Parties to the Ottawa Mine Ban Convention met in Jordan to evaluate progress on the implementation of the ban on anti-personnel landmines. They also discussed the main challenges going forward in terms of clearance deadlines, stockpile destruction and victime assistance. An interview with Eve La Haye, legal adviser in the ICRC's arms unit. (Focus\Landmines) Interview Includes Photo Legal article20-12-2007 How Does It Stack Up? The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention at 10Link to an article published on the Arms control association website (Focus\Landmines) Legal article Official Statement18-9-2006 Mine Ban Convention : Statement by the ICRCStatement on behalf of the President of the ICRC by Philip Spoerri, Director of International Law and Cooperation within the Movement. Seventh meeting of the States party to the Convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction, Geneva, 18 September 2006 (Focus\Landmines) Official Statement Photo Collection27-11-2007 Afghanistan – Measured success after decade of Mine-Ban Convention Ten years ago this December, the Mine-Ban Convention, or Ottawa Convention, was adopted by most of the world’s States. This photo essay explores some of the accomplishments and remaining challenges in one of the most heavily mined countries in the world. (Info resources\Photos\Asia and the Pacific) Photo Collection Includes Photo 1-11-2004 Trying to end the scourge of mines and other remnants of war Photo gallery on the dangers posed by landmines and ICRC activities worldwide to help the victims of these and other remnants of war. (Info resources\Photos) Photo Collection Includes Photo Press article26-4-2008 A deadly harvest of cluster bombs in LaosViengkeo Kavongsone had lived in fear of such a catastrophe all his life - in the jungle, in the paddy fields, on the mountain - but never in his own back yard. Article published in the Times, 26 April 2008 (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Laos) Press article 2-1-2008 Putting a stop to cluster munitions After decades of failure and persistent civilian suffering caused by cluster munitions, global concern is gaining momentum to put an end to these terrible weapons. Article published in the Red Cross Red Crescent Magazine, No 3, 2007 (Focus\Landmines) Press article 2-1-2008 Return to Vedeno While the situation is gradually returning to normal in hechnya, an ICRC worker gives an account of his return to the Vedeno area, a place he enjoyed in his youth. Article published in the Red Cross Red Crescent Magazine, No 3, 2007 (The ICRC worldwide\Eastern Europe and Central Asia\Russia) Press article Includes Photo 3-12-2007 Landing on their feetThose who survive landmines seldom come away without loss of limbs – and hope. In Cambodia, the ICRC has set up two centres to provide prostheses, physiotherapy and a productive future for amputees. Article published in The Star Online (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Cambodia) Press article 23-11-2007 The weapon that keeps takingLink to an article published by the International Herald Tribune on 22 November 2007 (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Afghanistan) Press article Stories from the field26-12-2007 Cambodia: handicapped volleyball player achieves more than a medalWhen mine amputee Chim Phan helped his team to gain a bronze medal at the recent world cup final, it was his ultimate triumph over years of pain and struggle. One of thousands of mine victims in Cambodia, Phan represents a generation determined to overcome their handicap. (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Cambodia) Stories from the field Includes Photo 23-11-2007 Afghanistan: mine victims tell their storyIn Afghanistan, even if there was not a single new mine accident, tens of thousands of mine victims will require healthcare and assistance for the rest of their lives. Not only do they need physical rehabilitation, they need to be able to reintegrate into society. This requires vocational training and employment opportunities. Here, four mine victims who have been helped in different ways by the ICRC or the Afghan Red Crescent Society tell their stories. (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Afghanistan) Stories from the field Includes Photo 23-1-2006 Afghanistan: school offers hope to landmine victimsA Scottish lecturer is the brains behind a project to build a Red Cross school specialising in fitting artificial limbs in Afghanistan, where many people have fallen victim to landmines. (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Afghanistan) Stories from the field Includes Photo 30-9-2005 Croatia: safe playgrounds in danger zonesIn Croatia mines are a deadly legacy of war, a brutal reminder of the country's violent past. Since 1996 the Croatian Red Cross, supported by the ICRC, has been alerting the public to the danger of mines and other explosive remnants of war. (The ICRC worldwide\Western and Central Europe and the Balkans\Croatia) Stories from the field Includes Photo More in this section15-10-2007 Explosive remnants of war: the lethal legacy of modern armed conflictOverview of the devastating effects of explosive remnants of war and cluster munitions. Summary of the rules contained in the Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V to the 1980 Convention), 28 November 2003 (Focus\Landmines) Includes Photo 15-8-2007 Convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel minesOverview of the convention on the prohibition of anti-personnel mines, also called the Ottawa Convention (Focus\Landmines) Includes Photo Other site1-2-2008 International Campaign to Ban LandminesNews on mines, Mine Ban Convention , etc. List of publications and videos (on-line ordering). Landmine research resources (websites, books, audiovisual aids). Photos. Information on Ottawa Convention (text, recent ratifications, meetings of States Parties, etc.). Calendar of mine-related meetings. (Info resources\Other sites\Non-governmental organizations) Other site 23-2-2005 E-mine: The electronic Mine Information Network (United Nations)(Info resources\Other sites\Non-governmental organizations) Other site 23-2-2005 Landmine MonitorReports from 1999-2004. Reports by States. Link to Landmine Monitor database (information on Ottawa Convention, humanitarian action around the world, mine victims, etc.). (Info resources\Other sites\Non-governmental organizations) Other site 23-2-2005 Safe-Lane web site by the Government of Canada(Info resources\Other sites\Non-governmental organizations) Other site 23-2-2005 Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining(Info resources\Other sites\Non-governmental organizations) Other site  |
