Anti-personnel landmines: Mines strategy meeting in Cambodia

Representatives of the ICRC, the Federation and 25 National Societies will meet in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 2 to 6 February 1998 to discuss the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement's future strategy on anti-personnel landmines.

The meeting will focus on the National Societies'role in securing early ratification and universal acceptance of the Ottawa treaty banning anti-personnel mines, and on the part they can play in ensuring better care for mine victims and implementing prevention programmes.

Many National Societies have been at the forefront of the Movement's public campaign against landmines, which was officially launched by the ICRC in November 1995.

The ICRC has been providing artificial limbs and medical assistance for mine victims since 1979, and mine-awareness programmes are currently under way in a number of countries to help prevent further accidents.