By Kevin James Moore
2 March 2010 [MediaGlobal]: March 2010 marks the 11th anniversary of the Mine Ban Treaty becoming a binding international law, and while there has been significant progress in the eradication of land-mines, a December 2009 summit in Cartagena, Colombia highlighted the need for continued action. Fortunately, the attending countries of the convention were able to agree on and adopt the Cartagena Action Plan (CAP), which lays out what is required over the next five years to achieve a mine-free world.
CAP builds upon the Mine Ban Treaty, which established a cohesive partnership between world governments, United Nation agencies, and international and non-governmental organizations to identify and clear all mined areas. Implementing what has been learned from the Mine Ban Treaty, CAP reestablishes commitments to all aspects of mine action which includes victim assistance, mine clearance, risk education, stockpile destruction, and international cooperation.
Amelie Chayer of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) told MediaGlobal about a new aspect to CAP, “Mine survivors themselves and people who work daily with mine-affected communities provided input on [CAP].” The CAP reflects priorities identified by survivors to the immense challenges surrounding the eradication of landmines. The ICBL said that unprecedented levels of participation was demonstrated at the Cartagena Summit and that the unique partnership between governments and civil societies has been the key factor to the Mine Ban Treaty’s success.
“The Mine Ban Treaty has turned the vision of a mine-free world into a reality we can achieve in our life time,” proclaimed Chayer. Since the Mine Ban Treaty was implemented, more than 80 percent of the world’s countries have joined and that number continues to grow. There have been no confirmed violations by any country over the production and transfer of antipersonnel mines, but three countries, Belarus, Greece, and Turkey have missed their 2008 deadlines for stockpile destruction. Ukraine recently announced that it will miss its June 2010 deadline.
Under the Mine Ban Treaty, large areas of land have been cleared and returned to productive use, and more communities have been educated about the affects and risk of landmines. “Many important challenges still remain on the road to a mine-free world,” continuing Chayer said, “the landmine problem is not solved and needs the continued energy of all actors until the treaty’s promises are fulfilled.” Kevin James Moore
