On the tenth anniversary of the entry into force of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention), civil society, Governments and the United Nations have come a long way to end the suffering caused by landmines. Over 41 million landmines have been destroyed. Land has been cleared and returned to communities. Increased numbers of at-risk populations have the knowledge and skills to reduce risks. Survivors and their families are increasingly recognized as having rights to social and economic reintegration into their communities. A total of 156 countries have acceded to the Convention.
In addition to the Mine Ban Convention, other instruments and events during the reporting period have had implications for international mine action, including the United Nations response. In 2006, the United Nations deployed a rapid response capability in Lebanon for the clearance of cluster munitions and worked with civil society and Member States for the development of a binding international instrument prohibiting their use, namely, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which was concluded in Dublin on 30 May 2008 and opened for signature in Oslo on 3 December 2008. Improvised explosive devices pose an increasing challenge to civilians, as well as to United Nations peace operations, humanitarian and development work and the consequences of those devices inexorably affect field operations, putting personnel at risk, necessitating greater security measures, inflicting costs and diminishing the overall efficiency of operations.
The present report outlines the achievements of the United Nations Mine Action Team since the previous report of the Secretary-General (A/62/307 and Corrs.1-3) in the areas of anti-personnel mine clearance, mine-risk education, victim assistance, stockpile destruction and advocacy pursuant to the four strategic objectives set out in the inter-agency mine action policy and Strategy.1 The report also includes a proposed forward agenda for mine action.
The road to achieving the collective goal of protecting civilians from explosive remnants of war is a long one and even after all the anti-personnel mines and other explosive remnants of war, including cluster munitions, and improvised explosive devices are removed, a major challenge will remain: to provide survivors with all the support they need to become and remain active and productive members of their communities. The Secretary-General reiterates the commitment of the United Nations in supporting Member States in confronting these challenges.
Document Source: United Nations
Document Type: UN official reports
Date: Aug 12, 2009