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Mine Action: Main achievements since the adoption of the AP Mine Ban Convention and recommendations for the EU
European Parliament, Sub-Committee on Security and Defence (SEDE), Brussels15 October 2009
Stephan Husy, Director, GICHD
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GICHD, an expert organization
• Independent, impartial and neutral organization founded in 1998 under Swiss law
• Mandate in 2001 to host the APMBC Implementation Support Unit (ISU) • Council of Foundation: 20 members, incl. President Dr. Barbara Haering
- EU in CoF through EC representative (Nov. 2009)- 8 Members States from the EU
• Advisory Board: 16 members representing the partners• Staff: 54 (including 8 trainees and JPOs)
- Direction: 4 - Operations: 26 (including 2 secondments from France and Germany)- ISU: 9- Support (conferences, communication, sponsorship programmes): 8- Administration: 7
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EU – GICHD Cooperation
1. Agreement (Dec. 2005) between the European Commission and the GICHD to assess EC-funded mine action in six regions: Africa, Caucasus / Central Asia, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Europe
The evaluations, which include recommendations, will be posted in the Research and Evaluation Reports database on the GICHD website.
2. EU Joint Action (EU JA) adopted by Ministers, 28 June 2008 to promote universalization and support implementation of the APMBC
Technical implementation carried out by the ISU/GICHD: - up to 6 regional conferences
- up to 25 targeted technical assistance visits to Sates Parties
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The Global Landmine ProblemMore than 70 states, as well as six territories, are believed to be mine-affected.
Source: Landmine Monitor Report 2008
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Development of the normative framework: IHLAnti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC): 156 States Parties
Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW): 110 States Parties- Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices (AP II) : 93 States Parties
- Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V): 60 States Parties
Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM): 100 signatures, 21 ratifications (entry into force after 30 ratifications)
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An end, for all people for all time,
to the suffering caused by
AP mines.
Entry into force
Look forward five years
A plan to address
remaining challenges
Progress made,
challenges that remain
Review five years
2004 2014
The Cartagena SummitA major event
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• Redouble efforts to end the suffering and casualties caused by APL.
• Communicate progress made and refocus on the remaining challenges.
• Emphasize the needs of women, men, boys and girls who have fallen victim.
• Reinvigorate national implementation and enhance national ownership.
• Promote the Convention’s norm of no use.
• Do all of the above at a high level.
Vice President of ColombiaMinister of European Affairs of Belgium
Minister of Defence of Tanzania
Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control of New Zealand
The Cartagena Summit: An Opportunity
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Achievements since 1999 and challenges
a total of 83 States Parties have destroyed more than 42 million APL…
… but the obligation to destroy stockpiled APL remains relevant for 5 States Parties (Belarus, Greece, Turkey, Ukraine, Kuwait)
12 State Parties declared completion of mine clearance operations…
… but already 19 States Parties were unable to meet their initial mine clearance deadlines and requested an extension
Approximately 1,100km2 of mined area and 2,100km2 of battle areas have been cleared…
… but over 70 countries/territories are still mine-affected and the extent of the contamination remains unclear
The number of new casualties is decreasing…
… but survivors need lifelong assistance
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International Funding
Mine Action funding 1997 – 2007:
•Overall contribution: € 2.45 billion•EU contribution (European Community and EU Member States bilateral assistance) exceeded € 1.5 billion
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Actors of International Cooperation
• Mine affected countries or their executive organs (national mine action authorities or centers)
• Donor countries and their agencies• International organizations: UN,
ICRC, GICHD• International and national NGOs• Commercial companies• Military
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Development of national capacities• Development of national mine action strategies and
integration of mine action into national development programmes
• Increase in mine action funding from host countries• Greater availability of data from
sources such as mine action plans and extension requests
• Integration of victim assistance intonational health systems
• Numerous evaluations conducted to generate lessons learnt for future mine action projects
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Information ManagementDevelopment of IMSMA(used by ca. 50 mine action programmes)
•Better knowledge ofsize and location of contaminated areas•Storage of relevant information in one central database per country•Improved local capacity for planning (accountability / transparency)•Improved coordination between mine action operators and national authorities
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Development of the concept “land release”
• Reduces suspectedhazardous areas
• Increases efficiency
• Reduces deminingcosts
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Land release process
Suspected Hazardous AreaSuspected Hazardous Area
Confirmed Hazardous AreaConfirmed Hazardous AreaNo Evidence of an explosive hazard No Evidence of an explosive hazard
ClearanceClearance
Technical Survey Technical Survey
Non-Technical Survey Non-Technical Survey
Land releasedLand released
No evidence of an explosive hazard
No evidence of an explosive hazard Defined Hazardous AreaDefined Hazardous Area
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Land release in Mozambique
2000 – 2002 2008 – 2009
Landmine Impact Survey (LIS)
558km2
of SHA12km2
of SHA
2000 - 2008
8 years of clearance
498km2
of SHA
Clearance of 60km2
12km2
of SHA
1 year of application of land release
concept
Release of 486km2
Application of the Land release concept (survey and improving
information)
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Clearance
• Improvement in trainingand accreditation of minedogs
• Rigid testing of demining machines
• Varieties of mechanical assetsavailable on the market
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Cost-effectiveness Area Clearance(Peacekeeping Operations)
$ 0$ 5
$ 10$ 15$ 20$ 25$ 30$ 35$ 40$ 45$ 50
Best Case Worst Case
Cos
t per
sq.
met
re
Military
Civilian
GICHD, Evaluation of the UNMEE Mine Action Coordination Centre, Aug 2005
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EC Mine Action Strategy up to 2007
Mine Action Strategies 2002-2004, then 2005-2007• To reduce the threat posed by APL & UXO• To build national capacity in affected countries
Strategies supported by:• APL thematic budget line (€ 45 million for 2002-04; € 60 million for
2005-07)• Small units dedicated to mine action in Brussels (RELEX &
EuropeAid)• Clear criteria for support• Ambitious targets (€ 105 million total EC funfind for 2002-04; € 120
million for 2005-07)
Strategies largely successful & targets met
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Guidelines on European Community Mine Action 2008 – 2013
• Reforms to EU aid system in 2006 eliminated APL thematic budget line
• Concern that “…the passive reliance on integrating mine action into development…may result in excessively diminishing EC financial commitments in the field.” (cover note of the Guidelines)
• New guidelines issued, covering stages in the project cycle• Criteria include:
– Humanitarian & development need– Coherence/complementarity with broader assistance programme– Capability & commitment of national authorities– Possibility for cross-border programmes
• Sound document, but doesn’t compensate for loss of dedicated funds & HQ personnel
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Findings on EC Support for Mine Action• System worked well when EC had Mine Action Strategy &
thematic budget line in place (i.e. until 2007)• Problems didn’t appear in initial stage of deconcentration:
• dedicated mine action funds transferred to delegations• many delegates showed creativity in finding mechanisms for
additional support to mine action• Regional and sub-regional EC programmes offer potential
to support mine action, but have rarely been used for:• inherently regional mine action problems (e.g. Southern
Caucasus)• to garner economies of scale for addressing needs of
modestly contaminated countries (e.g. Southern Africa)
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Observations on Current EC Aid Programming & Delivery System
• Addresses the needs of heavily contaminated countries that have significant EC country envelopes (e.g. Afghanistan; Angola)
• Often fails to provide adequate mine action support to:• modestly-impacted countries (e.g. Mozambique)• heavily contaminated countries with modest financial envelopes (e.g.
Cambodia)• No mechanism for EC support to international activities (sponsorship
to international meetings; Landmine Monitor; specialised training)• Inadequate recognition of Convention on Cluster Munitions• Loss of thematic budget line accompanied by a reduction in HQ staff
focussing on mine action – limited expertise to support delegations• No mechanism to support global or regional initiatives in strategic
fashion (e.g. mine-impact free Southern Africa)
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Recommendations for the EUEC Programming• EC should continue significant funding to mine action• With no dedicated funds & limited expertise at HQ…
• be selective in which countries & projects to prioritise• contribute, where possible, to joint programmes (with other
donors) and/or common mechanisms (e.g. UN agencies)• seek better monitoring and evaluations of national mine action
programmes (rather than individual projects), through joint/ common approaches where possible
• More coherent & strategic approach would require:• more mine action expertise in Brussels • funds available to HQ staff for programming with a global
perspective
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Recommendations for the EU:Operational supportStockpile destruction• To continue to provide assistance to
Belarus and Ukraine• To support destruction by new States Parties
Mine Clearance• To use donor leverage to insist on clarity with respect to challenge• Better allocation of resources • To encourage the implementation of the land release concept• To support completion (i.e. by those committed to finishing the
job)
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Recommendations for the EU:Capacity-buildingStrengthen national institutions•Greater weight to fostering national ownership and the development of local capacities
• Political level: promote a consistent and sustainable approach to mine action (e.g. reflected in a strategy & financing plan)
• Operational level: advise and assist the elaboration of action plans & incorporation of best practice
•Capacity to promote linkages between mine action & development
Evaluations/research •Follow-up on evaluations and implement recommendations •Support further research to increase both operational efficiency & developmental effectiveness of mine action
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Cartagena Summit: Possible EU/EC commitments• (EC): A commitment to work with Belarus and Ukraine
to finish the job of stockpile destruction • (EC): Announcement of a renewal of a thematic budget
line for mine action• (EC): Clarify that funds will be provided to those who:
- Have a clear idea of what remains- Have a realistic but not unambitious plan to
complete clearance- Have national plan to support survivors in the
context of broader disability action & human rights
• (Presidency): Announcement of a new Joint Action to support the application of the Cartagena Action Plan
• (Poland and Finland): Announcement of timelines for accession and steps to be taken along the way