peace through disarmament

PEACE THROUGH DISARMAMENT

INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW, MINE ACTION AND YOUTH ACTIVISM

LANDMINES, CLUSTER MUNITIONS AND OTHER EXPLOSIVE REMNANTS OF WAR

According to the 2010 Landmine Monitor Report, there were 3,956 casualties of landmines, cluster munitions and other

explosive remnants of war across the globe. These weapons resulted in the deaths of 1,041 people and injury of 2,855

people with 60 casualties’ status unknown.

HOW CAN WE REDUCE THE EFFECTS OF CONFLICT?

INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW AND THE 4TH GENEVA CONVENTION

THE 4TH GENEVA CONVENTION PROVIDES

HUMANITARIAN PROTECTION TO CIVILIANS UNDER IHL.

INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW SEEKS TO

SAVE LIVES AND ALLEVIATE SUFFERING DURING ARMED

CONFLICT.

THE PRINCIPAL OF PROPORTIONALITY

THE EFFECT OF THE MEANS AND METHODS OF WARFARE USED MUST NOT BE DISPROPORTIONATE TO

THE MILITARY ADVANTAGE SOUGHT.

INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW

IF A WEAPON OF WAR CANNOT DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN MILITARY AND CIVILIAN TARGETS CAUSING

UNJUSTIFIED SUFFERING, ITS USE IS PROHIBITED UNDER IHL.

WHAT ARE LANDMINES?

WHAT ARE LANDMINES?

A mine designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person and that will

incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons.

HOW DO LANDMINES EXPLODE?BLAST MINE

FRAGMENTATIONMINE

HOW DO LANDMINES EXPLODE?BLAST MINE

FRAGMENTATIONMINE

Explode at ground level activated by pressure

giving off a blast wave and projecting shrapnel

causing injury or death.

Explode at or 3-4 feet above ground often

activated by trip wire projecting fragments

causing injury or death.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF LANDMINES IN THE WORLD ?

WHAT IS THE STATE OF LANDMINES IN THE WORLD ?

According to the 2010 Landmine Monitor Report, 66 states and seven areas are mine-affected or suspected of being so. There were 513 casualties of AP landmines.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF LANDMINES IN NEPAL?

WHAT IS THE STATE OF LANDMINES IN NEPAL?

Context - During the decade-long conflict the Royal Nepal Army laid mines across 53 fields.

Victims – Based on the data available, since 1 January 2006 to 1 June 2011, 23 mine casualties were reported resulting in 4 fatalities.

State – As of 14 June 2011, all 53 landmine fields have been cleared. However, the Nepal Army still possesses stockpiles making Nepal mine-

field free rather than completely mine free.

HOW CAN WE SOLVE THE LANDMINE PROBLEM?

HOW CAN WE SOLVE THE LANDMINE PROBLEM?

Mine Risk Education is essential to spreading awareness to affected communities in order that they avoid the weapon and contact the authorities for destruction.

MINE RISK EDUCATION

HOW CAN WE SOLVE THE PROBLEM?

The Geneva Conventions’ Means and Methods of Warfare prohibit the use of weapons that do not discriminate between military and civilian targets. Although peace may be declared, these weapons continue to

maim and kill. The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of AP Mines and on their

Destruction is the international agreement banning AP mines and can create a mine free world

ANTI-PERSONNEL MINE BAN CONVENTIONStates Party: 156 / States Not Party: 39

WHAT ARE CLUSTER MUNITIONS?

WHAT ARE CLUSTER MUNITIONS?

Cluster munitions means a conventional munition that is designed to disperse or release explosive

submunitions each weighing less than 20 kilograms and includes those submunitions.

HOW DO CLUSTER MUNITIONS EXPLODE?

Cluster munitions are dispersed across a wide area intended to detonate upon impact. However, the detonation failure rate is quite high. Cluster munitions can detonate when handled and on account of their toy-like shape, children are often times victims. When they explode, submunitions can cause fatalities to anyone within a 20

metres radius and injuries within a 100 metres radius.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF CLUSTER MUNITIONS IN THE WORLD ?

WHAT IS THE STATE OF CLUSTER MUNITIONS IN THE WORLD ?

According to the 2010 Landmine Monitor Report, at least 23 countries and 3 areas are affected by cluster munitions. There were 100 victims of

cluster submunition remnants as well as an undetermined number of cluster munition victims from the 1,044 casualties of explosive remnants

of war. However, it should be noted that there is no definitive reliable statistic for cluster munition casualties and the issue of underreporting is

widespread.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF CLUSTER MUNITIONS IN NEPAL?

WHAT IS THE STATE OF CLUSTER MUNITIONS IN NEPAL?

Nepal has never used or been affected by cluster munitions.

HOW CAN WE SOLVE THE LANDMINE PROBLEM?

Risk Education is essential to spreading awareness to affected communities in order that they avoid the

weapon and contact the authorities for destruction.

RISK EDUCATION

HOW CAN WE SOLVE THE PROBLEM?

The Geneva Conventions’ Means and Methods of Warfare prohibit the use of weapons that do not discriminate between military and civilian targets.

Cluster munitions are deployed over an extremely wide area affecting both military and civilian personnel. In addition they have an extremely high detonation failure rate continuing to cause casualties after conflict. The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Cluster Munitions and on their Destruction is the international agreement banning cluster munitions and can create a cluster munition

free world

THE CONVENTION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONSSignatories: 109 / Non-signatories: 86

WHAT ARE EXPLOSIVE REMNANTS OF WAR AND IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES?

WHAT ARE EXPLOSIVE REMNANTS OF WAR AND IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES?

IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES

A manually placed explosive device normally ‘home-made’ and adapted in some way to

kill, injure, damage property or create terror. An IED is a

specific kind of ERW.

EXPLOSIVE REMNANTS OF WARAll unexploded weapons, other than landmines, which remain after a conflict. These include

artillery shells, grenades, rockets, airdropped bombs and

cluster munitions.

HOW DO ERW AND IEDs EXPLODE?

Weapons that fail to detonate on impact can later be activated by handling and contact.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF ERW AND IEDs IN THE WORLD ?

WHAT IS THE STATE OF ERW AND IEDs IN THE WORLD ?

According to the 2010 Landmine Monitor Report, there were 1,044 casualties of victim-activated ERW and 549

casualties of IEDs.

WHAT IS THE STATE OF CLUSTER MUNITIONS IN NEPAL?

WHAT IS THE STATE OF ERW AND IEDs IN NEPAL?

Context – During the conflict, IEDs were utilized by the Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Royal Nepal Army and Maoist Army.

Victims – Based on the data available since 1 January 2006 to 1 June 2011, there have been 450 casualties from victim-activated

explosions of ERW and IEDs.State – IED fields laid by the RNA are to be cleared by the end of

2011, however, there are unknown amounts of ERW left by Maoists and currently used by armed groups.

HOW CAN WE SOLVE THE LANDMINE PROBLEM?

Risk Education is essential to spreading awareness to affected communities in order that they avoid the

weapon and contact the authorities for destruction.

RISK EDUCATION

HOW CAN WE SOLVE THE PROBLEM?

These weapons do not discriminate between military and civilian personnel and continue to kill and injure once hostilities have ceased. The United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Protocol II (mines, booby traps and other devices) as well as Protocol V (Explosive

Remnants of War) work to address the use of these weapons and provide guidelines for sharing information, conducting risk education and

removing the weapons from affected areas.

THE CONVENTION ON CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS

States Parties: 109 / Non-States Parties: 86

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

As youth, you are the future leaders of your country. You have the power within yourselves to create the type of society you

want to live in. You possess the passion, drive and commitment to be a positive and powerful force for peace. Although the path of promoting social justice will contain both peaks and valleys, hold firm to your ideals and remain resolute in your convictions as a better world is not only possible, because of

you, it is currently under construction.

ENGAGE THE COMMUNITYKnow Your Audience

Determine the number of people,

assess their level of knowledge and

consider the most appropriate style.

Creating the Presentation

Hook the audience in early, connect the

topic to the audience and identify steps they can take to

address the issue.

Giving An Effective PresentationBe engaging,

welcome comment with positive feedback and

maintain a comfortable pace.

ENGAGE THE MEDIA

MagazinesSending the MessageSpread awareness for

the issue to a large audience, express a

more in-depth opinion and provide relevant statistics to support your perspective.

Newspapers

Websites

RadioTelevision

ENGAGE THE GOVERNMENT

ContactSend an e-mail,

letter or fax, request a meeting

and collect signatures on the

issue.

PreparationKnow the issue, outline why it

requires urgent action and

provide solutions.

Remember, elected officials are entrusted to act according to the will of the people. Speaking on behalf

of the members of society is vital for change.

LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE!"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens

us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you

not to be? … It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we

let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people

permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear,

our presence automatically liberates others."Nelson Mandela

FOR MORE INFORMATIONINTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN TO BAN LANDMINES

WWW.ICBL.ORG

CLUSTER MUNITIONS COALITIONWWW.STOPCLUSTERMUNITIONS.ORG

THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE FOR DISARMAMENT AFFAIRShttp://www.un.org/disarmament/

THE UNITED NATIONS OFFICE OF GENEVAWWW.UNOG.CH

BAN LANDMINES CAMPAIGN NEPALWWW.NEPAL.ICBL.ORG

YPIMAP 2011

DUSTIN CIUFO

MINES ACTION CANADA

BAN LANDMINES CAMPAIGN NEPAL