Press Room

Summary

On Wednesday 13 September, the major, global findings of Landmine Monitor Report 2006 will be released at a press conference at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Also on 13 September, the global mine action findings will be presented at a press conference and roundtable discussion in Bangkok, Thailand. On and after 13 September, campaigns are planning events in Baghdad, Baku, Bangkok, Beirut, Bogota, Brussels, Chisinau, Colombo, Dhaka, Djibouti, Dushanbe, Geneva, Guatemala City, Harare, Helsinki, Kathmandu, Khartoum, Kinmen Island, Lusaka, Maputo, Minsk, New Delhi, Phnom Penh, Riga, Sana’a, Skopje, Sukhum, Tokyo, Vancouver, Wellington and Western Sahara. In addition, campaigners plan to issue press releases in Cairo, Damascus, Melbourne and Paris.

The report is embargoed until 13 September. Please do not circulate, cite or otherwise use report findings until then. Media articles are embargoed until 08:00 GMT on 13 September.

For more information, to amend an event listing or to inform us of a release event not listed, please email lm@icbl.org.

Global Release Events

SWITZERLAND: Global Release

• 08:00 GMT/ 10:00 local time
• Press conference in Salle III at the Palais des Nations in Geneva
• Speakers: Stephen Goose, ICBL Head of Delegation; Ian Doucet, Landmine Monitor Final Editor; Sylvie Brigot, ICBL Executive Director and Jackie Hansen, Landmine Monitor Project Manager
• Contact: Jackie Hansen, office tel. +1-613-241-3777, mobile +1-613-851-5436, email Jackie@icbl.org

THAILAND: Mine Action

• 03:30 GMT/ 10:30 local time
• Press conference at Nai Lert Park Hotel in Bangkok. The press conference will be followed by a panel discussion
• Speakers: Landmine Monitor mine action team members, mine action professionals from Asia, national and international NGOs, UN agencies
• Program: Press conference to release the global mine action report findings, followed by a roundtable of experts on the future of mine action in Asia
• Contact: Karolina Guay (English), tel. +66-78-06-71-78, email karolina@icbl.org and Wasita Kitpreecha (Thai), tel. +66-2-619-7833

Country and Other Release Events

CYBERSPACE: Online report release – 13 September

• GMT 08:00 online at www.icbl.org/lm/2006
• Release of the full report including the full report in word and PDF format (searchable by country and linked to previous years’ reports) and its executive summary.
• Contact: lm@icbl.org

ABKHAZIA – 13 September

• Briefing at the Association of Invalid Support office in Sukhum, hosted by the Abkhazia Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Speakers: David McMahon of HALO Trust, Aslan Kutsnia of the Association of Invalid Support and representatives from the Abkhazian ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defense
• Program: Presentation of the Abkhazia report findings
• Contact: Vladimir Kakalia, tel. +995-4426-4716, email abcbl@icbl.org

AZERBAIJAN – 13 September

• 07:00 GMT/ 12:00 local time
• Press conference at InternationalPressCenter in Baku, hosted by the Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Speaker: Azerbaijan researcher Hafiz Safikhanov
• Program: Presentation of global and national report findings
• Contact: Hafiz Safikhanov, tel. +994-12-494-1458. Email azerbaijan@icbl.org

BANGLADESH – 1 October

• 06:00 GMT/ 12:00 local time
• Press conference at the Reporter’s Unity Club in Dhaka, hosted by Nonviolence International Bangladesh
• Speakers: Bangladesh researcher Rafique Al Islam and national NGOs
• Program: Release of national report findings, briefing on the mine situation in Bangladesh and survivor assistance needs.
• Contact: Rafique Al Islam, tel. +880-341-64809, email Bangladesh@nonviolenceinternational.net

BELARUS – 27 September

• 12:00 GMT/ 15:00 local time
• Briefing and roundtable at the Belarus Campaign to Ban Landmines office in Minsk, hosted by the Belarus Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Speakers: Country researcher Dr. Iouri Zagoumennov and representatives of the ministries of defense and foreign affairs
• Program: Presentation of the global and national report findings and roundtable discussion on implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty in Belarus
• Contact: Iouri Zagoumennov, tel. +375-296-105751, email izaglm@yahoo.com

BELGIUM – 13 September

• GMT 10:00/ 11:00 local time
• Press conference at the ResidencePalace in Brussels, hosted by Handicap International
• Speakers: Landmine Monitor Editorial Board member Stan Brabant, and HI staff Hildegarde Vansintjan and Kevin Bryant
• Contact: Hildegarde Vansintjan, tel. +32-2-280-16-01, email Hildegarde.Vansintjan@Handicap.be

CAMBODIA

• Briefing in Phnom Penh, hosted by the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Program: Release of national report findings and Khmer translation of country report
• Contact: Ny Nhar, tel. +855-23-880-139, email camban@online.com.kh

CANADA – 13 September

• 18:00 GMT/ 11:00 local time
• Panel Discussion at the Liu Institute at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, hosted by Mines Action Canada
• Speakers: DR Congo researcher Anthony Forrest, Non-State Armed Groups Thematic Coordinator Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan, Central America researcher Peter Sundberg and Mines Action Canada’s Janis Grychowski
• Program: Presentation of global report findings, with special focus on Canada’s role in mine action, DR Congo, Central America and Non-State Armed Groups
• Contact: Anthony Forrest, tel. +1-604-822-8820, email Anthony.forrest@ubc.ca

COLOMBIA – 13 September

• 14:00 GMT/ 09:00 local time
• Press conference at the Campaña Colombiana contra Minas (CCCM) office in Bogota, hosted by CCCM
• Speakers: Colombia researcher Camilo Serna, Colombian campaign coordinator Alvaro Jimenez Millan and landmine survivors
• Program: Presentation by landmine survivors, information about the Colombian campaign’s activities, global and national report findings. Launches will be held simultaneously in 22 departments
• Contact: Mauricio Silva, tel. +57-310-332-1576, email info@colombiasinminas.org

CROATIA – 4 October

• 10:00 GMT/ 11:00 local time
• Briefing in Zagreb, hosted by the Croatian Mine Victim Association
• Speakers: Croatia researcher Martina Belosevic, CROMAC director Oto Jungwirth and Advisor to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Dijana Plestina
• Contact: Martina Belosevic, tel. +385-1-3776-603/91-533-9523, email martina.belosevic@huzm.hr

DJIBOUTI –November

• Briefing session during COMESA Conference, hosted by ASSOVIM in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Contact: Abdoulkader Elmi Elabe, tel. +253-31-20-26, email: elabe_fr@yahoo.fr

FINLAND – 13 September

• 08:00 GMT/ 11:00 local time
• Press conference at Lasipalatsi restaurant in Helsinki, hosted by the Peace Union of Finland
• Speakers: Country researcher Eeva Suhonen, representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Red Cross
• Program: Presentation of national report findings, with a focus on landmines and Finland’s role as the current European Union president
• Contact: Eeva Suhonen, tel. +358-9-142915/407-177762

GUATEMALA – 13 September

• 9:00 GMT/ 11:00 local time
• Roundtable discussion at the ECPAT office in Guatemala City
• Speakers: Guatemala researcher Maria Eugenia Villarreal and Jhonny Cabrera from the government of Guatemala’s Executive Coordination Unit, including participation of the police and volunteer firefighters
• Program: Presentation of the global and national report findings and roundtable discussion
• Contact: Maria Eugenia Villarreal, tel. +502-2-254-7916, email vilareal@c.net.gt

IRAQ – 20 September

• Briefing in Baghdad, organized by the Iraq Handicapped Society
• Contact: Jabran Mansoor, jabranmansoor@yahoo.com

JAPAN – 14 September

• 06:00 GMT/ 15:00 local time at the JapaneseVolunteerCenter in Tokyo hosted by the Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Speakers: Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines representative Yasuhiro Kitagawa
• Program: Presentation of global report findings
• Contact: Junko Utsumi, tel. +81-3-3834-4340, email banmines@jca.apc.org

INDIA – 12 October

• 10:30 GMT/ 16:00 local time
• Press conference at the New Delhi Press Club in New Delhi sponsored by the Indian Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Speaker: India researcher Dr. Balkrishna Kurvey
• Program: Presentation of national and regional report findings, screening of a film on the situation of landmine survivors in India and presentation of the Landmine Monitor report to government officials.
• Contact: Dr. Balkrishna Kurvey, tel. +91-712-274-5806, email iipdep_ngp@sancharnet.org

LATVIA – 13 September

• 15:00 GMT/ 18:00 local time
• Briefing at RigaTechnicalUniversity in Riga, hosted by the Baltic International Centre for Human Education
• Contact: Dr. Igors Tipans, tel.+371-708-9013, email igors@latnet.lv

LEBANON – 3 October

• 08:00 GMT/ 11:00 local time
• Press conference at the Press Club in Beirut, hosted by the LandminesResourceCenter
• Speakers: Representatives of the LandminesResourceCenter, National Demining Office and government officials
• Contact: Habbouba Aoun, tel. +961-1-562108, email habbouba.aoun@balamand.edu.lb

MACEDONIA

• Briefing in Skopje, hosted by the Institute for Democracy, in coordination with the Directorate for Protection and Rescue
• Speakers: Country researcher Dane Taleski, representatives of the Directorate for Protection and Rescue and Ministries of Defense and Foreign Affairs
• Contact: Dane Taleski, tel. +389-3117-244, email danetaleski@yahoo.com

MOLDOVA – 22 September

• 08:00 GMT/ 11:00 local time
• Press conference at the Institute for Public Policy in Chisinau, hosted by the Institiute for Public Policy
• Speakers: Dr. Arcadie Barbarosie Iurie Pintea, Institute for Public Policy
• Program: Presentation of national report findings
• Contact: Iurie Pintea, tel. +373-69-566-966, email iurie.pintea@undp.org

MOZAMBIQUE

• Press conference in Maputo, hosted by Handicap International
• Contact: Patricia Campbell, email patricia@icbl.org

NEPAL – 14 September

• 11:15 GMT/ 17:00 local time
• Press conference and dinner at the Hotel Everest Seraton in Kathmandu, hosted by the Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal
• Speakers: Can Landmines Campaign Nepal and representatives of political parties
• Program: Presentation of national report findings
• Contact: Purna Shova Chitrakar, tel. +985-10-03622/1-4278990/1-4277428, email ncbl@mail.com.np

NEW ZEALAND – 13 September

• 05:45 GMT/ 17:45 local time
• Briefing at the Parliament Buildings in Wellington, hosted by Hon. Phil Goff, Minister for Disarmament and organized by the New Zealand Campaign Against Landmines (CALM)
• Program: Presentation of global report findings and launch of a fundraising appeal to support Mines Advisory Group’s mine action program in Lebanon
• Speakers: CALM Convenor David Zwartz, Hon. Phil Goff, Minister of Disarmament and the Executive Officer of Publicis Mojo
• Program: Briefing at the national parliament
• Contact: John Head, tel., +64-4-905-5524, email john.head@protel.co.nz

PAKISTAN – 18 September

• 08:00 GMT/ 12:00 local time
• Press conference at the Peshawar Press Club in Peshawar
• Speakers: Pakistan researchers Naveed Ahmad Shinwari (CAMP) and Imran
• Khan (SPADO).
• Program: Briefing on ICBL and Landmine Monitor, and release of Landmine
• Monitor findings for Pakistan.
• Contact: Naveed Ahmad Shinwari, tel. +92-91-5287078, email
• naveed@camp.org.pk and Imran Khan, tel. +92-91-5817252, email spado@icbl.org

SRI LANKA – 13 September 2006

• 04:30 GMT/ 10:00 local time
• Press conference at the Sri Lanka Institute for International Relations in Colombo, hosted by the Landmine Ban Advocacy Forum, under the auspices of the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies
• Speakers: Sri Lanka researcher Prasanna Kuruppu, Executive Director of CHA, representatives from the government of Sri Lanka, European Commission and Switzerland, UNDP and UNICEF
• Program: Briefing on ICBL and Landmine Monitor, overview of mine action activities in Sri Lanka, statements by diplomatic representatives, presentation by landmine survivors, release of Landmine Monitor findings for Sri Lanka, followed by a reception and photo exhibition
• Contact: Prasanna Kuruppu, tel. +94-11-257-8202, mobile +94-77-730-3412, email pkuruppu@sltnet.lk

SUDAN – 3 October

• 08:00 GMT/ 11:00 local time
• Briefing and press conference at the Elzubair Conference Hall in Khartoum, hosted by the Sudan Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Speakers: Sudan researchers Abdelatie Abdel Eid and Hiba Elhassan, and representatives from UNDP, NMAO, the State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and the Secretary-General of the Sudan Landmine Authority
• Program: Presentation of national report findings and presentations by UNDP, NMAO and the Government of Sudan
• Contact: Abdelatie Eid, tel. +249-912393599 , email abdelati@hotmail.com

TAIWAN – 16 December

• Event on KinmenIsland, hosted by the Eden Social Welfare Foundation
• Speakers: Representatives of the diplomatic community, parliamentarians and Taiwan researchers
• Program: Mine action forum, release of Landmine Monitor report and visit to mine-affected areas
• Contact: Serena Chang, tel. +886-2-2577-4828, email eden2685d@mail.eden.org.tw

TAJIKISTAN – 27 September

• 04:00 GMT/ 09:00 local time
• Briefing and press conference at the Tajik Mine Action Cell office in Dushanbe, hosted by ICBL Tajikistan
• Speakers: Tajikistan researchers Bakhtiyor Begmuradov and Aziza Hakimova
• Program: Release of national report findings
• Contact: Bakhtiyor Begmuradov, tel. +992-37-2219070/ 2274758, email Tajikistan@icbl.org

TURKEY – 13 September

• 08:00 GMT/11:00 local time
• Press conference, hosted by the Initiative for a Mine-Free Turkey
• Contact: Muteber Ögreten, tel. +90-216-492-05-04, email bilgi@mayinsizbirturkiye.org

WESTERN SAHARA – 12 October

• Briefing at Saharawi refugee camps, hosted by the Saharawi Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Program: Release of Western Sahara report findings
• Contact: Boybat Cheikh Abdelhay, tel. +213-629-931-69, email scabam01@yahoo.es

YEMEN – 13 September

• 08:00 GMT/ 10:00 local time
• Press conference at the YemenMineAwarenessAssociationCenter in Aden, hosted by the Yemen Mine Awareness Association
• Speakers: Yemen researchers Mohamed Saleh Masoud, Nadra Abdul Qadoos and Aisha Saeed
• Program: Release of national report findings, briefing on the mine situation in Yemen and Yemen Mine Awareness Association’s MRE activities
• Contact: Aisha Saeed, tel. +967-2231602/ 7-1119-3321, email rbyemcacd@y.net.ye

ZAMBIA

• Briefing in Lusaka in Lusaka, hosted by the Zambia Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Contact: Dr. Robert Mtonga, tel. +260-9774-6060, email zambia@icbl.org

ZIMBABWE – 28 September

• 06:30 GMT/ 08:30 local time
• Briefing at the Centre for Defence Studies at the University of Harare in Harare, hosted by the Centre for Defence Studies
• Speakers: Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defense, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ZIMAC Director, Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe, parliamentarians from mine-affected areas and the country researcher for Zimbabwe.
• Program: Release of national report findings and speeches by government officials
• Contact: Frederick Sadomba, tel. +263-4-744-488, email fredericksad@yahoo.co.uk