Canada is proud of the
accomplishments made over the past year, in partnership with other members of
the mine action community, in moving towards universalization and implementation
of the Ottawa Convention. Since its entry-into-force on 1 March 1999, an
additional 23 states have ratified or acceded to the Convention. It is likely
that when the Landmine Monitor Report 2000 is released, over 100 states will
have made the formal commitment to join the global ban on anti-personnel mines.
As these numbers increase, progress in mine action continues. We have witnessed
the worldwide production and transfer of AP mines grind to a halt. Mines are
being pulled from the ground at a faster rate than they are being planted.
Casualty rates are on the decline. And the needs of landmine victims and their
families are beginning to be met through the work of dedicated governments,
organizations, and individuals working in the health, aid, and development
sectors.
Canada has contributed CDN$25 million since 1998 to support mine action in
every region of the world. In that time, Canadian funding and expertise have
gone to support mine clearance operations in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Ecuador,
Jordan, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Peru, Yemen, Moldova, and every mine affected
country in the Balkans. Canada has supported mine awareness programs in Angola,
Iraq, Laos, Sudan, and Colombia and provided assistance to mine victims in some
of the world=s most war-ravaged countries, including Azerbaijan, El Salvador,
Bosnia, and Sierra Leone.
Canadian mine action initiatives have worked to ensure that the borders
between former adversaries become mine free. Canadian-funded initiatives have
helped numerous communities to develop indigenous mine action capacities. Some
of the most innovative and urgently needed developments in mine action
technologies have come from Canadian financing, and from the talents of
individual Canadians. And Canada has demonstrated a willingness and an ability
to respond quickly to mine-related emergencies. In 1999, Canada provided funding
to Nicaragua through the OAS to support the clearance of uprooted mines in the
aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. This year, when devastating floods hit Mozambique,
disrupting mine clearance activities in that country, Canada became the first
country to respond to the United Nations= appeal for assistance. Canada
contributed CDN$500,000 to assess the crisis and to raise awareness of the new
landmine dangers associated with the flooding.
In all, Canada has supported over 100 mine action projects in more than 30
countries since 1998 and has contributed to more than 50 multilateral, regional,
and thematic initiatives over the same
period.[1] With a continuing
commitment from the Government of Canada to support mine action globally through
the CDN$100 million Canadian Landmine Fund, Canada will remain a world leader in
providing financial and technical support to mine-affected countries.
Canada is particularly encouraged by the success of the Ottawa Convention=s
intersessional program over the past year. This program has channelled the work
of the donor community, mine-affected states, and other interested parties
through the work of five committees to tackle issues related to the
implementation of the Convention. Some of the successes of the first
intersessional program include the following:
The Standing Committee of Experts (SCE) on Mine Clearance identified
over 50 action items and covered Β in detail Β important issues such
as international standards for mine clearance and the development of indigenous
demining capacities.
The SCE on Victim Assistance put into action the Convention=s
tradition of inclusiveness, partnership, dialogue, openness, and practical
cooperation through the establishment of ΑNetwork Groups≅ which
afforded a leading role to NGOs and international organizations such as the
World Health Organization in administering victim assistance.
The SCE on Stockpile Destruction succeeded in engaging States Parties
on matters related to the obligation to destroy all stockpiled AP mines within
four years of entry-into-force Β an obligation that had received very
little attention prior to discussions held in the intersessional environment.
The SCE on Mine Action Technologies facilitated an all-important
dialogue between end users and the people who develop technologies.
The SCE on the General Status and Operation of the Convention
addressed issues of compliance with the Convention=s transparency measures, the
implementation of national laws in accordance with the Convention, and the
retention of limited numbers of mines for training purposes.
Canada
has long recognized that, although mine action is a relatively new area, there
is a need to demonstrate that initiatives undertaken as part of mine action are
achieving results valued by the mine action community Β particularly the
results expected by individuals and communities affected by landmines. As such,
Canada has developed a system of measurement for mine action, focussed on six
areas:
improving mine action information and planning;
clearing mined land;
delivering mine awareness education and reducing casualties;
meeting the needs of landmine victims;
ending the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of AP mines, and;
sustaining mine action efforts.
The progress measurement system
developed by Canada incorporates the exhaustive research carried out by the
Landmine Monitor initiative and, upon integration with further research and data
sets, presents a comprehensive assessment of progress based on a series of
measurement indicators. The results will give the mine action community a
clearer understanding of the state of mine action on a country-by-country basis
and will afford donor governments, NGOs, and international organizations the
opportunity to see where effective mine action is lacking, what forms of
delivery are working best, where course corrections may be necessary, and where
successes can be reinforced through the application of increased mine action
efforts.
Landmine Monitor has played an important role in this regard by providing the
mine action community with an important and expanding data set. The Landmine
Monitor initiative has also established itself as a world leader in drawing
attention to violations of the new international norm surrounding the Ottawa
Convention. It was Landmine Monitor Β at the First Meeting of States
Parties to the Convention Β that exposed AP mine use in Angola and the
possible use of mines by 10 other governments and several non-state actors. In
addition, it was thanks to the global reach of the Landmine Monitor initiative
that reports of mine use in Chechnya and Kashmir were brought to the world=s
attention. The Government of Canada has every confidence that Landmine Monitor
will continue to hold governments accountable for their actions and continually
make them mindful of their obligations.
For these reasons, Canada has been proud to be a leading contributor to the
Landmine Monitor initiative, donating a total of CDN$900,000 over the period
1998 to 2001. Canada values Landmine Monitor as both a partner and an integral
element of an international monitoring system Β a system that measures
progress in mine action, provides transparency, and facilitates implementation
of the Ottawa Convention. As part of this system, Landmine Monitor provides the
mine action community with important inputs through which lessons can be
learned, progress evaluated, and new courses of action taken.
Canada continues to believe that the terror of anti-personnel mines can be
overcome in years, not decades Β as long as we maintain our collective
commitment to address the problem. Landmine Monitor is deeply involved in this
commitment. The value of its contribution of information, knowledge, and insight
cannot be overstated. The Government of Canada applauds the efforts of the
Landmine Monitor core group, the organizers and researchers involved in this
project, and the numerous donors to this initiative for their continued
partnership.
[1] For a complete listing of Canada=s
contributions to mine action, please see the United Nations Mine Action Service
on-line database, Mine Action Investments, at
www.un.org/Depts/dpko/mine