Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD)
The Geneva
International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) works towards a world
free of anti-personnel landmines and for the reduction of the humanitarian
impact of remnants of war by providing operational assistance, creating and
sharing knowledge, and supporting instruments of international law.
The GICHD is an independent and impartial organisation. It was established in
1998 as a Swiss initiative and is supported by the Governments of Austria,
Belgium, Cambodia, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy,
Japan, Mexico, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom,
the United States of America, and the Republic and Canton of Geneva. The Centre
has particularly close working relations with the United Nations.
The Centre currently consists of 28 permanent staff members, including five
persons seconded by the Governments of France, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and
the UK. In total, 13 nationalities are represented at the Centre (including
staff members having more than one citizenship): Switzerland (12 persons), UK
(5), US (3), Canada (2), New Zealand (2), Australia, Chile, Columbia, France,
Germany, Italy, Norway and Sweden.
Activities in 2002-2003
Operational Assistance
One of the
Centre’s core missions consists of providing specific operational support
and assistance to on-going or emerging mine action activities and programmes
mainly run by the UN. The Centre is active in the fields of information
management, standardisation, the provision of technical assistance and training,
evaluation, and the facilitation of discussions by providing relevant fora.
The GICHD develops and disseminates the Information Management System for
Mine Action (IMSMA) in co-operation with the United Nations Mine Action
Service (UNMAS) and other users. IMSMA consists of a ready-to-use computer
platform covering data collection, mapping and information management needs of
mine action programmes in the field. As of April 2003, IMSMA is in use in 29
mine-affected countries and regions.
On behalf of UNMAS, the Centre prepares the International Standards for
Mine Action (IMAS). IMAS provides practitioners and donors with an updated
framework of technical and procedural prescriptions for safe and effective
demining. In total, 27 IMAS have been endorsed by the relevant UN committee by
the end of 2002. An additional five IMAS are currently being prepared.
The GICHD also develops and distributes the Technical Notes for Mine Action
(TNMA). In addition, the Centre organises the annual International Meeting of
Mine Action Programme Directors and Advisors in Geneva on behalf of the United
Nations.
Finally, the Centre offers its services to governments and interested
organisations to evaluate projects and programmes. It provides technical
assistance and training for specific programmes of governments, or international
organisations such as the ICRC, NATO, the European Commission, and various
NGOs.
Research Activities
The GICHD continued to develop strategies and
procedures for mine action, with the aim of improving quality and making mine
action safer and more cost-effective. It uses its expertise in research to
produce accurate, impartial, objective and detailed studies. The results of such
studies are transformed into specific recommendations and guidelines for
dissemination to the field, backed up by practical instruments like field
demonstrations, workshops, training courses, handbooks, and software tools.
The GICHD undertakes a whole set of research projects to improve the
operational use of mine detection dogs. These animals have an important
potential in reducing areas perceived as being mined in a fast and efficient
way. Another key topic of GICHD’s research activities is mechanical
demining, where several projects aim at establishing the efficiency and
cost-effectiveness of such equipment. In addition, the Centre runs projects in
the field of socio-economic impacts of mines and in the field of mine risk
education.
The following publications became available during the reporting period:
Socio-Economic Approaches to Mine Action: Operational Handbook (ISBN
92-1-126146-5)
Communication in Mine Awareness Programmes (ISBN 2-88486-001-6)
Improving Communication in Mine Awareness Programmes (handbook)
(ISBN 2-88487-002-4)
Mine Action Equipment: Study of Global Operational Needs (ISBN
2-88487-004-0)
Explosive Remnants of War – A Threat Analysis (ISBN
2-88487-003-2)
Explosive Remnants of War – Undesired Explosions in Ammunition
Stockpiles (ISBN 2-88487-006-7)
Explosive Remnants of War – Warnings and Risk Education (ISBN
2-88487-010-5)
Explosive Remnants of War – Information Requirements (ISBN
2-88487-011-3)
These publications are available on the Centre’s homepage
(www.gichd.ch) or can be obtained from the GICHD in hard copy.
Support for the Implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention
(“Ottawa Convention”)
In September 2001, the States Parties to the
Convention mandated the GICHD to establish an Implementation Support Unit (ISU).
This unit provides a variety of services to the Presidency and the Co-ordinating
Committee of the States Parties and established a documentation and resource
database facility on the Convention and the negotiations leading to its
signature.
The GICHD also hosts the meetings of the Standing Committees within the
intersessional work programme of the Convention. These meetings bring together
representatives of States Parties, non-States Parties, international
organisations, NGOs and other experts in order to ensure effective
implementation and to report to the States Parties. The Centre also provides
technical input to these activities, mainly in the areas of mine clearance,
victim’s assistance, stockpile destruction and technology.
Finally, the Centre administers a Sponsorship Programme on behalf of a Group
of Donors, which allows selected delegates from less developed and/or
mine-affected countries to participate at the implementation work of the States
Parties.
Point of Contact
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining 7bis, avenue de la
Paix P.O. Box 1300 CH-1211 Geneva 1, Switzerland Phone: +41 22 906
16 60 Fax: +41 22 906 16
90 info@gichd.ch www.gichd.ch
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