LM Report 2003

Bolivia

Mine Ban Policy

Bolivia signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997, ratified on 9 June 1998, and the treaty entered into force on 1 March 1999. Bolivia has not yet enacted any national implementation legislation.^[5] In March 2003, Landmine Monitor was informed that the Ministry of Defense was preparing the annual updated Article 7 transparency report, due 30 April 2003.^[2] As of July 2003, it had not been submitted to the United Nations.

Bolivia participated in the Fourth Meeting of States Parties in September 2002, but did not attend any intersessional Standing Committee meetings in 2003.

On 22 November 2002, Bolivia voted in favor of UN General Assembly Resolution 57/74, promoting the universalization and implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty.

Bolivia is a State Party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Amended Protocol II (Landmines). It participated in the Fourth Annual Conference of States Parties to Amended Protocol II in December 2002.

Bolivia reports that it has never produced, exported, or used antipersonnel mines and it has no stockpiles, including any mines retained for training.^[3]

Landmine Problem

Bolivian territory is not mine-affected, but the border with Chile was mined by Chile in the 1970s, particularly in 1978 during a territorial dispute.^[4] In May 2002, Bolivia’s Ministry of Defense indicated that the country lacks detailed maps of mined areas on the border as these areas are in Chilean territory.^[5]

In the past Bolivia has stated that the local population knows of the existence of mined areas and avoids entering them.^[6] While a mine casualty was recorded on 6 September 2002 on the Chilean side of the border, no Bolivian casualties have been reported since May 2000. Authorities admit there are no official records kept of incidents.^[7]

Basic health services exist in the border area, while more specialized health services, including surgery, are found in the capitals of departments such as La Paz, Oruro, and Polosí.^[8] Bolivia has policies in place for people with disabilities, including Law 1678 of 15 December 1995. Article 17 established the National Committee of Disabled Persons as a decentralized body of the Ministry of Human Development, whose role is to coordinate and control all the public and/or private institutions working in favor of people with disabilities.^[9]

1 Response to Landmine Monitor from Ambassador Gonzalo Montenegro, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, faxed on 24 March 2003[.]
[2] Ibid.
[3] Article 7 Report, 8 November 1999; Response to Landmine Monitor from Ambassador Jorge Soruco Villanueva, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, faxed on 22 March 2001.
[4] For further information, see Landmine Monitor Report 2001, p. 277.
[5] Response to Landmine Monitor from the Ministry of Defense, 10 May 2002.
[6] Article 7 Report, 8 November 1999; response to Landmine Monitor from Ministry of Defense, 22 March 2001.
[7] Response to Landmine Monitor from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 24 March 2003.
[8] Response to Landmine Monitor from Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 22 March 2001.
[9] Congress of Bolivia, “Ley de la Persona con Discapacidad del 15 de diciembre de 1995,” Law No. 1678, www.solobolivia.com.