December 2009
12 posts
5 tags
Obama's Opportunity to Lead a Landmine-Free World
By Queen Noor of Jordan The following article ran in The Huffington Post on Thursday, December 3rd. For twelve years, the United States has refused to ban a weapon that kills and mutilates innocent women, men and children even in peacetime. The time has come for the world’s most powerful high-tech military to give up its low-tech stockpile of ten million antipersonnel landmines. Today there...
13 tags
Cartagena Updates Part Deux: Quad Rugby, Victim...
Quad Rugby? Huge success! Thanks to Nerina and Riley for organizing the event, and to Nate for his awesome video.
In other news:
Tirza, Ramiz, and Kim give presentations on victim assistance.
Ken Rutherford speaks with the U.S. delegation (who are reviewing, not opposing the treaty)
Shireen makes some royal connections in Middle East lobbying.
Read Tirza’s full update after the...
6 tags
“We were all excited to witness this long-awaited occasion, the day our government officially declared Rwanda a mine-free country.
The bombs which had littered our schools, markets, bridges, and coffee lands were terrifying and deadly reminders of the Tutsi genocide of 1994. Once again, our children may walk to school without fear, our farmers may grow coffee without fear, and all may...
5 tags
On International Day of Persons with Disabilities,...
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munition Coalition have issued the following press release, which provides detailed information about Cartagena Summit, the Mine Ban Treaty, and their histories. Although targeted at educating government officials, this is an excellent source for anyone seeking background information on these topics or links to other resources.
...
3 tags
U.S. State Department Pledges Support, Funding for...
In a statement delivered at Cartagena Summit on Monday, the U.S. delegation explained its attendance of the conference as part of “an on-going comprehensive review of U.S. landmine policy.” They emphasized the country’s shared commitment to eliminating the humanitarian risks posed by landmines, as exhibited by its past contributions of over $1.5 billion toward humanitarian mine...
10 tags
Get ready to Rumble in Cartagena!
Event: “Rumble in Cartagena” Quad Rugby Match
Hosted by: Survivor Corps, the ICBL, the CMC and Fundacion Arcangeles
Date: Wednesday, December 2
Time: 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Location: Colegio Salesianos
December 3 marks the anniversary of the signing of both the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and the Convention on Cluster Munitions as well as International Day of Persons...
4 tags
6 tags
Meet the Survivor Corps Cartagena Team: Tirza...
Tirza Leibowitz leads the rights advocacy team, carrying out the Survivor Campaign for Disability Rights and promoting the rights of conflict survivors worldwide. Before joining Survivor Corps, Leibowitz worked as Legal Advisor at Bizchut–The Israel Human Rights Center for People with Disabilities. She spearheaded efforts to influence legislation, litigation, and the public forum, which resulted...
2 tags
4 tags
Rwanda becomes landmine-free!
Rwanda now ranks among the few countries to become completely mine-free! The announcement is to be made at the Cartagena Summit on a Mine-Free World in Colombia.
From BBC News:
Hundreds of people have been killed and horrifically injured by landmines in Rwanda.
Landmines were laid between 1990 and 1994 in Rwanda and over the past three years more than over 9,000 have been destroyed by...
4 tags
Zeljko Valas educates Bosnia and Herzegovina...
Today we are very proud of Zeljko Valas, our Bosnia and Herzegovina representative at Cartagena.
He was asked by the BiH delegation to co-present BiH’s government victim assistance intervention, and he unflinchingly explained where BiH was falling short from a rights-based approach to victim assistance and how to remedy that, even as he was speaking on behalf of the delegation. In his...
7 tags
A Letter from Tirza: Update from the Summit
Tirza Leibowitz, Survivor Corps’ Director of Rights Advocacy, gives an update on the progress of Cartagena Summit.
It’s a pleasure to have met up with everyone — Kim Hoa, Shireen, Albert, Zeljko, Ramiz, Jesus, Bekele, Jairo, Riley, (Nate joining this evening) — and to work together as a team. Highlights from today’s events: 1. Our side event on Towards...
November 2009
12 posts
Colombian Air Force Destroys Stockpiled Cluster...
Great news from Cluster Munition Coalition, and just in time for the summit:
The Colombian Air Force’s destruction this week of cluster bomb stockpiles is a positive step for civilian protection that challenges other Latin American countries to join the global ban on the weapon and destroy their own stockpiles, the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) said today.
“Putting these weapons forever...
4 tags
Meet the Survivor Corps Cartagena Team: Eric...
My name is Eric Niragira. Burundian with a degree in Management, I am the founding President of the training center for development of ex-combatants. I took part in the war in our country, Burundi. During this period many innocent people were killed and women raped. After combat, I continued my studies and created CEDAC in order to share experiences with other ex-combatants, and analyze together...
4 tags
U.S. to attend Cartagena Summit
The United States has registered to send a delegation to the upcoming review conference of the Mine Ban Treaty in Cartagena. The world power has been a notable absence from the agreement between nations to disarm the dangerous weapon, and this delegation could be a favorable bellwether.
The news is encouraging to campaigners, who predict that US involvement will reinvigorate international...
This little lights up mines
Students at the University of Edinburgh have produced a bacteria that glows green when in the presence of landmines. The chemical, which can be safely sprayed from aircraft onto danger zones, could be a breakthrough development in mine detection and preserving the safety of demining workers.
For more information, check out the BBC article.
Photo by Simon Cousins
5 tags
2009 Landmine Monitor Report released!
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines released their annual report yesterday, November 12. The report, compiled by a worldwide network of researchers, tracks each country’s progress in eradicating landmine threat, and includes updated numbers such as annual casualties, landmines removed, and risk education recipients.
Overall, the results are encouraging. In the past decade, over...
Cartagena's Tourism Agency →
6 tags
Survivor Corps and CIREC to host roundtable...
Event: Towards Survivorship: From victims to citizens
Date: Monday, November 30,
Time: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Comisión 4
Victim assistance can be provided in a way that promotes victimhood. It can highlight reparations alone as a condition for recovery. It can lack the end-goal of creating a true opportunity for full and effective participation in all walks of society. Or, it can be...
7 tags
United States provides Mozambique 2 million USD in...
Photo: Guy Oliver/IRIN
To date, the U.S. has provided Mozambique more than 47 million USD in assistance under its Humanitarian Mine Action program. In related news, a recent IRIN article provides a comprehensive, insider’s look into the work of HALO, Mozambique’s biggest humanitarian deminer:
“The deminer’s world is the square metre that he or she kneels before, which...
4 tags
Cartagena History: Castillo de San Felipe de...
Photo: Denis Jacquerye, 2005
Taking nearly 200 years and over 245 tons of gold to build, the 17th-century Castillo is one of the greatest Spanish fortresses ever constructed. Visitors can take in breathtaking views from its parapets and walk amongst the cannons that once broke a three month siege by English warships.
The Castillo’s entrance fee is $5 US, but the facility, which lacks...
8 tags
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund Supports US...
NEW YORK - October 29 - The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund has agreed to support the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines over the next year as it works to bring the United States in line with the international treaties banning landmines and cluster munitions.
“Through her work with landmine survivors, Diana, Princess of Wales understood the devastating effects that landmines and...
October 2009
23 posts
9 tags
Review: Tirana Workshop on Achieving a Mine-Free...
From 7-9 October, members of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) gathered in Tirana, Albania for the Tirana Workshop on Achieving a Mine-Free South Eastern Europe to conduct advocacy and outreach in support of the Mine Ban Treaty, as well as the Convention on Cluster Munitions. This was the last of a series of regional meetings convened in the lead-up to the Cartagena Summit (Second...
6 tags
Campaign calls on governments to stop funding...
Photo: Simon Conway
(London, 28 October 2009) Almost one year on from the historic signing of the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo in December 2008, campaigners are launching a call on governments to stem the flow of money to producers of these indiscriminate weapons.
“Governments made history when they signed the cluster bomb ban last year. Now they need to make it clear that...
6 tags
Campaign urges hold-out states to ban landmines
Photo: Mary Wareham
(New York: 23 October 2009)- Governments that have still not joined the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines should participate in a forthcoming global summit and join the agreement without delay, said the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) today at an event at the United Nations in New York.
“Almost all of the governments that have not yet...
5 tags
Rapping against risk: Cambodian authorities use...
Photo: Sok Savy, Radio Australia
A recent study by the Integrated Mine Action project shows an unsettling figure: up to 80 per cent of victims hurt in landmine accidents have attended risk education sessions. Of these victims, boys and young men were far more likely to tamper with ordnance and cause themselves needless harm. The message was clearly not getting through.
In an effort to reach...
6 tags
UN: States urged to support swift global ban on...
(New York, 21 October 2009) – Governments should redouble their efforts to sign and ratify the 2008 global treaty banning cluster bombs, the Cluster Munition Coalition said today at a special event held during talks on disarmament and international security in the UN General Assembly.
“We urge all signatories to ratify as quickly as possible in order to trigger entry into force of the...
6 tags
In demining Jordan, "much work remains" says...
“AMMAN (JT) - Despite recent progress, much work remains to be done to rid the Kingdom of landmines, HRH Prince Mired, chairman of the National Committee for De-mining and Rehabilitation (NCDR), said on Tuesday.” Full story
9 tags
Colombia holds record for most landmine victims in... →
“With over 8,000 deaths between 1990 and August 2009, Colombia holds the record for highest number of deaths from land mines in the world, according to the country’s authorities.”
8 tags
6 tags
Take Action - Sign the People's Treaty →
By signing, individuals and organizations can help the Mine Ban Treaty become international law.
14 tags
Meet the Survivor Corps Cartagena Team: Kim Hoa
I am so happy that we will have the chance to work together for the survivor cause in the Cartagena Summit this year.
I am Kim Hoa from Landmine Survivors Network in Vietnam. I joined the Network about four years ago and currently am working as a Monitoring and Evaluation Officer cum Advocacy Officer. In Vietnam, we have been working to raise the profiles of the Convention on Cluster Munitions...
14 tags
Meet the Survivor Corps Cartagena Team: Albert...
My name is Albert, and it will be a great pleasure to meet all of you in Cartagena in November.
I am the Country Program Coordinator of Survivor Corps in Rwanda (East Africa) and I have been working with SC since last year. I am happy to be part of this amazing team. I’ve been involved in monitoring and advocacy of the Committee of the Cluster Munitions Coalition (CMC), the Mine Ban Treaty,...
9 tags
Meet the Survivor Corps Cartagena Team: Riley...
I’m Riley Abbott and I’m a Program Associate at Survivor Corps. I have had a chance to work with some of you directly at the Mine Ban Treaty Meeting of States Parties in June 08, with others while at an advocacy training in Kampala, here in Washington, or even remotely via email. For those whom I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting face-to-face, I’m really excited to do...
11 tags
Meet the Survivor Corps Cartagena Team: Nerina...
I am Nerina Cevra and I work with Survivor Corps at Washington, DC office. I am originally from Bosnia and have fled the country because of the conflict in the 90s and found permanent residence in the US, with my family. I have worked with Survivor Corps since 2003. I began as an interpreter, and continued as an advocacy assistant and officer, working with Ramiz, Bekele and others at the...
14 tags
Meet the Survivor Corps Cartagena Team: Shireen...
My name is Shireen, I work as the Regional Coordinator and Partnerships Manager at the Survivor Corps Middle East and North Africa office located in Amman, Jordan. I have been working with Survivor Corps/LSN since 2007 as a social worker. I am very eager to participate in the summit and to be able to take a leading role in the region.
4 tags
Meet the Survivor Corps Cartagena Team: Kenneth R....
Kenneth R. Rutherford lost both his legs to a landmine in Somalia in 1993. He is currently an Professor Pubilc Affairs at Missouri State University and travels worldwide to promote the economic and social rights for persons with disabilities. He is co-founder of Survivor Corps, formerly the Landmine Survivors Network,. He was a Peace Corps volunteer in Mauritania, UNHCR in Senegal, and the...
8 tags
Meet the Survivor Corps Cartagena Team: Zeljko...
I started working for LSN/LSI in 2000 and I am working as Outreach Coordinator covering Banja Luka region. To date I have participated to many conferences and I will mention some of them here: participation to the 7th Ad Hoc Committee meeting on CRPD in New York in 2006; Intersessionals meeting and RTV training in Geneva in 2006; Regional Conference on CRPD in Belgrade in 2006; development of...
11 tags
Meet the Survivor Corps Cartagena Team: Ramiz...
My name is Ramiz Becirovic and I am working as Advocacy Coordinator in Landmine Survivors Initiatives in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Many of you know me—I’ve had the privilege and honor to work with Tirza, Nerina and many of you in developing text of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in New York and also to work with other issues. I’ve been working here in Bosnia and...
10 tags
Nobel Laureate Urges Governments to Work Harder on... →
Tirana, 7 October 2009 - States of South-Eastern Europe and the Caucasus still have large steps to take on the road to becoming ‘mine-free’, said the Nobel Peace Laureate International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) today on the opening of a regional meeting on landmines.
7 tags
“Millions of people in nearly 80 countries still live in fear of landmines and...”
– Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations
14 tags
About Us
View from the Summit covers breaking news and media on the Cartagena Summit on a Mine-Free World. From November 30th to December 4th, 2009, hundreds of international organizations will meet in Cartagena, Colombia to assess the impact of the 1997 Ottawa Treaty, a watershed agreement between states and nations to ban all anti-personnel mines. The international community will evaluate the progress...