Landmine True-False Questions - Geneva Call & ERW PPT 2, Landmine True/False Questions - 4 ....

Landmine True-False

Questions

LM & ERW PPT 2, Landmine True/False Questions - 1

1. When you step on a mine, it “clicks”, but does not immediately explode, which gives you time to get away. 2. Driving cattle over land affected by mines clears the land by exploding the mines one by one. 3. People step on mines because they aren’t careful enough. 4. Landmines are made to kill. 5. Items of unexploded ordnance (UXO) are often more dangerous than landmines. 6. The safest way to get out of a minefield is to retrace your footsteps. 7. With the large number of mines in the world, 110 million, it will take nearly 1,000 years to clear them all with current techniques.

Landmine True-False Questions


8. Once landmines are in the ground, they stop working after a year or so. 9. The use of landmines dates back over 100 years. 10. Stealing of mine marking signs and fencing is prohibited by law in some countries. 11. Around the world, most landmines are removed by civilians. 12. Children make up the biggest number of mine and UXO victims. 13. The more mines and UXO there are in a country, the bigger the social and economic impact. 14. It’s standard practice after a conflict for warring parties to exchange information on where they laid their mines.



15. Mine clearance is a highly dangerous business which inevitably results in accidents. 16. Women, girls, boys and men are affected differently by landmines and hence need to be assisted in different ways. 17. Humanitarian mine action is almost as much about information as it is about mines. 18. Assistance to mine and unexploded ordnance victims basically means giving them an artificial limb. 19. Humanitarian demining is a highly specialised field which requires the latest technical expertise and equipment. 20. Mines are mainly manufactured in Western States and use would stop if industrial production ends.



Landmines and Explosive

Remnants of War

LM & ERW PPT 3, Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War - 1

Landmines

In their simplest form, landmines, or simply mines, are explosive traps. A mine comprises a quantity of explosive material contained within some form of casing (typically metal, plastic or wood), and a fusing mechanism to detonate the explosives.


Categorisation according to: The Intended Target

The Type of Explosion The Type of Manufacture The Mode of Activation

Different Ways to Categorise Landmines


Persons: Anti-Personnel Mines

Vehicles (tank, bus, car): Anti-Vehicle Mine

The intended target



The Type of Explosion

Blast Mines

Fragmentation Mines

Directional Fragmentation Mines

Bounding Fragmentation Mines


The Type of Manufacture

Manufactured Devices

Improvised Explosive Devices


The Mode of Activation

Victim Activation

Command-detonation


Victim-Activated Devices

Two main means of detonation Activation by: Direct application of weight

By tripwire


Categorisation of Devices

More than one category may apply to a device.

For instance….


Explosive Remnants of War

Unexploded Ordnance (UXO)

Cluster Munitions

Abandoned Explosive Ordnance (AXO)


Booby Traps

Booby traps are devices that are intended to kill or injure unexpectedly when a person approaches or contacts an object or does something that would normally be considered harmless.

The Impact of Landmines and

Explosive Remnants of War

LM & ERW PPT 4, The Impact of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War - 1

80+ countries and territories. Still many millions of AP mines stockpiled. Civilians make up the bulk of all mine accidents in peacetime. Landmines kill and injure thousand of men, women and children

each year. Landmines and ERW deny the use of vast areas of valuable land,

have overloaded the health care system as a result of the horrific injuries they cause, and have blocked vital infrastructure, foreign investment and development.

Sadly, countries recovering from conflict, with weakened social and political structures, bear the brunt of this scourge and are in turn ill prepared to address the problem.

The Scope of the Mine and ERW Problem


Death

Injury

Disability

Physical Impact


Loss of physical autonomy

Loss of capacity to work and livelihood

Detachment/estrangement from family

Human Impact


Social and Cultural impact

Increased poverty. Forced Displacement. Adverse public health effects. Change/shift in roles (men/women) and family balance. Can become “burden” to others. Loss of community unity/social capital. Contamination of sacred/ancestral territory. Loss of status. “Breadwinning” men unproductive, girls not

getting married, women being abandoned by their husbands, etc.


Societal impact

Slows down aid delivery. Loss of agriculture land. Loss of life stock. Loss of access to forests and woodland for firewood and

food. Loss of access to water, wells. Overuse of other not affected areas (can lead to pests,

diseases and ecological problems). Endangers the return of refugees and internally displaced

people. Blockage of irrigation and water sources. Loss of skills.


Economic impact

Scares away investors. Scares away tourism. Blockage of roads. Increased cost of labour. Increased cost of health care. Slows down reconstruction

(roads and buildings). Increased costs of aid delivery

(more expensive to deliver aid by air than by land).


Psychological impact

Fear, stress, insecurity Feelings of guilt Depression and other long term effects


Who is at risk/impacted?

What are some of the ways that landmines and UXO affect women, men, girls and boys differently?

In terms of physical impact, who is the most effected? In terms of human impact, who is the most effected? In terms of social & cultural impacts, who is the most effected? In terms of societal economic impact, who is the most effected? In

terms of economic impact, who is the most effected? In terms of psychological impact, who is the most effected?


The Five “Pillars“ of Humanitarian

Mine Action

LM & ERW PPT 5, The Five Pillars of Humanitarian Mine Action - 1

Activities which aim to reduce the social, economic and environmental impact of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO).

The objective of mine action is to reduce the risk from landmines to a level where people (women, men, girls and boys) can live safely; in which economic, social and health development can occur free from the constraints imposed by landmine contamination, and in which the victims’ needs can be addressed.

The United Nations Definition of Mine Action


The Five Pillars

Humanitarian mine action comprises five complementary groups of activities:

Humanitarian demining, i.e. mine and UXO survey,

mapping, marking and (if necessary) clearance. Mine Risk Education. Victim Assistance, including rehabilitation and

reintegration. Advocacy towards a ban on anti-personnel mines. Stockpile Destruction.


Humanitarian Demining

Survey - Defining the Problem :

General Mine Action Assessment Landmine Impact Survey Non-Technical Surveys Technical Surveys



Mapping and Marking



Mine clearance: The goal of humanitarian mine clearance is to relieve the humanitarian impact of mines on communities, not for military advantage. It includes all activities aimed at removing landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW).

Manual Demining Mine Detection Dogs (MDDs) Mechanically Assisted Clearance Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD)


LM & ERW PPT 5, The Five Pillars of Humanitarian Mine Action -7

Mine Risk Education

“A process that promotes the adoption of safer behaviours by at-risk groups, and which provides the links between affected communities, other mine action components and other sectors”.

Goals of Mine Risk Education:

Minimise deaths and injuries from landmines and other ERW Reduce the social and economic impact from landmines and other ERW Support development


Mine Risk Education

Communication Techniques:

ERW Public Education & Dissemination Community Liaison


Victim Assistance

Action that provides assistance to landmine victims, the end goal of which is for victims to be active members of their communities. Who is a Mine Victim?

International Mine Action Standards Definition: An individual who has suffered harm as a result of a mine/explosive remnant of war (ERW) incident. The term may include dependants of a mine casualty.

International Campaign to Ban Landmines Definition: Those who, either individually or collectively, have suffered physical, emotional and psychological injury, economic loss or substantial impairment of their fundamental rights through acts or ommissions related to mine utilisation.


What is Victim Assistance?

Victim Assistance includes: For the people: Emergency medical care. Continuing medical care. Physical rehabilitation, prosthesis and assistive devices. Psychological and social support Access to services Employment and economic reintegration

For the community: Capacity building and sustainability Data collection Legislation and public awareness


Advocacy

Advocacy is defined as lobbying and other activities designed to promote States to accede to the Anti-Personnel (AP) Mine Ban Convention and to implement its obligations. It also includes efforts aimed at welcoming AP mine ban commitments by armed non-State actors through Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment or a similar declaration.


Stockpile Destruction

The physical destruction of landmines that have been held in reserve.

Open Burning/Open Detonation. Manual Disassembly. Mechanical Disassembly. Robotic Disassembly. Mechanical Breakdown. Cryofracture. Hydro-abrasive Cutting.

Countries that do not have the resources to destroy all their stockpiles have avenues available to help.


International Humanitarian Norms

LM & ERW PPT 6: International Humanitarian Norms - 1

□ Treaty Law: International conventions signed between two or more States creating binding obligations. Eg. Geneva Conventions.

□ Customary International Law: rules that come from "a general State practice accepted as law" and that exist independent of treaty law.

Sources of International Law


Introduction to Humanitarian Norms: IHL International Humanitarian Law – Also known as the Law of Armed Conflict, is a set of rules which seek to limit the negative effects of armed conflict.

Puts limitations on the means and methods of warfare. Protects persons who do not, or no longer take part in

hostilities. Applies not only to Governments and their armed

forces, but also (for the most part) to Armed Non-State Actors (ANSAs).

Only applies in situations of armed conflict.


Some Key Concepts of IHL

Balance between military necessity and

humanity No justification for violations of IHL IHL obligations remain regardless of their

application by the opposing side Distinction between fighters and civilians Command Responsibility


4

History of IHL The first rules written about armed conflicts date back 4,000

years. In ancient India, the law of Manu incorporated rules that

required compassion toward unarmed or injured adversaries.

Islam set out the need to respect justice and equality as a fundamental principle of its humanitarian thinking.

In 1864, the first Geneva Convention was adopted. In 1949, the four Geneva Conventions as they stand today

were adopted. In 1977, the two Additional Protocols were adopted. In 2006, the ICRC produced a study of 161 Rules, most of

which apply in all conflicts (including to ANSAs).

LM & ERW PPT 6: International Humanitarian Norms - 5 5

International Human Rights Law refers to inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being. IHRL: □ Applies to all persons, □ Applies at all times, i.e. both in peacetime and in situations of

armed conflict □ May in some cases be limited or suspended, according to strict

rules □ Some rights are absolute and may never be limited or

suspended, eg. prohibition of torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment

Introduction to Humanitarian Norms: IHRL


Together IHL and IHRL relevant to armed conflict

or security situations make up the notion of “humanitarian norms”

Humanitarian Norms



1

Humanitarian Norms

International Regulations: Landmines & ERW


Landmines and ERW are subject to regulations under international law.

Customary Law & Landmines


Special care to minimise indiscriminate effects.

Recording of placement.

Removal and/or making harmless.

Key Sources


The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW).

Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM).

Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC).

The Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons


1980 Protocol II - Governs the use of all landmines, booby-traps and directional fragmentation devices.

1996 Amended Protocol II - Prohibits the use and transfer of certain categories of anti-personnel mines. Also regulates the use of anti-vehicle mines, booby-traps and directional fragmentation devices.

Protocol V - Allocates primary responsibility for the clearance, removal or destruction of ERW to the party that is in control of the affected territory.

CCW Amended Protocol II - Main provisions


PROHIBITIONS: Mines that explode in the presence of a metal detector.

Mines equipped with an anti-handling device that can still function

when the mine no longer does.

APMs that are not detectable.

To specifically target civilians or civilian objects.

To use indiscriminately.

To transfer any prohibited mine.

CCW Amended Protocol II - Main Provisions


RESPONSIBILITIES:

Clearance, or kept in monitored perimeter marked area.

Precautions taken to protect civilians, including advance warning.

Recording placement.

Use only those that have self-destruct or self-deactivation mechanisms – unless kept in a monitored perimeter marked area

CCW Amended Protocol II – Booby traps & other devices


PROHIBITIONS:

To be attached or associated with specified places and objects (eg protective emblems, dead persons, children toys, religious objects, animals…).

To use on apparently harmless portable objects when containing explosive material.

To use in an area containing a concentration of civilians.

CCW Protocol V-Main Provisions


Parties to an armed conflict bear responsibility for explosive remnants of war in territory under their control.

Clearance, removal or destruction of ERW.

Recording, retaining and transmission of information.

Other precautions: warnings, risk education, marking, fencing and monitoring.

Victim Assistance.

Convention on Cluster Munitions


Prohibited to use, develop, retain, transfer or assist.

Destruction of stockpiles - 8 years.

Clearance of unexploded cluster munitions - 10 years.

Assistance to victims

Cooperation and assistance.

Prohibition of all types of cluster munitions used to date.

Moving Towards a Ban on Anti-Personnel Landmines


The Use of Victim Activated Anti-Personnel Mines

Violates basic principles of international humanitarian law such as

those of proportionality and distinction.

Has indiscriminate effects and causes superfluous injury.

Has significant impact on civilians.

Last long after hostilities have ended and as such can have long-term impacts.

APMBC - Main Provisions


Bans APM use.

APM production.

APM retention.

APM transfers.

Assistance in any prohibited action.

APMBC - Main Provisions


Destruction of stockpile (4 years).

Clearance of mined areas (10 years).

Provision of assistance for victims.

Annual Transparency Report.

Measures to prevent/suppress prohibited actions.

Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention


Since 1999, 158 States have adhered to the APMBC …

Since 1999, a total of 87 States Parties have destroyed more than 45 million AP mines…

A total of 18 States have declared completion of mine clearance operations …

Approximately 220 km2 of mined and battle areas have been cleared in 2010 …

There has been a dramatic drop in overall production…

The number of new casualties is decreasing…

… but more than 160 million AP mines are still believed to be stockpiled by States not party to the APMBC.

… but 22 States Parties have requested an extension to their mine clearance deadlines.

…but more than 72 countries/regions are still mine-affected.

…but survivors need lifelong assistance.

The Deed of Commitment under Geneva Call for Adherence to a Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines and for Cooperation in Mine Action

LM & ERW PPT 7, The Deed of Commitment - 1

Declaration Preamble (first 8 paragraphs) Main or Core Provisions (Article 1-2) Implementing Provisions (Article 3-4) Other Provisions (Article 5-10)

Structure of the Deed of Commitment banning AP mines


Declaration

We, (name of signatory), through our duly authorized representatives(s) … hereby commit ourselves to the following terms.


The landmine problem is global which therefore necessitates a global solution.

The limited military utility of anti-personnel mines is far outweighed by their appalling humanitarian and socio-economic consequences.

Rejection of the “ends justify the means”. Protection of civilians.

Preamble


Contribution to the overall humanitarian effort to solve the global landmine problem for the sake of its victims.

International humanitarian law and human rights apply to and oblige all parties to armed conflicts.

Acknowledgment of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention as an important step toward the total eradication of landmines.

Preamble


TO ADHERE to a total ban on anti-personnel mines. Meaning: No use. No development or production. No acquisition. No stockpiling or retention. No transfer.

Article 1: Total Ban


TO COOPERATE IN AND UNDERTAKE stockpile destruction, mine clearance, victim assistance, mine awareness, and various other forms of mine action, especially where these programs are being implemented by independent international and national organisations.

Article 2: Mine Action


TO ALLOW AND COOPERATE in the monitoring and verification of our commitment to a total ban on anti-personnel mines by Geneva Call and other independent international and national organisations associated for this purpose with Geneva Call. Such monitoring and verification include visits and inspections in all areas where anti-personnel mines may be present, and the provision of the necessary information and reports, as may be required for such purposes in the spirit of transparency and accountability.

Article 3: Accountability


TO ISSUE the necessary orders and directives to our commanders and fighters for the implementation and enforcement of our commitment under the foregoing paragraphs, including measures for information dissemination and training, as well as disciplinary sanctions in case of non-compliance.

Article 4: Implementation


TO TREAT this commitment as one step or part of a broader commitment in principle to the ideal of humanitarian norms, particularly of international humanitarian law and human rights, and to contribute to their respect in field practice as well as to the further development of humanitarian norms for armed conflicts.

Article 5: Humanitarian Norms


This Deed of Commitment shall not affect our legal status, pursuant to the relevant clause in common article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949.

Article 6: Legal Status


We understand that Geneva Call may publicize our compliance or non-compliance with this Deed of Commitment.

Article 7: Publicity


We see the desirability of attracting adherence of other armed groups to this Deed of Commitment and will do our part to promote it.

Article 8: Promotion


This Deed of Commitment complements or supercedes, as the case may be, any existing unilateral declaration of ours on anti-personnel mines.

Article 9: Repeal


This Deed of Commitment shall take effect immediately upon its signing and receipt by the Government of the Republic and Canton of Geneva which receives it as the custodian of such deeds and similar unilateral declarations.

Article 10: Effectivity


Geneva Call’s Role


Promoting adherence.

Supporting and facilitating

implementation and assistance.

Monitoring compliance.

Supporting Implementation


TO ADHERE to a total ban on anti-personnel mines. Support through: Provision of technical expertise

(e.g. for stockpile destruction).

Assistance in trainings/mine ban dissemination workshops.

Linking with specialised mine action agencies who can assist with setting up mine action activities (e.g. MRE programmes, mine clearance, victim assistance).

Monitoring Compliance


Monitoring Compliance : To ensure compliance with

commitment (specifically the ban).

Levels of monitoring: Self-reporting. Third-party monitoring. Field missions. Verification missions.

Signals local communities that the ANSA is interested in their protection.

Shows humanitarian concern on the part of the ANSA. Spares communities from new mines being planted in the

ground. Is a signal to local communities that the ANSA is

interested in their protection. Is a signal to the international community that the ANSA

takes responsibility for its actions and are is willing to respect IHL.

Enhances humanitarian mine action.

Potential benefits of signing the Deed of Commitment


Facilitates assistance in addressing the problem. Enhances engagement with the international community. Facilitates States accession to the AP Mine Ban

Convention. Puts pressure on other ANSAs to reciprocate. Builds confidence among parties to a conflict. Realisation of the short term limited military utility versus

the long-term negative effects.

Potential benefits of signing the Deed of Commitment


The Deed of Commitment: Next Steps

LM & ERW PPT 8a, Next steps-1

What steps will your organisation take to implement the Deed of Commitment? What are the different measures?

Who decides?

Next Steps


Internal regulations Integrate the Deed of Commitment into your internal regulations: Codes of conduct. Military manuals. Military orders. Civilian laws, regulations, administrative

procedures. Directives. Other?

Implementation Measures


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Dissemination and Training Disseminate among members and constituencies. Include obligations in military /political curricula

and training exercises. Make relevant for each level of command. Translate the Deed of Commitment into local

language.



To put into practice 1. Evaluation of the needs.

2. What measures could be taken?

3. How do you monitor?



Ensure all members turn over mines. Inventory mines in stock. Organise destruction ceremony. Inform border guards to check for mines &

confiscate any found.

Preventative actions


Survey, mark and map mined areas. Survey community/victim needs. Prioritise areas for mine action. Engage in or facilitate mine action by

specialised organisation. Identify allies/other ANSAs to advocate the

ban with.

Protective actions


Create field monitoring mechanism. Appoint a focal point. Prepare a plan for handling violations. Identify investigation procedures.

Monitoring mechanism and adressing violations


Who is responsible for what? Internal regulation. Dissemination and training. To put into practice (preventative actions,

protective actions, monitoring mechanisms & addressing violations).

Responsibility


Next Steps

LM & ERW PPT 8b, Next steps-1

What steps will your organisation take to implement the Deed of Commitment? What are the different measures?

Who decides?

Next Steps


Internal regulations Integrate the Deed of Commitment into your internal regulations: Codes of conduct. Military manuals. Military orders. Civilian laws, regulations, administrative



A

ll sh

ould

incl

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sa

nctio

ning

syst

em



and training exercises. Make relevant for each level of command Translate the Deed of Commitment into local

language



Ensure all members turn over mines. Inventory mines in stock. Organise destruction ceremony Inform border guards to check for mines and

confiscate any found.



Survey, mark and map mined areas. Survey community/victim needs. Prioritise areas for mine action. Engage in or facilitate mine action by

specialised organisation. Identify allies/other ANSAs to advocate the

ban with.

Protective actions


Who is responsible for what? Internal regulation. Dissemination and training. To put into practice (preventative actions,

protective actions, monitoring mechanisms & addressing violations).

Responsibility

LM & ERW PPT 8b, Next steps - 9

Next Steps

LM & ERW PPT 8c, Next Steps - 1

What steps should your organisation take to address the problem? What are the different measures?

Who decides?

Next Steps


Internal regulations Integrate these obligations into your internal regulations: Codes of conduct. Military manuals. Military orders. Civilian laws, regulations, administrative




A

ll sh

ould

incl

ude

sa

nctio

ning

syst

em


and training exercises. Make relevant for each level of command.



Ensure all members turn over mines. Inventory mines in stock.



Mark all mined areas. Inform community where mined areas are. Allow for mine risk education to at risk

communities. Ensure landmines victims are cared for.

Protective actions


The position of your organisation with regards to these obligations could be expressed through: Agreements. Declarations & statements.

Public statements


Who is responsible for what? Internal regulation. Dissemination and training. To put into practice.

Responsibility


Landmine True-False Questions - Geneva Call & ERW PPT 2, Landmine True/False Questions - 4 ....

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