Impact of the European Union Council Decisionin support of the1 Implementationof the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention

The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention is the short name for the:CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, STOCKPILING,
PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINESAND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION(known informally as the Ottawa Convention or Mine Ban Treaty)

The Convention was adopted in Oslo on 18 September 1997. It opened for signature in
Ottawa on 3 and 4 December 1997, remaining open until its entry into force on 1 March
1999. For their determination in calling for the Convention, the International Campaign
to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and its Coordinator Jody Williams were awarded the 1997
Nobel Peace Prize.
Thanks to the strong norm against anti-personnel mines, much has been achieved in
the past two decades. However, significant challenges remain. Some States Parties have
not yet achieved their mine-clearance goals; and, while the number of mine victims had
steadily decreased for more than a decade, remaining contamination and new use ofanti-personnel mines of an improvised nature, mainly at the hands of armed non-state
actors, has called attention on the need to step up efforts for clearance, risk education
and reduction, and assistance to victims. Overall reporting rates remain low. Particularly,
for States Parties with outstanding requirements to enact national legislation, andStates that retain anti-personnel mines which have not submitted annual transparency
information for many years. Two States Parties have also missed their deadline todestroy all stockpiled anti-personnel mines.

2

EU COUNCIL DECISION IN SUPPORT OF THE CONVENTION AND ITS ACTION PLAN(S)In this context and in the framework of its Security Strategy, the Council of the European
Union (EU) adopted Decision CFSP 2017/1428 to support implementation of the Convention
as called for in the Maputo and Oslo Action Plans. The Convention’s Implementation Support
Unit (ISU) was entrusted to serve as technical implementer. The Action (or project) was to be
implemented from November 2017 to October 2020. Due to the global pandemic however,the Action was extended with activities carried out until February 2021.
The EU and its Member States long history of support to mine action predates the
Ottawa Convention. In fact, the EU was among the first to condemn the indiscriminatecharacter of anti-personnel mines, with a number of its Member States being active inthe so-called Ottawa Process which led to the creation of the Convention. To date, all
EU Member States are party to the Convention.
The European Union is the world’s second largest mine action donor, and a dozen of its
Member States are among the world’s top 25 mine action contributors1.

1

Landmine Monitor 2020

3

PROJECT AT A GLANCE

Activities

Colombia*

JordanBosniaand Herzegovina

Ecuador*Lao PDR

Lebanon

South
Sudan

UgandaPeru*

SenegalMyanmar

Sri Lanka

Iraq

Chile*

Austria

Norway*Due to the global pandemic, these activities were held either in virtual or hybrid format.

4

Switzerland

The following activities were undertaken under the approval of the respective Committees
ARTICLE 5: The ISU supported Bosnia and Herzegovina (2018), Ecuador andPeru (2021), and Senegal (2018) to carry out National Stakeholders Dialogues
seeking to facilitate aspects related to mine clearance, coordination, reporting, andcooperation and assistance under the Maputo and Oslo Action Plans. To make useof synergies with regional instruments, the Americas’ (virtual) regional exercise wascarried out in partnership with the Organization of American States (OAS), and had
speakers joining from five countries in the Americas.
VICTIM ASSISTANCE (VA): The ISU supported Colombia (2021), Iraq (2018),
South Sudan (2019), and Uganda (2018) to kick-start, develop, or update national
disability / victim assistance plans. In South Sudan, the ISU carried out this Dialogue inpartnership with UNMAS.
In Jordan (2019), the ISU supported the realisation of Fostering Partnerships,
a three-day Global Conference on Assistance to Victims of Anti-Personnel Minesand Other Explosive Remnants of War and Disability Rights. The conference waschaired by the Convention’s Special Envoy HRH Prince Mired Zeid Raad Al-Hussein,
and had the logistical support of the Jordanian National Committee for Demining andRehabilitation.
Two virtual events were held, one from Chile (2020) where the Special Envoy of
the UN Secretary General for Disability and Accessibility held a webinar on
inclusion and accessibility. The second was carried out with speakers joining fromvarious parts of the world.
UNIVERSALIZATION: Under the Convention President’s mandate, theISU supported the deployment of the Special Envoys Her Royal Highness Astrid,
Princess of Belgium, and HRH Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein from Jordan.
The Special Envoys engaged with leadership of Lao PDR, Lebanon, andMyanmar. The Special Envoy also engaged with Sri Lanka ahead of its decision tojoin the Convention, and undertook a visit to Sri Lanka shortly after Sri Lanka deposited
its instrument of accession.
TRANSPARENCY
IN
IMPLEMENTATION:
One
annualpublic briefing kept the Convention community abreast of
successes and challenges in implementation with nearly
200 persons attending including representatives of donor
and affected States including not party, international andnon-governmental organisations,
and
with
ICBL
in
representationofcivil society providing feedback on
implementation at each briefing.
5

A MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COORDINATED EFFORTIn the spirit of cooperation which has been a staple of the Convention, stakeholders
were approached, consulted, involved, or participated in events in 16 countries. These
included,
Office holders (5 Convention Presidencies and Coordinating Committees),
Special Envoys, 15 EU structures/Delegations, and representatives of:72
States Parties5
not party

14

161

international/regionalorganisations and/or
UN agencies

national and international
non-governmentalorganisations

African Union, CRPD
Committee, ICRC, IFRC, ILO,
IADB, OAS, OHCHR, UNICEF,
UNDP, UNMAS, UNMISS,UNOPS, WHO

Among them and as called forin the Decision, the ICBL and its
Member Organisations, plus otherexpert organisations including
DCA/DDG, FSD, GICHD, HALO
Trust, Humanity and Inclusion,
IDA, MAG, NPA, OVCI6

WIDE AND INCLUSIVE PARTICIPATION
Gender and the diverse needs of mine-affected communities were considered in all
aspects of the project from design and management, to implementation and participation.
Whenever possible, cross-cutting issues including disability rights, health, inclusive
education, mine action as part of peacebuilding, poverty reduction, transitional justice,
security, labour, and development were addressed in tandem.
Over

>

840

11
Dialogues underthe Action withpersons
attended the

> 41%

Women
particiption

Gender or the diverse needs of mine-affected communities:
was addressed in all 11 Dialogues| PARTICIPATION || ACCESSIBILITY || SPONSORSHIP |

161

100%

Sponsorship was offered tonational and international
non-governmentalorganisations attendedof which•116

represented the rights ofmine survivors and/or otherpersons with disabilities•of the physical venues/
virtual platforms where VA
activities took place were
either barrier-free, or
enhancements were madeto ensure accessibility;
this included providing sign
language interpretation and/or closed captioning

100%

of Dialogues included minesurvivors or other persons
with disabilities as panellists
or featured speakers

737%

of participants ensuring
effective representation
including from mine survivors
and/or their representative
organisations in rural,
remote regions

THE DIALOGUES PROMOTED WIDE NATIONAL COORDINATION

84

43

14

ministries, national
offices, local andprovincial governments
were representeddelegations wereorganisations from rural,
remote, mine-affected
communities

represented military,
police, or civil
defence units

1131

were grass-root
peace building
organisations

were mine clearance
operators or mine action
expert organisations

Promotion of the Convention and its norms were deliveredby the Special Envoys to,2

Presidents

4

Ministers

3

Vice Ministersof Foreign
Affairs

3

Ministersof Defence

In addition to various Presidential Advisors,
Heads of Mine Action Centres, and other High-Level Officials

83

Ministersof Labour andInterior in
charge of mine
actionARTICLE 5
IMPLEMENTATION
The activities provided a platform for dialogue between state(s)and stakeholders including: local/regional government, national
and international partners, mine-affected communities, military/
police, and peace and reconciliation actors, when relevant.

9

Humanitarian Demining in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Towards Completion
18-19 October 2018; follow up, March 2020, Sarajevo https://bit.ly/Dialogue-BiH
OVER 50 PARTICIPANTS (46% women)

106state agencies /departments / authorities
including from 7 mineaffected municipalities

17

international and national
non-governmentalorganisations (ICBL, MAR)

> >>

6

donor/partner States(including 1 not party)

5

UN agencies / otherinternational organisations(including ICRC)> >>survivor / disability rights
organisations (among themWorld Vision)

6

operators and expert
organisations (including
HALO Trust, GICHD)

Sponsorship was extended to mine survivors, representatives from mine-affected regions,non-governmental organisations, Regional Directors of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine
Action Centre (BHMAC), and Directors of mine action centres in Croatia, Montenegro, andSerbia. National authorities with feedback from stakeholders agreed an understanding
on recommendations including a “consistent use of International Mine Action Standards(IMAS) terminology”, and greater transparency and inclusion in planning.
Follow-up support: in 2020 about 30 similar representatives participated in a one-day
workshop where BHMAC shared the basis, timeline and costs of its upcoming extension
request. In an exit interview, participants welcomed state efforts to make the process
more transparent.
Notable achievements:• Mine survivors, affected communities, and their representative organisations
included in the Dialogue and follow up activities.
• Acting on commitments to increase survivor participation in matters that concern
them, Bosnia and Herzegovina nominated one mine survivor to participate along
the state representative, in the 2019 Global Conference on Victim Assistance.
• Greater engagement between the state and local government and organisations.

10Towards a Senegal Free of Anti-Personnel Mines
29-30 October 2018, Dakar, Senegal http://bit.ly/Senegal-Dialogue
OVER 60 PARTICIPANTS (44% women)

174donor/partner States(including 1 not party)

state agencies /departments / authorities
including from 7 mineaffected municipalities

16

> >>

international and national
non-governmentalorganisations(including ICBL, MAG)

5

> >>

4

operators and expert
organisations

survivor / disability
rights organisations

3

UN agencies / otherinternational organisations(ICRC)> >>6

peace building
organisations

The Dialogue contributed to renewed engagement and interaction among stakeholders.
Thanks to sponsorship provided under the Action, various landmine survivors,municipal representatives from mine-affected regions including police and military,
regional non-governmental organisations involved in mine risk education, peace
process actors, and local mine action experts were invited from Casamance to Dakar
to meet in person with government and donors, which ultimately resulted in follow up
activities and increased funding.
Notable achievements:
Civil society stakeholders (included those
involved in the national peace process)jointly adopted a Déclaration committing
to support Senegal’s efforts including inareas “difficult to access”.
• Improved reporting andcommunication followed up by
meetings with local stakeholders.
• Improved cooperation withinternational donors followingintervention.
11

Regional Dialogue on Humanitarian Demining in the Americas
Support for Ecuador and Peru, 10-11 February 2021, Virtual Format
https://bit.ly/MineFreeAmericas
OVER 130 PARTICIPANTS (45% women)

17donor/partner States(including 4 not party)

15

> >>

15 international and national
non-governmentalorganisations including

6

6 UN agencies / other internationalorganisations (including OAS, IADB, ICRC)

8

survivor / disability rights
organisations

> >>

7

operators and expert
organisations(including FSD, NPA)The Americas Regional Dialogue sought to create a more global understanding of
the “final push” still required by Ecuador and Peru to complete their Article 5
obligation within the 2025 ambition expressed in the Maputo and Oslo Declarations.
Convention stakeholders have an opportunity to make a mark in a region on the brinkof becoming mine-free. The Dialogue also had the support of the Organization of American
States (OAS).

The event was held entirely online on two days. It counted with high-level
engagement including by the EU Special Envoy for Disarmament, OAS Secretary General,
the Convention Special Envoy, Vice Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Ecuador and Peru,
ambassadors, and EU Delegations.
Notable results include:• Evidence-based and costed work planspresented in a clear, transparent manner to theinternational community.
• Both States Parties invited to participate in asession of the Mine Action Support Group.
12

VICTIM ASSISTANCE
Three (3) national action plans and strategies to support
assistance to victims of mines and other explosive
remnants of war were developed or adopted.

Mine survivors were at the centre of all Dialogues. Post-meetingsurveys indicated that these activities represented the firstopportunity for most of them to discuss with relevant authorities
matters that directly concern them.

13Promoting a Strategic Approach to Victim Assistance
25-27 September 2018, Baghdad, Iraq http://bit.ly/Iraq-Dialogue
OVER 60 PARTICIPANTS (40% women / 14% mine survivors)

23
state agencies andauthorities including from10

7

internationalorganisations / UN agencies

10

non-governmentalorganisations

70%

representing survivors /disability rights

municipalities

The aim of this Dialogue was to support Iraq in kick-starting an inclusive national
process to develop its first National Action Plan on Victim Assistance. The Convention on
the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was extensively discussed as a framework
to ensure sustainable assistance and efforts such as data collection. Challenges in
the provision of rehabilitation, also a pillar of victim assistance, was identified as a big
concern by Directors of various Rehabilitation Centres in the most mine-affected regions.
Notable results include:•

Iraq’s Directorate for Mine Action(DMA) announced that after a series of
setbacks “a National Plan under theCommission for Persons with
Disabilities was being developed”.

•

The Plan is a joint venture between
the Ministry of Health(which oversees mine clearance andvictim assistance), DMA, and partners.
Security problems and the pandemic
however, have delayed efforts.

14

Building on Progress | 10-11 October 2018, Kampala, Uganda | Follow up in 2020
https://bit.ly/Uganda-VA-Dialogue
OVER 50 PARTICIPANTS (56% women / 35% mine survivors)

8
ministries, state agencies,
and authorities

0internationalorganisations /UN agencies

The Dialogue could have benefitted from larger participationof international partners (donors and organisations).

13

non-governmentalorganisations

97%

representing survivors /disability rights (ICBL and
Humanity and Inclusion)

Efforts to carry out a Dialogue involved a mix of grass roots campaigning and workfrom the Ministry of Gender. A sizable number of mine survivors and other persons withdisabilities from the capital and rural and remote areas were sponsored to attend. Without
sponsorship to guarantee their transportation and sustenance during the meeting, mostsurvivors would have not been able to participate. Most of them travelled for days inorder to reach Kampala.
Victim assistance is a long term obligation that goes beyond mine clearancecompletion. In the case of Uganda which declared completion in 2012, the intervention
was very timely, as most victim assistance experts had retired or were close to retirement.
Notable results include:• 	A Draft Plan was finalised, launched and socialised before key national andinternational partners including through follow-up support under the Action.
• 	New information on VA has been obtained by the Convention’s Committee on VA.
• 	Re-informing of the linkages between VA and disability rights among state
officials continues to date.

15

Global Conference on Assistance to Victims of Anti-Personnel Mines and Other
Explosive Remnants of War and Disability Rights, Fostering Partnerships,
Amman, Jordan 10-12 September 2019 http://bit.ly/Fostering-Partnerships
OVER 190 PARTICIPANTS (36% women / 31% mine survivors & other persons with disabilities)

11

internationalorganisations
UN agencies

13

42

non-governmental organisations including
some working in active conflict zones

States(5 not party)

14

survivors and other persons withdisabilities participated as panelists

Fostering Partnerships built upon the 2014 conference Bridges between Worlds, sponsoredunder a previous Action (2012). The conference, chaired by HRH Prince Mired, aimed
to provide States with mine victims (whether Parties to the Convention or not), with
the necessary tools to foster national partnerships between those responsible for thecare and wellbeing of mine survivors, and those with responsibility for implementing
instruments of international law related to disability rights.
Painstaking efforts were made to ensure that States, including those not party to theConvention that are experiencing new contamination and casualties, and relevantorganisations working in those countries had the opportunity to attend.
Expert presenters included amongst others the Special Envoy on Disability andAccessibility of the UN Secretary General, the Chair of the Committee of the CRPD,
and experts from ICRC, IFRC, ILO, Humanity and Inclusion, UNDP, and WHO. While theConference achieved its objectives, larger participation of the donor community could
have enhanced conversations regarding sustained and alternative funding including
through health aid and development packages.
Notable results include:• 	Continued engagement from the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General in thework of the Convention has resulted in greater awareness of victim assistancebeyond the mine action community.
• Partnerships among victim assistance experts increased.
• 	States not party whose victim assistance experts do not normally engage inthe work of the Convention learned about resources available and exchanged
knowledge with other experts.
16Building on Progress – 17-19 July 2019, Juba, South Sudan | Follow up in 2020
http://bit.ly/SouthSudan-VA-Dialogue
NEARLY 60 PARTICIPANTS (36% women)

32
state agencies andauthorities including fromthe President’s office18

Regional Disability
Offices

11

international andnational
non-governmentalorganisations(ICBL, Christian Blind
Mission, and OVCI)

23%

mine survivors &other persons
with disabilities

3

internationalorganisations / UNagencies (including
ICRC, UNMAS,
UNDP)

For the success of the intervention, it was necessary to guarantee the participationof survivors and officials working in mine-affected provinces. Rainy season makes
roads impassable leaving air travel as the only option. This however, meant extensive
coordination with partners the National Mine Action Authority, UNMAS, and otherrelevant organisations. As in Uganda, some participants travelled long distances orfor various days (in one case for nearly one week), in order to get to the meetingand back to their homes. Participants also got to visit the OVCI Rehabilitation Centrein Juba. This provided Regional Directors with the opportunity to see the type ofservices and facilities available in capital.
Notable results include:• 	South Sudan adopted recommendations
stemming from the Dialogue forminga Task Force that included civil society
representatives, to develop its first
National Action Plan on Disability andVictim Assistance.
• 	Through follow-up support, the Plan wasdeveloped, and national consultations
undertaken. The Plan is now awaiting
approval.
• 	New linkages created between the Mine
Action Authority and the Ministry of Gender remain to date.
• 	The intervention provided Regional Directors of the Ministry of Gender the
chance to meet each other in-person for the first time.
17

Strengthening the Participation and Inclusion of Victims of Anti-Personnel Minesand Unexploded Ordnance – 22-24 February 2021, hybrid format from
Bogota, Colombia https://bit.ly/Colombia-VA-Dialogue
NEARLY 120 PARTICIPANTS (55% women / 29% mine survivors)

14
national / state agencies /
authorities including from themilitary and regional governments
including from mine-affected areas

22

> >>

international and national
non-governmentalorganisations of which

10

UN agencies / otherinternationalorganisations (ICRC)

18%

were peace andreconciliation actors

91%

represented the right ofmine survivors and affected
communities and9donor/partner States

> >>

23%

operators including oneborn from the Peace
Agreement

Despite delays of nearly a year due to the global pandemic, the Dialogue was carried out
successfully in hybrid mode. A lot of work was undertaken to ensure no harm to vulnerable
in-person participants that had to travel long distances. All this, while guaranteeing
virtual accessibility for those in and out of the country unable to travel to the venue.
The agenda was developed with input of the (11) organisations of survivors that makeup the nascent Colombia Network of Mine Survivors’ Associations, and included
sessions with survivor networks including from El Salvador and Uganda.
Mornings were devoted to hybrid sessions, while afternoons gave way for in-person
workshops including one on entrepreneurship and management of non-profit associations
offered by the private sector.
Notable results include:• Kick-started	
efforts to revise Colombia’s national pathway for assistance tovictims of anti-personnel mines and other unexploded ordnance with feedback
from representative organisations and local government representatives.
• A	 workshop on strengthening international partnerships was offered by the
Colombian Agency for International Cooperation.
• Links
	
between disability rights and mine action were further enhanced throughthe President’s Office for Disability Affairs.
18

Global Conversation with the Special Envoy on Disability and Accessibility
3 December 2020, virtually from Santiago, Chile, and Geneva, Switzerland
https://bit.ly/GlobalConversationVA
This interactive virtual conversation approachedsubjects as non-discriminatory approaches tovictim assistance, funding, and national policies.

53

delegations from35

Statesincluding 2 not party

Global Conversation on Cooperation and Assistance for Victim Assistance Funding
4 December 2020, Virtually from Afghanistan, Belgium, Cambodia, Chile,
Switzerland, and United States https://bit.ly/CoopAssist-VA

39

27

international andnon-governmental organisations

Statesincluding 2 not party

Panellists sought to provide States and relevant organisations with tools to accessfunding from development and rights-based sectors. Donor states, and organisations
representing mine survivors used the opportunity to express their viewpoints for better
cooperation in the mine action-victim assistance sector, which resulted in a lively
multi-lingual interaction.
Experts included a mix of affected and donor states such as Cambodia, Italy, and theworld’s largest mine action donor the United States of America. Mine survivors andorganisations working on victim assistance were represented by Humanity and Inclusion
and the Afghan Landmine Survivor Organisation (ALSO). Funding from the perspectiveof the disability rights domain was provided by the Office of the Special Envoy
for Disability and Accessibility from Chile. Chad and Senegal provided feedback“from the floor” as well as the ICRC, ICBL-Landmine Monitor, and Sir Bobby Charlton’s/
REVIVE Campaign.
19

UNIVERSALIZATIONIn the Oslo Action Plan, the States Parties agreed to promote theConvention including with “actions taken at a high level”. The
Action was highly successful in doing so, thanks to the engagementof the Convention’s Special Envoys.
In addition, during the missions the ISU Director invited theseStates to take steps towards accession including by submitting
voluntary transparency reports, and briefed these States on
support available from the ISU and relevant stakeholders.

20Universalization Mission – 5-7 March 2018 – Colombo and Jaffna Province,
Sri Lanka http://bit.ly/SriLanka-visit
Sri Lanka was the first State approached under the Action. Soon after, the then-Statenot party deposited its Instrument of Accession. During the mission, the Special Envoy
took the opportunity to brief and appeal to the President, Primer Minister, various
Ministers, Commander of the Army and humanitarian demining unit, other high-level
officials, and academia to take a leadership role in the region and promote the Convention
among Member States of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation(SAARC) that have not yet joined.
As universalization approaches are multi-stakeholder efforts, bilateral meetings werealso held with,

8
ambassadors including 1 from a state notparty, Head of EU Delegation, UN Country
Team and Resident Coordinator, and Headof Delegation of the ICRC

6international and national non-governmentalorganisations including operators, and mine
victims / disability rights representatives(DASH, HALO Trust, MAG, SCBL, SHARP andmembers of the academia and the press)

21

Universalization Mission – 28-30 May 2018 – Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon, Myanmar
https://bit.ly/Myanmar-20188
ambassadors of State Parties
and EU Delegation and UNICEF
in its role as mineaction
coordinator

7

international and non-governmentalorganisations including operators, and mine victims /disability rights representatives(including DCA/DDG, Myanmar PhysicallyHandicapped Association, HI and ICBL)

Special Envoy HRH Prince Mired travelled to Myanmar to encourage high ranking
officials, Minister and Vice Minister of Defence and military team including theCommander of the army, and the Minister and Vice Minister of International
Development, to undertake mine clearance, assist landmine victims, and strengthen
Myanmar’s engagement with the work of the Convention as a matter of priority.
The Task Force also called on Myanmar to put in place a moratorium on production
and use of anti-personnel mines. This was the first engagement of Convention officials
with high-level members of government in Myanmar.
Universalization Mission – 3-4 October 2019 – Beirut, Lebanon
http://bit.ly/Lebanon-Universalization
The Universalization Task Force led by HRH Astrid, Princess of Belgium, that included theAmbassadors of Belgium and Norway to Lebanon, met with the President of Lebanon,
Minister of Defence, Minister of Interior, and Commander of the Army, toencourage the Lebanese Republic to make an official policy of its de facto practice andjoin the Convention.
HRH and Task Force also met with the Head of the Lebanese Mine Action Centre, theUN Interim Force in Lebanon, and other stakeholders including international and nongovernmental organisations, leaders of the private sector, and members of the press.

22

Universalization Mission 23-24 October 2019
Vientiane, Luangprabang Province, Lao PDR http://bit.ly/Laos-Universalization
The Universalization Task Force led by HRH Prince Mired exhorted the Lao PDR Government
and military to remain engaged in the work of the Convention and officialise what
has been its de facto landmine policy. The Special Envoy met with the Prime Minister,
Ministers and Vice Ministers of Defence, Foreign Affairs, and of Labour, and Chief of thenational humanitarian demining unit, and visited a clearance site. In addition, HRH met
with

6

5

international and non-governmentalorganisations representing operators andmine victims / disability rights(HI, ICBL, MAG)ambassadors / deputy representativesof 6 States including 1 not party
UN Resident Coordinator, Head of the
ICRC Delegation, UNDP

23

TRANSPARENCY

24

Launch of the EU Council Decision | Sixteenth Meeting of the States Parties
19 December 2017 – UN Office at Vienna, Austria http://bit.ly/launch-EUCD2
To promote the newly adopted Decision and its goals, the EU Special Envoy for Nonproliferation and Disarmament, the Convention’s Special Envoy, representatives from
implementing states Bosnia and Herzegovina and Iraq, and ICBL Acting Director provided
their views and hopes for implementation of the project. In attendance,

17

12

States Parties

international andnon-governmental organisations

The Maputo Action Plan:
National Stakeholder Dialogues in mine-affected States Parties
Seventeenth Meeting of the States Parties – 26 November 2018
UN Geneva, Switzerland
After the first year of implementation, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Uganda, andSenegal joined the EU at a briefing to highlight successes obtained throughpartnerships; and receive feedback from the perspective of civil society, namely the
ICBL, on follow-up activities. In attendance representatives from,10

18

States Parties

international andnon-governmental organisations

25

Experience and Challenges Encountered under EU Council Decision 2017/1428
Fourth Review Conference – 22 November 2019, Oslo, Norway
A summary of activities, follow-up actions, and lessons learnt were presented by theConvention’s Special Envoy on universalization, and state representatives from Bosnia
and Herzegovina, Iraq, Senegal, South Sudan, and Uganda and the ISU. The Special
Envoy for Disability and Accessibility, and ICBL Director provided valuable feedback on
the Action. The event was a success with participation of large number of delegates
representing States Parties and not party,

16

23

States(including 2 not party)

international andnon-governmental organisations

European Union Project: Facing A Pandemic in the Last Year of Implementation
Eighteenth Meeting of the States Parties – 16 November 2020
Virtually from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, South Sudan, Sudan,
Switzerland, Uganda, and United States http://bit.ly/18MSP-EU-briefing
The briefing centred on challenges caused by the pandemic and ways planned to overcome
those challenges. Implementing partners including ICRC provided input on the activity
and follow-up in South Sudan. Uganda presented highlights on the launch of its new
action plan; Bosnia and Herzegovina delivered a presentation on its efforts to adopt
recommendations from the Dialogue. Colombia, Sudan, and the Organization of American
States presented their plans and objectives for the upcoming Dialogues. Among the attendees,

23

17States(including 1 not party)

international andnon-governmental organisations

26

OTHER RESULTS RELATED TO TRANSPARENCY AND VISIBILITY
Promoting and maintaining visibility of the Convention and the Action was a key
element in implementing the project. Therefore, the ISU carried out,

11

10

media briefings

newsletters were sent

in Amman, Baghdad, Beirut,
Bogota, Colombo, Dakar,
Geneva, Juba, Kampala, Nai Pyi
Taw, Sarajevo, and Vienna

to members of theConvention community
highlighting activities

100%of activities
featured EU officials or
Representatives of
EU Member States

Engagement with
Academia in

100%

6

of activities included
participation of ICBL
and/or its
Member Organisations

Dialogues and

200

15

briefings with disability
rights actors including the
CRPD Committee, UNSG
Special Envoy, IDA, UN
Special Rapporteur, WHOattendees in a Sri Lanka
Think Tank

To avoid duplication in efforts,
coordinate more efficiently, guarantee inclusion,and ensure wide participation,
the ISU carried out

87bilateral meetings in
preparation or support of activities

27

97%

of respondents ofpost-activities surveys
and interviews rated theinterventions as “successful”
or “having met its objectives”

This brochure was prepared by theAnti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention Implementation Support Unit
thanks to support provided by the European Union
The Implementation Support Unit (ISU) is the Secretariat to the 1997 Convention on
the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel
Mines and on Their Destruction.
The ISU is mandated to support the States Parties to the Convention including by
•
•
•
•
•

Providing	
advice and technical support on implementation and universalization
Providing	support to the Convention’s office holders;Communicating
	
on behalf of the President and States Parties, and providing
information about the Convention;
Keeping	records of formal and informal meetings under the Convention; and,Liaising	and coordinating with relevant international and non-governmentalorganisations that participate in the work of the Convention

The ISU is funded on a voluntary basis by the States Parties and directly accountable tothem. The ISU is hosted in the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
thanks to support provided by Switzerland.

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Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention
Implementation Support Unit
Chemin Eugène-Rigot 2C
P.O. Box 1300 1211 Geneva 1 Switzerland
T +41 (0)22 730 93 11
F +41 (0)22 730 93 62
E isu@apminebanconvention.org
www.apminebanconvention.org