Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Volume 5 Issue 2 The Journal of Mine Action Article 18

August 2001

AICMA: Helping Central America

Organization of American States

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Recommended Citation American States, Organization of (2001) "AICMA: Helping Central America," Journal of Mine Action : Vol. 5 : Iss. 2 , Article 18. Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol5/iss2/18

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AICMA: Helping Central America

American countries affected by anti­ Technical Assistance tion and execution of the AI CMA pro­ AICMA: personnel mines. Since May 1995, re­ The IADB is responsible for or­ gram over the past year. The establish­ sponsibility for the general coordina­ ganizing the international team ofsu­ ment of a mine action database was tion and supervision of PADCA has pervisors in the four countries partici­ made possible by a grant from Helping Central America been assigned to the Unit for the Pro­ pating in the Program (Costa Rica, UN MAS, which supported computer motion of Democracy (UPD), with Guatemala, Honduras and Nicara­ software, training and initial operation Since its creation in 1998, Comprehensive Action against Anti-personnel Mines the technical support of the Inter­ gua). At the moment, the international of the Information Management Sys­ (AICMA) has been devoted to numerous landmine issues. AICMA and its part­ American Defense Board (IADB). The team of experts is composed of about tem for Mine Action (IMSMA). This distinctive feature of PADCA, which 30 supervisors who are responsible for system, which was developed under the ners have accomplished a great deal throughout the continent. is an integral component of the providing technical and logistical sup­ sponsorship of the Swiss Government AICMA program, is that it is largely a port, training demining troops, and for the benefit of the international humanitarian project, since it seeks to providing certification that demining community, was installed and is main­ • Beautiful yet dangerous terrain near the Honduran restore safe conditions and the confi­ operations are appropriate and meet tained in the PADCA office in Nica­ border. c/o Central America dence of citizens, to reduce the threat international safety standards. In Sep­ ragua. Important progress was also Landmine Survivors Project and danger posed by explosive devices tember, Guatemala became the first made in coordinating UNMAS and and antipersonnel mines, and to re­ PADCA beneficiary country to pro­ AICMA program support for the mine store the use of the lands dedicated to vide the chief of the international su­ action programs in Peru and Ecuador. agriculture and livestock in affected pervisory team, known as the Mission zones. Furthermore, it is a multilat­ ofAssistance for the Removal ofMines • Geneva International Center for eral program, since a number of do­ in Central America (MARMINCA). Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) nor and contributing countries (such The change in leadership followed the GICHD, as the organization des­ as Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, training and integration of new mili­ ignated by UNMAS to coordinate and Denmark, El Salvador, France, Ger­ tary supervisors from the seven OAS revise International Mine Action Stan­ many, Great Britain, Guatemala, Hol­ Member States (Bolivia, Brazil, Co­ dards, has worked directly with the land, Honduras, Japan, Norway, Rus­ lombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Hon­ AICMA program to establish a user sia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, the duras and Venezuela). focus group for review and comment United States, and Venezuela) and on draft standards. The first phase of various organizations (such as the OAS International Support this review took place in Managua in and the IADB) participate in it. The successful work completed January 2001 and was attended by and progress achieved by PADCA is, demining program managers from Role ofthe UPD in large measure, due to the invalu­ Central America, Ecuador and Peru. The main responsibilities of the able and generous support of member UPD/OAS within PADCA are to raise states such as Argentina, Bolivia, Bra­ • Pan-American Health Organization fu nds in the international community, zil, Canada, Colombia, El Salvador, (PAHO) to administer and oversee the use of Guatemala, Honduras, Peru, Venezu­ During the course of the year, by Organization of American the Promotion of Democracy in 1998. At its 30'h regular session, the those funds and to coordinate the Pro­ ela and the United States, as well as AICMA coordinated closely with States (OAS) This program is the focal point within General Assembly approved resolu­ gram from a political and diplomatic the contributions of major interna­ PAHO with the aim of working co­ the General Secretariat for landmine tions AG/RES. 1745 (XXX-0/00), standpoint. This responsibility also tional donors, including Denmark, operatively on activities related to as­ This report describes the activities conducted issues and covers the following topics: "Support for Action Against Mines in includes the task of ensuring that all France, Germany, Great Britain, Ja­ sistance, rehabilitation and integration by A!CMA. Between june 2000 and May 2001, • mine risk awareness education for Peru and Ecuador" and AG/RES. the essential components of each na­ pan, the Netherlands, Norway, the of mine victims, as well as on aware­ periodic reports were provided to the Committee tional demining project are in place on Hemispheric Security ofthe OAS Permanent the civilian population 1751 (X:XX-0/00), "Support for the Russian Federation, South Korea, ness education of the population about and functioning properly. This in­ Council on the work completed and the use of • support for minefield surveying, Program of Integral Action Against Spain and Sweden. Over the course of the danger of these devices. allocated fimds. Anti-personnel Mines in Central cludes a system for communications, one year, these contributions have mapping, marking and clearance America." evacuation and emergency; the provi­ amounted to approximately $6 mil­ • Trust for the Americas Introduction • victim assistance, including physi­ sion of food and equipment for lion (U.S.). In order to promote victim assis­ cal and psychological rehabilitation Assistance Program for Demining demining troops; insurance; and a sti­ tance initiatives, the Program estab­ To address the complex, difficult and the socioeconomic reintegration in Central America (PADCA) pend for all supervisors and sapper Coordination with International Entities lished and broadened contact with the and persistent issues related to the cri­ of cleared zones soldiers involved in operations and • United Nations Trust for the Americas, seeking to ce­ sis caused by anti-personnel mines, the • destruction of stockpiled mines Background awareness-building campaigns de­ Significant cooperation with the ment collaboration with the private, program known as "Comprehensive • support for a total ban on the use, PADCA was created by the Or­ signed to educate populations about United Nations Mine Action Service public and academic sectors, as well Action Against Anti-personnel Mines" production, stockpile and sale, trans­ ganization of American States (OAS) the latent risk of anti-personnel mines. (UNMAS) on several mine action as with different civil society institu­ (AICMA) was created in the Unit for port or export of anti-personnel mines in 1991, at the request of the Central projects enhanced both the coordina- tions in the hemisphere . Published by JMU Scholarly Commons, 2001 • 66. • 67 • 1 Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Vol. 5, Iss. 2 [2001], Art. 18

AICMA: Helping Central America

• Central American Bank fo r Building of the OAS in honor of Ms. Rican Red C ross was helpful in arrang­ ducced cwo important general surveys and trained Operational Front 5 in the main sources of information for the Economic Integration Jody W illiams, corecipient of the 1997 ing for ground evacuation by provid­ co determine the probability of the North Atlantic Autonomous Region location of the mined areas and explo­ During this period, the Central Nobel Prize for Peace, and Her Maj­ ing an ambulance to reinforce the ca­ existence of mined areas along che (RAAN). In addition, the newly sive devices. The Mine Risk Awareness American Bank for Economic Integra­ esty Q ueen Noor of Jordan. pabilities of che demining unit. T he border with El Salvador and near a formed Independent Demining Pla­ Education for the Civilian Population cion and che OAS, through AlCMA, M inistry of Public Security, which is fo rmer m il itary base at Aguacace in toon consisting of 60 deminers was campaign was strengthened through continued joint efforts on issues re­ Demining Activities the national mine action authority for Olancho Department. In both cases, trained and placed into operation in community visits, school programs lated co mine risk/accident prevention From June 2000 to May 2001, Costa Rica, revised the projected there was no ind ication from local January 2001 to assume responsibil­ and a variety of national radio mes­ education and socio-economic recov­ PADCA-supported demining activi­ completion date for mine clearance to authorities or inhabitants that any ity for landmine stockpile destruction, sages. In each of the recipient coun­ ery of communities chat have been ties continued to expand in size and June 2002. mines were present. These surveys mine field marking and quick reaction tries, PADCA personnel visited demined. In that regard, the Bank con­ scope. Generally, mine clearance op­ confirmed chat the conclusion of the to reports of mines and unexploded schools in affected areas to provide mine risk awareness classes and distrib­ tributed funds co support mine acci­ erations remain affected by the pas­ • Guatemala current Module X in September 200 I ordnance from local communities. dent prevention campaigns in Hon­ sage of Hurricane M itch through Cen­ PADCA-supported demining will complete demining of the Hon­ Two hundred sappers assigned to Op­ ute informational material. duras and N icaragua. Si milarly, a tral America in October 1998, as ero­ operations continue with the partici­ duran side of che border with Nicara­ erational Fronts 1 and 2 also came In Nicaragua, the Ministry of workshop will be conducted co ana­ sion caused the movement of an un­ patio n o f the Volunteer Firemen's gua. As the program closes in Hondu­ under che supervision of the IADB Defense, the Nicaraguan Army and lyze che socio-economic impact on determined number of mines and ex­ Corps, the Guatemalan Army, reinte­ ras, international supervisors will con­ international team in 2001, even PADCA Nicaragua held two seminars mine-affected communities in Central plosive devices from their original lo­ grated members of the former insur­ tinue to assist with quality control in­ though they were funded through bi­ for student councils of schools identi­ America. The primary objective of the cations. However, emergency response gent organization (URNG) and inter­ spections using canine mine detection lateral arrangements with the Govern­ fied by the Ministry of Education in workshop will be co consolidate info r­ plans to clear key infrastructure have national supervisors from the Inter­ in chose areas chat were cleared prior ment of Denmark. These changes each region of the country. Partici­ macion about che devastating effects been completed. Members of the in­ American Defense Board. In accor­ to the start of che canine program in brought che total number of deminers pants included secondary school stu­ of mines on che population in order ternational team provided training dance with the Guatemalan National 1999. working with PAD CA to about 635 dents who attended a course on mine co be presented at che Third Meeting courses for new demining units in Plan fo r Demining and Destruction and extended clearance operations to awareness and precautionary measures of Scates Parties co the O nawa Con­ N icaragua, as well as refresher train­ of Unexploded O rdnance, demining •Nicaragua all mine-affected geographic regions of in order to enable them to convey chis vention, which will cake place in ing fo r existing units in each of che the country. To complement manual information in their own schools and I activities were concentrated in the N icaraguan demining units de­ I ' Managua, N icaragua, in September fo ur Cen tral American beneficiary municipality of N ebaj, Quiche De­ stroyed over 70 percent of che mines and canine assets, a mechanical mine communities. 2001. countries. Additional technical equip­ pa rtment, one of the most seriously scheduled for detection and destruc­ clearance capability will be added by PADCA also signed an agreement ment, vehicles and spare parts for affected areas of the country. Because tion for the year 2000. By January using equipment provided by the Gov­ with UNICEF for che development of • Center for International Rehabilitation medical evacuation helicopters were of the heavy concen tratio n of 2001, the N icaraguan Army reported ernment of Japan in 2001. In view of a joint project co support mine risk T he Center for International Re­ also provided through donor funding. undetonaced explosive devices found chat of more chan 135,000 mines these developments, the goal of the education and landmine accident pre­ habilitation, che Guatemalan Rehabili­ Efforts to integrate canine mine de­ in many pares of Guatemala and the originally emplaced, about 73,000 re­ Nicaraguan Government continues to vention to be targeted toward children tation Association, che Center for the tection capabilities continued in De­ lack of a documented registry for main to be destroyed. These results be completion of its National in Nicaragua in 200 1. Considering the Promotion of Integrated Rehabilita­ cember when PADCA took over the chem, extensive efforts are required co were obtained using both manual de­ Demining Plan by che end of2004. magnicude of the problem in Nicara­ tion, the Cooperative Association of contractor's responsibility ofs upport­ identify hazardous areas through an tection methods and canine mine de­ gua, a national workshop has been Mine Awareness Education che Independent Group for To cal Re­ ing the canine component, which had integrated mine risk awareness cam­ tection. Two factors chat limited the planned in Managua for later this year The mine awareness programs habilitation, the Landmine Survivors previously been fi nanced by the U.S. paign. This campaign has been con­ ability of demining units to meet pro­ in order to discuss standardizing cri­ supported by AICMA aim not only Network and the OAS jointly edited government. The number of dogs as­ ducted by the fi remen and demobi­ jected clearance goals were weather in teria and materials used in mine risk to reduce the risk of death and injury and distributed the Regional Rehabi li­ signed to the program now stands at lized insurgents in conjunction with affected areas and the availability of education campaigns by the numer­ by promoting safe behavior, but also tation Resources Directory, which was 19, with 11 in Nicaragua, four in clearance operatio ns in order to solicit medical evacuation helicopters to pro­ ous institutions involved in this field to facilitate solutions to the high-risk made available in April 2000. T he d i­ Honduras and fo ur in Costa Rica. information on these hazards from vide continuous coverage of opera­ in Nicaragua. Two seminars that will behavior that we have noticed in some rectory provides in formacio n on exist­ people living in the most affected ar­ tions. As a result of donor funding, focus on community radio stations are of the affected communities. The pro­ ing rehabilitation facilities in Guate­ Progress M ade in Each PADCA­ eas. Coverage and clearance of all high­ PADCA will support the rehabilita­ also planned in different regions of the gram recognizes the importance of mala, N icaragua and El Salvador. Recipient Country priority areas is scheduled for comple­ tion ofan additional helicopter, which country. increasing the involvement of these •Costa Rica tion in 2005. will increase the total number in sup­ Efforts ro use local and national • International Campaign to Ban During the year 2000, Costa port to fo ur and will permit adequate communities in mine awareness Ini­ communications media were sup­ Landmines (ICBL) Rican deminers cleared more than support to demining units through­ tiatives. In the case of Central America, ported by PADCA throughout the • H onduras 104,000 sq. m of land along the bor­ out Nicaragua. it is important to highlight the double region. In Costa Rica, a radio cam­ The AICMA program m ain­ M ine clearance operations en­ der with N icaragua, making these ar­ PAD CA continued co provide benefit obtained by che participation paign was initiated using a local radio tained frequent contact with the ICBL tered their final six-month module in eas available for agricultural use. How­ funding for the demining activities of of the affected communities in land­ station in the affected area around Los and participated in the Campaign's M arch of this year fo r the last remain­ ever, the pace of operations was slowed two 100-mem ber demining units mine awareness activities. Not only do C hiles, and the Univision network annual meeting in Washington from ing mined areas along che border with due to the lack of a medical evacua­ (Operational Fronts 3 and 4) and for the community members learn about broadcast a television program on che 5-9 March 2001 with a presentation N icaragua in Choluteca Department. tion helicopter, forcingdemining units two new units. In June 2000, the Nica­ the danger of landmines; but also, in problems of anti-personnel mines in by the program coordinator. In addi­ D uring 2000, H o nd uran deminers to work only in areas that are acces­ raguan Army initiated operations with specific cases where no landmine Costa Rica. A similar campaign was tion, the OAS, through AICMA, co­ and internatio nal supervisors con- sponsored a reception at the Main sible by light airplane. The Costa 100 sappers of the newly-organized records exist, che communities are the used in Honduras with two local ra-

https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol5/iss2/18 • 68 . • 69 . 2 American States: AICMA: Helping Central America

AICMA: Helping Central America

clio stations in the municipality ofSan rims could be assisted through the 130,000 warehoused mines under its be added, and plans for establishing and apply appropriate tech­ Marcos de Colon, Choluteca Depart­ OAS Victim Assistance Program. In control. Representatives of PADCA separate databases in Peru and Ecua­ nologies for the detection ment. PADCA supported the initia­ the past year, the program's rehabili­ and the IADB international supervi­ dor are underway. and destruction of mines tion of a continuing nation-wide ra­ tation center in Nicaragua also assisted sor ream participated in the certifica­ that threaten the civilian dio campaign in Nicaragua with Ra­ two mine victims from Costa Rica, tion of the destruction of additional Peru and Ecuador population; to effectively dio Corporacion, using a character who received medical treatment, pros­ mines in the Department of Estell, General Assembly resolution AG/ build awareness among the from a popular national program, theses and meals. bringing the total number of stock­ RES. 1745 (X:X:VX-0/00), "Support civil population regarding "Pacho Madrigal," to convey mine In Guatemala, the program has piled mines destroyed to 68,859 by the for Action Against Mines in Peru and rhe danger of these devices; awareness messages. The Latin Ameri­ also supported a program operating an end of 2000. Nicaragua has set the Ecuador," states that rhe General Sec­ ro assist victims; and to re­ can system, Telemundo, visited and independent living center that is pres­ destruction phase of remaining stocks retariat should pursue negotiations store land to productive filmed the program's activities in Nica­ ently home to several disabled young to be completed as soon as possible with the governments of Ecuador and use. ragua to broadcast during its newscast. people, who range in age from 14 to and hopefully by September 200 1. Peru, setting their sights on the earli­ An agreement to sup­ In Guatemala, PADCA received an 35. They receive basic medical treat­ In November 2000, the Hondu­ est possible conclusion of the frame­ port a program in Ecuador award from UNICEF for a public ment, counseling and vocational and ran government completed the elimi­ work agreements to initiate demining was finalized in March awareness campaign it developed en­ educational training. They are also nation of irs entire inventory of mines. assistance to those Member States. In 200 I, with the initial phase tided "No Juguemos con Ia Muerte" trained in independent living, a phi­ A total of7,741 anti-personnel mines that regard, bilateral meetings were of activities focusing on an ("Let's Not Play with Death!") in Oc­ losophy that states that with the right were destroyed by the Honduran held with representatives of the gov­ accelerated stockpile de­ tober 2000. skills, cools and information, a person Armed Forces with financial support ernments of Peru and Ecuador, and struction process. Ecuador with a disability is capable of direct­ from AICMA and the technical advice also with the principal donors of the and Peru have both ex­ Victim Assistance ing his or her own care and leading a of the lADB and the Canadian gov­ eventual program to support demining pressed interest in carrying II The "Program for Care to Vic­ productive and happy life. The pro­ ernment. As in Nicaragua, represen­ in these coumries during the Second our accelerated stockpile tims of Mines and Explosive Devices," gram also provides services to the dis­ tatives of the program and the inter­ Meeting of States Parries. The Orga­ destruction with interna­ which has existed in Nicaragua since abled community by offering counsel­ national team of supervisors certified tional assistance. Ecuador I nization submitted working docu­ I I 1997, was continued and strengthened ing and case management, peer sup­ the process that made Honduras the ments for consideration by both gov­ submined its action plan in the past year with the assistance of port groups and a resource library. first of the Stares Parties of the Ameri­ ernments containing a proposal to and budget in February the Swedish government. Since its in­ cas to fulfill this aspect of the Onawa provide coordinated international as­ 200 I , and arrangements on ception, the program has addressed the Stockpile Destruction Convention. sistance with the efforts of both coun­ this iniriative were also fi­ specific needs of the communities in­ The role of the AICMA program tries in integrated action against anti­ nalized in March. The volved by providing victims who have in promoting the elimination ofstock ­ Mine Action Database personnel mines in their respective framework agreement for a no social security or army benefits with piled anti-personnel mines in the In collaboration with the United ternrones. Peru/OAS program is cur­ transportation from their communi­ Western Hemisphere has expanded Nations Mine Action Service The fundamental objective of this rently undergoing what ties to the rehabilitation center, as well significantly over the past year. In col­ (UNMAS) and the Geneva Interna­ proposal is to strengthen the institu­ may be a final legal review. as lodging, nourishment, prostheses, laboration with the government of tional Center for Humanitarian tional and technical capacity, to con­ In each case, rhe interna­ therapy and medications. The pro­ Canada, the program hopes to raise Demining (GICHD), a mine action duct humanitarian demining tasks, tional community has pro­ gram maintains victims' records that $ 1 million from international donors, database program was initiated in and to promote dialogue with the na­ vided or promised more include information concerning per­ who will manage support efforts by Nicaragua in October 2000. Person­ tional authorities of each country in chan $1 million to get the tions regarding the multilateral coor­ • Members of Lt. sonal identification, home commu­ requesting Member States to destroy nel of PADCA Nicaragua and the in­ establishing standards, entities to be programs under way. dination of this humanitarian effort, Yunen Granados' nity, type of injury, type of prosthesis, their stockpiles prior to the Third ternational supervisors received train­ involved, a general operations frame­ The O rganization has maintained unit watch as he with emphasis being placed on the account of the accident, and in most Meeting of Stares Parties to the Ot­ ing from GICHD on the computer­ work, financing needs, composition of a specifi c fund for the Program for prepares various capacity of the OAS in doing this co­ cases, photographs of the victim. T he tawa Convention in Managua this ized system, known as the Informa­ demining units, and a tentative sched­ Demining Assistance in Ecuador/Peru explosive devices ordination work with the assistance of and landmines for humanitarian work under this pro­ September. This project, known as the tion Management System for Mine ule of operations. These actions will (PADEP) usi ng $300,000 (CAN the United Nations. • a demonstration. gram, with an overall budget of "Managua Challenge," encompasses Action (IMSMA). IMSMA permits pave the way for the development of a [ =$ 198,800.4 5 U.S.]) in contribu­ c/oAP $275,000, has provided care for about the destruction ofall stockpiled mines the entry of data on all known and Comprehensive Program of Action tions from the government of Canada Contact Information 300 persons who otherwise would by the Onawa Convention signatories suspected mined areas, their charac­ against Ami-personnel Mines in both in April 1999. This contribution, have no chance of rehabilitation and of the Americas and the finalization teristics, the status of mine clearance countries and develop a preliminary which was divided equally, has been reintegration into productive life in and presentation of all reports required in each area, and complete informa­ consensus regarding the international used exclusively for rhe purchase of Organization of American States their communities. In addition, lim­ under Article 7 of the Convention tion on accidents and mine victims. community's commitment to financial equipment and materials for activities Unit for the Promotion of Democracy ited immediate medical support has before the Managua meeting in Sep­ The primary purpose is to assist in assistance. T he primary objective of to support humanitarian demining 1889 F Street, N.W., 8'h Floor been provided to mine accident sur­ tember. prioritizing mine action efforts accord­ this program will be to ensure that associated with the demarcation of the Washington, D.C. 20006 vivors using medical personnel and To that end, the Nicaraguan gov­ ing to a set of criteria for determining priority is given to the location, de­ border between Ecuador and Peru. Tel: (202) 458-3589 resources assigned to each of the Nica­ ernment continued the effort initiated the greatest need. In the future, data marcation, recording and destruction lt is important ro underscore the Fax: (202) 458-6250 Website: www.upd.oas.org/demining raguan demining units until the vic- m 1999 to destroy all of the original for Honduras and Costa Rica will also of anti-personnel mines; to develop recommendation of the United Na-

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