Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction Volume 4 Issue 1 The Journal of Mine Action Article 8 February 2000 The Slovenian International Trust Fund for Demining Stephanie Schlosser Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal Part of the Defense and Security Studies Commons, Emergency and Disaster Management Commons, Other Public Affairs, Public Policy and Public Administration Commons, and the Peace and Conflict Studies Commons Recommended Citation Schlosser, Stephanie (2000) "The Slovenian International Trust Fund for Demining," Journal of Mine Action : Vol. 4 : Iss. 1 , Article 8. Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol4/iss1/8 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction by an authorized editor of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Schlosser: The Slovenian International Trust Fund for Demining HELP ON THE WAY • • • IT'S ALREADY HERE The Sloven ian International Trust Fund for Demining enough money to pay them, those who are already Cimpersek explained the la ndmine hisrory of trained to work in the fields." Slovenia, "The experience [in demining) in Slovenia by Stephanie Schlosser In 1999, l 0. 1 percent of donated funds went to is quite long because we have an experience from the victim assistance. Helping prevent the tragedies that first and from the second World War, and we have a n the web page ofThe Slovenia Interna­ der to keep people interested in the cause of land­ create new victims is ITF's fi rst task, but the Trust group of experts who worked in disposal of muni­ tional Trust Fund for Deming (ITF) there mines, the d rastic but real effects of land mines have recognizes rhe simultaneous and immediate need for tions for, I think, 30 years. After the return of the O is an image that, at fi rst glance, could be co be rhe focal point. The United States matched heali ng among the war-torn people. Many mine vic­ Yugoslav army in 1991 , they left a few [mines] in an advertisement for a toy score. The image is of a donations from 1998-99 with $14 m ill ion, but fe r­ tims receive treatment in Slovenia at the Slovenian Slovenia. We had our so-called demining corporation child's doll. She appears bright and happy, with vency fo r giving may not last as long as the landmine Institute for Rehabilitation, but keeping in mind the in '92 and finished in '93. Ir was nor a big operation, red ponytails and yellow ribbons, and a sunny problem does. need ro establish BiH's own systems, the Slovenian it was a small one, but ofcourse we have some ex­ yellow dress. The doll's eyes glance playfully "There are a lor of changes in rhe donors' deci­ Institute established the Center for the Rehabilita­ perience in mine clearance after 1991." co one side, as if she is about co join a sions as to where they want to place their money, we tion of Mine Victims from Bosnia and Herzegovina Even with some un-cleared landmines group of similarly happy fri ends. Sud­ are afraid that the donations wi ll go down and not in 1998. Offering assistance to about 250 patients of its own, Slovenia and ITF see their role denly, the doll's face and body change. up. So, we are trying to talk with Bosnia co show them an nually, the institution's program has two parts. The in BiH as important and even seek to help With web animation, the doll's right that sooner or later they must collect some money for first is the rehabi litation of mine victims, which will other cou ntries directly or by being a leg disappears along with her smile. the problems in their country," C impersek said. T he include 25 patients from BiH per monrh. The sec­ model. Then you remember, this is a partnership between BiH and ITF is as important as ond involves building up the program by educating "I think it's important for Slovenia, website for ITF and its focus is the demining itself One ofiTF's ma in goals is to help d ocrors, specialists and technicians from BiH. because 10 years ago we were together, ro demining. T he doll herself, you re- BiH become irs own best source of aid . ITF has al­ Dcmining, however, still remains ITF's central focus. show rhe others, our former-we call it alize, must be a land mine victim, happy ready taken many steps ro help BiH stan their own "Demining, really is the main problem in Bosnia brothers-of course that there is opportu- one minute, and completely changed for demining process. because there is not enough money for resources and nity for them to be normal countries, to join West­ the rest of her life the next. The image "First of all, in the structure of the Slovenia Trust it's better to demine than just have a program for vic­ ern Europe and Western countries in rhe world," sticks in the mind. Fund, in the managing board, their are also Bosnians; rim assistance," C impersek said. "In general, our Cimpersek said. "I think it's very important from ITF keeps the doll as a symbol of the so they are in the decision making parr of the Trust policy is that not more than 15 percem of our funds a Sloven ian point of view to show, because our role many people in Bosnia and Herzegovina Fund. They are included," Cimpersek stressed. "Also, wi ll go for mine victim's assistance, [leaving) 85 per­ can be in Europe not just in the Balkans, that we (BiH) who have been hun by landmines. in our office in Sarajevo we just employ the local cent to demining, but last year [in) all rhe program can work to show new approaches ro rhe Nether­ With the main goal of ridding BiH of its people. We don't send Slovenians or some foreign not more than I 0 percent of our money went to mine lands or the United Kingdom. We can go ro there­ landmincs thoroughly and quickly, JTF op­ expertS to work there because I think they [the victim's assistance. There are a lot of victims in Bosnia gions where we have experience. We speak their lan­ erates by donations, including Slovenia's own Bosnians] are quite able co do it, they have enough and Hen;egovina, and we also work in Croatia. There guage, we have the same culture, religion and all of $1.3 million for startup activities. T he direc­ knowledge. Maybe they need (ro learn) something are a lot of victims who need some ki nd of help bur those things so it's important for us to work in the tor of the ITF, Jernej C impersek, does not more about management o r maybe something more in general, it's the same as in the demining program; region. I think it was a very good decision of the The "hnppy doll" is 11 symbol of find it easy to use the doll as a symbol. abour fi nancing, but in general they're very good ex­ we have a memorandum signed with both entities in Slovenian government to establish the Trust Fund and hope and healing. "Yo u know, I personally have problems with perts and there is no need ro send ex pens from abroad the Ministries of H ealth, so there are those patients to help those our former republics, which are now l.raphic c/n lnrcr n:tricuJJ ITn 1s1 f und Tbe "snd tk;l/" repmmts people that because I am also a father; I have two daugh­ co Bosnia and Herzegovina. So, that's the start of how who need ro go to Slovenia and [those who] cottld former Yugoslavia." who hnve been burr by lnndmilm. ters," Cimpersek said . "Using that kind of advertise­ we want to work wi th them. Hand in hand we are be in Bosnia-Herzegovina. At least 40 percent of the Moving forward is in the plans for ITF, the Trust Cr.,phic c/o lntc:rn:monotl Trust Fund menr, it could be good or bad, you know? But I'm partners, nor reachers to show them something, they program was in BiH, not outside of BiH. I think has planned to tap into the private secror for funds very happy with the website, with the doll. I also have just need some kind of hel p." ITF has al ready shown that's the right approach. To teach them we have some in the coming century. a lot of meetings with those kids in Bosnia, Croatia its commitment to making BiH a self-sustained special courses for trainers, for those medical people "Our main thinking, our plan for 2000," and Kosovo, without legs, without arms and it's com­ demining community, when asked where ITF gets its in Slovenia or in BiH, so sooner or later, maybe five Cimpersek said, "is to work with the private sector pletely differenr if your kids [are) practically the same deminers Cimpersek srressed, "Local! Local! Bosnia years, they will not need our help anymore." because last year our main goals were [to get dona­ age, but of course it's what rhe donors want to see." and Herzegovina already had more than I ,500 trained With a country like Slovenia, which finds itself tions] from countries.