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Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Volume 4 Issue 1 The Journal of Mine Action Article 8

February 2000

The Trust Fund for Demining

Stephanie Schlosser

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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." , "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 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 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 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 ­ the rest of her life the next. The image "First ofa ll, in the structure of the Slovenia Trust it's better to demine than just have a program for vic­ ern 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 , 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 . 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 . 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; . 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 , 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 ." 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 , 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. Now we are starring co work The donors of whom C impersek speaks are those deminers; some of them were already trained by the deeply immersed in the mine problems of a neigh­ with the private companies, private donors. We have countries, companies and individuals who want to state department money so there was no need co train bor country, there had robe minimallandmine prob­ our own PR agency that works for us. l think they see BiH become landmine-free . It seems that in or- new ones. T he main problem we have is co have lems in order fo r rhe country to act as Samaritan. are quite successful. We have now some programs

Published by JMU Scholarly Commons, 2000 • 22 . • 23 • 1 Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Vol. 4, Iss. 1 [2000], Art. 8

HELP ON THE WAY • • •

with lottery clubs and some of our companies in February when I will present the program for 2000 Slovenia have already sent some money to the Trusc and the report for 1999." I think the future of demining, especially in this re­ Cimpersek has a vision for BiH, for Slovenia, and gion, is now the private sector. With countries, there for the future ofiTF. He hopes that the Trust will lead are other political parts of the world which are more to others like it in landmined countries around the interesting for them and they will go and send their world. money somewhere else, but [we would like] to es- "I think that establishing the ITF was quite good, maybe not in the start, they didn't believe that it was a good idea because of the regional approach. The regional approach is probably, not just in demining but also in other parts of business, better than world­ wide. I can say in the end that we are very happy that we have such good donor countries in the Trust fund, [such as] the United States, , , Switzer­ land and . They have helped us get more funds and they support our approach in the Balkans. I think that [the ITF] model could be used somewhere else, not that ITF would work somewhere else, but that approach with the country who can do something, who doesn't have [landmine] problems. Otherwise, The !TF headquarten are tablish the local economy so that it could be more you have the problem where you spend all your located at The Training Center able to [donate] to the Trust fund. The main thing money in your country and then forget the others. I for Civill'rotection and Disaster Reliefnear Lubljmta, for 2000 is the private sector." think that's the approach for the world and for the Slovenia$ capital. The donors' partnership with ITF is important. future." • Photo d o lntern:uional Tnm Fund The most recent donor conference was in October 1999, and they will continue as ITF's work Contact Information progresses. "We are planning to have another one Jernej Cimpersek, Director [donor conference] maybe in October or International Trust Fund of this year. That's when we show the donors where Ig 212 we are and what we are doing. There is another body 1292 Ig [that is] very important, it's the so-called advisory Slovenia board. We can also call it the board of donors, so all Tel: +386-61-1796-580 donors who want to, of course, can have their seats. Fax: +386-61-1796-590 I have another advisory board meeting in the end of E-mail: [email protected]

Mine victims receive treatment at the Slovenian Institute for Rehabilitation. The Center was activated in May 1998. Photo do ITF https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol4/iss1/8 • 24. 2