Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction
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CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, STOCKPILING, PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES AND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION Reporting Formats for Article 7 STATE [PARTY]: Afghanistan POINT OF CONTACT: Mohammad Shafiq Yosufi, Director Directorate of Mine Action Coordination (DMAC1), Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA). Email: [email protected] Tel: +93 (0) 705 966 401 (Name, organization, telephone, fax, email) (ONLY FOR THE PURPOSES OF CLARIFICATION) 1 The government department working for mine action previously known as Department of Mine Clearance (DMC) was officially changed to DMAC in 2015. LIST OF ACRONYMS AAR Association for Aid and Relief MDU Mechanical Demining Unit ACAP Afghan Civilian Assistance Program MEIFCS Mine and ERW Impact Free Community Survey AIHRC Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission MoE Ministry of Education AMAS Afghanistan Mine Action Standards M/ERW RE Mine & ERW Risk Education ANDMA Afghanistan National Disaster Management MoLSAMD Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs, Martyrs and Authority Disabled AP Anti-personnel MoPH Ministry of Public Health APMBT Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty MRE Mine Risk Education AT Anti-tank NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization CBR Community Based Rehabilitation NGO Non-Governmental Organization CHA Confirmed Hazardous Area NDMC National Disaster Management Committee DDG Danish Demining Group NMAA National Mine Action Authority DMAC Directorate of Mine Action Coordination NTS Non Technical Survey DRC Danish Refugees Council OCHA Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs DRD Disability and Rehabilitation Department OMAR Organization for Mine Clearance and Afghanistan DT Demining Team Rehabilitation EOD Explosive Ordinance Disposal PPIED Pressure Plate Improvised Explosive Devices ERW Explosive Remnant of War QA Quality Assurance HI Handicap International QC Quality Control IED Improvised Explosive Device QM Quality Management IMSMA Information Management System for Mine Action SDA Sterling Demining Afghanistan IP Implementing Partner SHA Suspected Hazardous Area ISAF International Security Assistance Force SOP Standard Operating Procedure ITF International Trust Fund TOR Terms of Reference KOO Kabul Orthopaedic Organisation UNCRPD United Nations Convention on the Rights for LSP Landmine Safety Progremme Persons with Disabilities MAPA Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan UNMACA United Nations Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan MBT Mine Ban Treaty UNMAS United Nations Mine Action Service MCPA Mine Clearance and Planning Agency USACE United States Army Corps of Engineers MDD Mine Detection Dog VA Victim Assistance MDS Mine Dog Set VTF Voluntary Trust Fun Background: Almost four decades of armed conflict in Afghanistan have rendered Afghanistan a country heavily affected by landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), including Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). While a tremendous effort by the humanitarian community has seen much contamination removed, ongoing military engagements in fighting are resulting in new contamination, adding to the lethal legacy of previous conflicts. Since the creation of Afghanistan Mine Action Programme in 1989, it has successfully cleared vast areas in the country, reducing the impact of mines and ERW contamination on the lives and livelihoods of civilians and supported reconstruction and development throughout the country. Between 2001 and 2013, the number of casualties fell significantly from a monthly average of 175 to 36. Since 2013, the number of casualties has risen again to a monthly average of 142 during 2016 majority of which around 60 percent belongs to the Pressure Plate IED incidents. Since its establishment, the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan has cleared nearly 78 percent of known “legacy” contamination left from pre-2001 conflicts. The remaining 22 percent includes almost 4,000 known minefields and battlefields covering a total area of 598.3 square kilometres, this includes 46.8 sq km recorded contamination of post 2001. During 2016 DMAC received a request from national Security Council (NSC) of the government of the Ilsamic Republic of Afghanistan for assessment of areas contaminated by mine/ERW/PPIED as a result of ongoing armed conflicts. List of such areas provided by the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior. NSC made this request as the number of civilian casualties has been increasing particularly in those parts of the country which have recently experienced armed conflicts. Under the leadership of DMAC, the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) Implementing Partners carried out a preliminary assessment in 17 provinces of the country based on the list provided by MoD and MoI. As a result this survey, 420 sq km areas contaminated by ERW and IEDs, the legacy of post 2001 and onging armed conflicts. A proposal for clearance of this 420 sq km contaminated areas have already been submitted to the NSC. It is worth mentioning that DMAC still has not entered the said newly contaminated areas into the national database as it require furthers non-technical survey. Available data suggests that the increasing use of PPIED is the greatest challenge faced by the mine action sector in Afghanistan today. During the Afghan year 1395 which coincides with the period April 2016 – March 2017, the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) recorded 1,023 civilian casualties due to the incidents caused by PPIEDs. The impact of PPIED is highlighted in this reports as by diffination it comes under antipersonnel mine category. The scale of mines and ERW problem in Afghanistan is in sight. During the 12th Meeting of States Parties, Afghanistan requested for an extension to its deadline for clearance of antipersonnel mine contamination from 2013 to March 2023. This was granted following the development of a ten-year work plan that would realise that goal as well as clearance of all known anti-tank mines and legacy ERW. The Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) activities are regulated by the Directorate of Mine Action Coordination (DMAC) of the Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA). DMAC/ANDMA, as national coordination authority, is the official in charge of leadership, oversight, reporting on and coordination of mine action activities in Afghanistan. Transfer of ex-UNMACA human resources to DMAC has already been completed. The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has officially closed UNMACA however it still provide technical and advisory support to DMAC. DMAC also receives financial supports from the Bureau of Political – Military Affairs, Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) of the US Department of State through ITF. Currently, over 100% of Quality Management manpower is managed by DMAC. The Quality Management, Operations, Plan & Programme, mine/ERW Risk Education, Victim Assistance and communication departments of ex-UNMACA have been transferred to DMAC during 2016. Since October 2015, H.E. President Ashraf Ghani has appointed Mr Wais Ahmad Barmak as the State Minister for Disaster Management and Humanitarian Affairs and chairman of ANDMA. Form A National implementation measures Article 7.1 "Each State Party shall report to the Secretary-General ... on: a) The national implementation measures referred to in Article 9." Remark: In accordance with Article 9, "Each State Party shall take all appropriate legal, administrative and other measures, including the imposition of penal sanctions, to prevent and suppress any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention undertaken by persons or on territory under its jurisdiction or control". State [Party]: Afghanistan reporting for time period from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 Measures Supplementary information (e.g., effective date of implementation & text of legislation attached). National implementation measures relative to the Article 9: Regulation on banning production, use, transportation and stockpiling of antipersonnel mines and Cluster Munitions: Almost three years back, DMAC has drafted a regulation as an instrument for implementation of Article 9 of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and Convention on Cluster Munitions. This will supplement an existing law banning the use, acquisition, trading and stockpiling of weapons, ammunition and explosive items without the required legal license. This regulation relates specifically to the provisions of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and Ottawa Treaty. This regulation is still with the Ministry of Justice pending their final approval. DMAC have been following this issue up with the Ministry of Justice to ensure they will process it as soon as possible. Form B Stockpiled anti-personnel mines Article 7. 1 "Each State Party shall report to the Secretary-General ... on: b) The total of all stockpiled anti-personnel mines owned or possessed by it, or under its jurisdiction or control, to include a breakdown of the type, quantity and, if possible, lot numbers of each type of anti- personnel mine stockpiled." Afghanistan has destroyed all stockpiled anti- personnel mines owned or possessed by the state in the period 2003 - 2007. State [Party]: Afghanistan reporting for time period from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 1. Total of stockpiled anti-personnel mines Type Quantity Lot # (if possible) Supplementary information Already completed during 2003 to 2007 TOTAL 2. Previously unknown stockpiles of anti-personnel mines discovered after the deadlines have passed. (Action #15 of Nairobi Action