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MINE ACTION Portfolio 2009 MINE ACTION Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) is a 70 year old humanitarian organisation rooted in the Nor- wegian Labour Movement. We support people in their struggle for more power and influence over their own lives and in the development of their societies. Since 1992, NPA has been one of the lead NGOs in the field of humanitarian mine action, with programmes in 23 countries worldwide. Currently active in 16 affected countries, NPA continues to be a major contributor to terminating the global problem of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), spending more than USD 30 mill annually on ERW preventive programmes. We played a significant role in the process that led to the signing of the Mine Ban Treaty in 1997 by projecting our empirical experiences from our fieldwork into our political involvement in the ICBL. We applied the same strategic approach on the initiative that led to the recent signing of the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo, December 2008, where NPA played a crucial role in the process. 2009 is a monumental year for all of us who have fielded our energy into the struggle against the scourge of Anti Personnel (AP) landmines and ERW. Monumental because the new con- vention that will come into effect this year will effectively eliminate the threat from both the billions of cluster bombs currently placed in storage all over the world, as well as those tens Norwegian People`s Aid of millions currently taking innocent lives in many affected countries today. Mine Action Department Storgt. 33 A, Oslo, Norway Moreover, 2009 is a cornerstone because many of the states that acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty in 1999 are obliged to meet their clearance deadlines this year, and by that meeting Telephone: +47 22 03 77 00 Telefax: +47 22 20 08 70 one of the most important provisions of the treaty.However, it is a sad fact to acknowledge E-mail: [email protected] that so few countries will be able to fulfill their obligations to destroy or ensure the destruction of all AP mines in mined areas under their jurisdiction or control, within their deadlines. The Donation information current status of humanitarian and developmental problems caused by AP mines is subse- In order to continue its work and quently that a major part of the job remains. expand into other regions the NPA Mine Action Department needs NPA therefore continues to call for renewed assistance from our current and future sup- financial support. Any donations porters. Not necessarily to NPA only, but to all relevant agencies committed to solving the are greatly appreciated. humanitarian problems of AP mines and other ERW. We also call for continuous support to all For donations, please use the those who have already fallen victims to these absurd devices. information below: NPA will continue its fieldwork and its political work on different arenas, both to ensure goal Account number: 9001.05.00000 achievement of the Mine Ban Treaty, and to ensure a practical and relevant implementation of IBAN NUMBER: the provisions of the new treaty on Cluster Munitions. NO94 9001 0500 000 SWIFT / BIC: LABANOKKXXX Despite the fact that our donors remain an utmost force of energy for us, the most important Name of bank: NPA weapon in this battle is our staff’s ability to provide innovative, qualitative and cost ef- SpareBank 1 Oslo AS Postboks 778 Sentrum fective field programmes every day. Only by our ability to influence and change the tools and 0106 OSLO approaches that do not work, or are too slow or costly, can NPA make a difference! Norway Or visit our webpage www.npaid.org We thank our donors, and I thank our local and international staff for your commitment and for online donations sacrifices. NPA treats all information regarding your gift strictly confidential and we don›t share information with other parties. Per Nergaard Front page: Head of Mine Action Department Ali Farfour, Libanon 2007 (© Werner Anderson) Norwegian People›s Aid – Mine Aktion Portefolio 2009 Aid – Mine Norwegian People›s MINE ACTION Norwegian People's Aid Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) is a humanitarian organisation, founded in 1939, and has about 11,000 members organised in local branches all over Norway. First Aid, Mountain Rescue Services and emergency aid are im- portant components in our work. Other focus areas are; running refugee centres and advocacy work on behalf of refugees, a variety of voluntary activities and work against racism. Internationally NPA is involved in more than 36 countries. Local competence is key for sus- tainability, thus NPA always works though local partners and in cooperation with local aut- horities. NPA is one of the leading organisations worldwide in humanitarian mine action and works actively to promote and monitor the international ban on landmines Just division of power and resources, and the protection of life and health is NPAs core. NPAs activities always complement each other. Humanitarian demining is for example a precondition for the just division of power and resources. 3 International Developmental work NPA supports people in their struggle for more power and greater influence over their own lives and social development. The fundament of our international work is the long term perspective. For NPA it is central to uncover and thwart those forces that create and maintain inequality, and Page develop strategies to fight poverty and increasing inequality. Mine Ban Treaty 4 Through contributing to enhanced participation and organisational development, NPA is NPAs Land Release Approach 5 a part of the strengthening of democratic forces. Grassroot movements create the basis for Cluster Munitions & CMC 6 social and political change. NPA does not do charity - our role is to identify important actors Angola 7 of change and support their work. BiH 8 Cambodia 9 Croatia 10 Ethiopia 11 Gaza 12 Georgia 12 Iraq 13 Jordan 14 Laos 15 WORLDMAP 16 Lebanon 18 Sudan 19 Thailand 20 Vietnam 21 Zambia 22 Mozambique & Western Sahara 23 Kosovo & Iran 24 Sri Lanka 25 Serbia 26 Malawi 27 Rwanda 28 GTC 29 Defying the norms 30 © John Rodsted Donor listing 32 NPA technical advisors searching for cluster bombs, Lebanon 2007 Ongoing NPA programme Completed NPA programme 4 © NPA Female Battle Area Clearance operators ready for work, Lebanon 2009 Ten years of the Mine Ban Treaty: A Success Story On 1 March 2009, the Mine Ban Treaty celebrated the tenth anniversary of its entry into force as international law. The treaty bans all Anti Personnel mines, requires that States destroy stockpiles within four years of becoming a party, requires clearance of Anti Personnel mines already in the ground within 10 years, and urges support to the victims of mines. By Stuart Maslen, NPA The treaty has proved a major success in stigmatising Anti A total of 156 nations are party to the Mine Ban Treaty— Personnel mines. Since it came into force on 1 March 1999, more than three-quarters of the world’s nations—and another use has decreased to such an extent that in recent years only two states have signed, but not yet ratified. China, India, Pa- Myanmar and Russia and a dwindling number of non-state kistan, Russia, and the United States are among the 37 states armed groups have laid significant numbers of mines. In ad- that have not yet joined. But nearly all of these nations are dition, trade in the weapon has virtually ceased and only about complying with the core norms set down by the treaty. a dozen of the 50 nations that manufactured Anti Personnel The greatest challenges for the treaty, in addition to univer- mines in the past still retain the capacity to do so. salising adherence, is to ensure ever faster release of suspec- As a result of the efforts of the international community sin- ted mined areas, through survey and clearance operations, so ce 1999, more than 40 million Anti Personnel mines have been that even more lives can be saved and more livelihoods ena- destroyed from stockpiles. Almost 1,000 square kilometres of bled. For those who have already fallen victim to mines, we mined land has been cleared and returned to productive use. must continue to strive over the coming years to ensure they Demining has led to a dramatic drop in the number of civilians receive sustained assistance which gives them both dignity killed and wounded by mines and Explosive Remnants of War and a chance to contribute to the well-being of their families each year—from more than 20,000 a decade ago to around and communities. 5,000 today. NPAs Land Release Approach A significant feature of humanitarian demining is the challenge to precisely add- ress its objective; the actual and individual landmine. It is an unfortunate fact of this field of activity that a disproportionate amount of resources have been spent on demining areas where there are no mines. The lack of patterns, logic, absence of minefield maps and the mere task of detecting a small buried object, still re- mains a political, conceptual and technical challenge. If we are to meet our humanitarian and political objectives, the In order to ensure the expedient, efficient and safe release operational approaches currently governing demining must be of land previously reported as part of mined areas reported by altered. NPAs response to these challenges is the develop- States Parties, States Parties in the process of implementing ment of our Land Release approach. In short this methodolo- Article 5 should develop national plans that employ, as requi- gy refers to the measures that are taken prior to deploying full red, the full range of methods available to assess and where clearance assets.

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