Addressing Explosive Ordnance in Peace Processes Emile Lebrun & Suzanne Damman ABOUT the HD CENTRE
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Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue briefing paper No. 2, 2009 Addressing explosive ordnance in peace processes Emile LeBrun & Suzanne Damman ABOUT THE HD CENTRE The Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue (HD Centre) is an independent Swiss foundation dedicated to help- ing improve the global response to armed conflict. It attempts to achieve this by mediating between warring parties and providing support to the broader mediation community. The HD Centre is driven by humanitarian values and its ultimate goal is to reduce the consequences of violent conflict, improve security, and contribute to the peaceful resolution of conflict. The HD Centre began operations in 1999 and has since become one of the world’s leading conflict medi- ation organisations. Operational engagements are complemented by policy and analytical work focused on civilian protection, mediation techniques, transi- tional issues and arms and security matters. Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue 114 rue de Lausanne Geneva, 1202 Switzerland Photo: In Goma in the Democratic Republic Phone +41 22 908 1130 of the Congo, a pile of hand grenades discarded on Fax +41 22 908 1140 the border with Rwanda. © Panos/TeunVoeten E-mail [email protected] Design & layout: Richard Jones Website www.hdcentre.org ([email protected]) Addressing explosive ordnance in peace processes Emile LeBrun & Suzanne Damman CONTRIBUTORS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Authors explosive ordnance expert; Gustavo Laurie of the Emile LeBrun works as a consultant for the Small Arms UN Mine Action Service; Christian Holmboe Ruge, Survey and the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue on independent human security consultant; Mary small arms and light weapons related research, policy Wareham, Arms Division, Human Rights Watch; and evaluation. and Camilla Waszink of the Arms Unit of the Inter- national Committee of the Red Cross. Suzanne Damman is a Project Assistant at the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Previously she worked at the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian ‘Negotiating Disarmament’ publications Demining. Cate Buchanan, ed. (2008), Viewpoints: Reflections on Guns, Fighters and Armed Violence in Peace Processes, Additional contributors Volume 2, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, Novem- Wynne Russell provided structural and copy-editing ber. Available also in Spanish. assistance and is an independent researcher focusing Richard Barltrop (2008), The Negotiation of Security on masculinity and violent conflict. Issues in the Burundi Peace Talks, ‘Negotiating Disarma- Cate Buchanan is the manager of the ‘Negotiating ment’ Country Study No. 1, Centre for Humanitarian Disarmament’ project of which this report is one in a Dialogue. series of publications. Since 2001 she has managed the Richard Barltrop (2008), The Negotiation of Security arms and violence reduction portfolio at the Centre Issues in Sudan’s Comprehensive Peace Agreement, for Humanitarian Dialogue. ‘Negotiating Disarmament’ Country Study No. 2, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Acknowledgements Cate Buchanan and Joaquin Chávez (2008), Guns and Over the course of the ‘Negotiating Disarmament’ Violence in the El Salvador Peace Negotiations, ‘Nego- project, the Governments of Canada, Norway and tiating Disarmament’ Country Study No. 3, Centre for Switzerland have been steady supporters, and various Humanitarian Dialogue. elements of this report were made possible with fund- Cate Buchanan, ed. (2008), Viewpoints: Reflections on ing from these governments. The Centre appreciates Guns, Fighters and Armed Violence in Peace Processes, this support as well as the advice, input and other Volume 1, Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, March. assistance from officials of these governments. Available also in Spanish. The briefing paper benefited greatly from the careful and collegial eye of several reviewers. These included: Cate Buchanan and Mireille Widmer (2006), Civilians, Vera Bohle of the Geneva International Centre for Guns and Peace Processes: Approaches and Possibilities, Humanitarian Demining; Ambassador Carey ‘Negotiating Disarmament’ Briefing Paper No. 1, Cavanaugh of the Patterson School of Diplomacy at Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue. Available also in the University of Kentucky; Colin King, independent French and Spanish. 2 Negotiating Disarmament Briefing Paper 2 CONTENTS Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 4 Acronyms and abbreviations .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 6 Section 1 Explosive ordnance and its impacts .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. 7 Box 1. A mediator’s perspective on mine action in Nagorno-Karabakh ....................................................................................................................... 8 Section 2 Addressing explosive ordnance in peace talks ........................................................................................................................................................................ 10 Box 2. Confidence-building and peacemaking in the Nuba Mountains ..................................................................................................................... 13 Box 3. Engaging armed groups on anti-personnel mines ................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Table 1. Focus on survivor assistance: key policy and activity areas ................................................................................................................................. 15 Section 3 Suggestions for the negotiating table ..................................................................................................................................................................................................... 16 Section 4 Further resources .................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Annexes ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Annex 1. Additional technical information on landmines and cluster munitions .................................................................................... 19 Annex 2. A selection of peace agreements addressing landmines, unexploded ordnance, explosive devices and related weapons ................................................................................................................................................ 20 Annex 3. Norms and legal frameworks applicable to explosive ordnance ............................................................................................................. 23 Annex 4. United Nations Mine Action Guidelines for Ceasefire and Peace Agreements ............................................................ 25 Endnotes ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 27 Addressing explosive ordnance in peace processes 3 INTRODUCTION All modern armed conflicts result in explosive ordnance systems all justify the attention of those around the contamination. Before and after the cessation of hos- peace negotiation table. Additionally, abandoned ord- tilities, the presence of unexploded and abandoned nance can quickly disappear into illicit arms markets explosive ordnance—landmines, cluster munitions, or flow to neighbouring areas where armed conflict is bombs and warheads, and a range of other explosive present or possible. devices—presents immediate and long-term threats Preventing further death, impairment, disability and challenges for local populations, returnees and and suffering from these weapons depends on the governments. The lives that these weapons claim, the engagement and cooperation of conflict parties, civil horrific injuries and disabilities that they inflict, and society, international organisations and the donor com- the ongoing strains that they impose on war-ravaged munity. For these reasons, principles and guidelines economies and depleted health and social welfare covering explosive ordnance and their survivors have A cluster bomb munition made safe at a Handicap International Control Point in Lebanon. © Panos/Stuart Freedman 4 Negotiating Disarmament Briefing Paper 2 an important and appropriate place in peace agreements. development