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Saudi-led coalition’s recent use of Brazilian-made cluster munitions targets residential areas in Yemen
On 15 February 2017, the Saudi Arabia-led coalition fired Brazilian-manufactured cluster munitions on three residential areas in Saada City in Yemen, maiming two civilians, according to Amnesty International in a press release published today. This is the third confirmed use of Brazilian-manufactured cluster munitions in Yemen. Yet, the government of Brazil remains silent.
Cluster Munition Coalition urges the government of Brazil to condemn the use of cluster munitions in Yemen, to renounce the internationally banned weapons and cease all production and transfers, and to join the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions.
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4 April: Going Beyond Awareness
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munition Coalition members worldwide marked 4 April with action. 4 April is the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action with the aim of raising awareness on dangers caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war.
National campaigns around globe took action to mark 4 April. They carried out advocacy activities to encourage their governments to implement or join the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions. They reached out to journalists, created buzz on social media, staged exhibitions, and hold local events and conferences. Here is a snapshot of some of national campaigns’ activities on or around 4 April.
The Italian Campaign to Ban Landmines in cooperation with the National Association of Civil War Victims organized a conference, that was entitled ‘Mine Action: an investment in humanity’ at the Senate (Sala Zuccari, Palazzo Giustiniani). Some 100 people attended the conference. Nicolas Marzolino, a young survivor, Under Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Alberto Cairo from ICRC Afghanistan, two senators and a representative of the Italian Agency for Cooperation and Development spoke at the conference and highlighted importance of mine action and assistance to victims. Italian campaign urged the government to pass the draft law on disinvestment in production of cluster munitions and demanded the stabilization of the Humanitarian Demining Fund. The campaign also launched its new publication “Disarm for High Schools and University”.
Campaigners in Myanmar organized an event in Yangon. Humanitarian Mine Action Initiative and landmine survivors in cooperation with demining operators, such as Norwegian Peoples Aid, Mines Advisory Group and Halo Trust organized the event to draw attention on problems caused by mines in Myanmar, and the need to clear mines and support victims. Authorities, including members of parliament and vice chairman of Myanmar National Human Rights Commission spoke at the event and expressed support.
The Organization of Amputees of Republika Srpska (UDAS) in Bosnia-Herzegovina organized several events, including an art exhibition: “The impact of landmines in Bosnia and Herzegovina”, in Banja Luka and Sarajevo. They aimed to point out the challenges the country dealt with in the past two decades and to remind that mines and explosive remnants of war are causing serious problem and that there is a need for a collective efforts in resolving it. UDAS also engaged national 4 April event which took place in front of Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia-Herzegovina. In reference to assistance to mine victims, UDAS organized visits to homes of victims to show solidarity and to help their socio-economic inclusion.
The Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal and Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction jointly organized an event on 4 April to mark the day. The Minister of Peace and Reconstruction joined the even along with more than hundred people from civil society organizations, ministries, army, police, journalists, and youth campaigners to express government’s support against landmines and to pledge political support for a country free of landmines. They also organized book and art exhibitions highlighting the challenges facing victims and the need to address their rights.
The celebration in Afghanistan was organized by the mine action authorities in collaboration with campaign members such as the Afghan Landmine Survivors' Organization and others national campaigners. Given a drastic increase of 61% in casualties by mines in 2016, in comparison to the year before which has left an average of 142 civilians killed or maimed, the 4 April event in Kabul focused on casualties, and the need to tackle this problem. Mine action actors also discussed the need to raise more funds in order to achieve the goal of a mine-free Afghanistan by 2023 and to increase assistance to mine survivors.
As the youngest members of society are the most vulnerable, Yemen Campaign took action to combat further casualties among children, by raising awareness in schools. In lead up to 4 April, Yemeni Mine Awareness Association in coordination with national mine action center and other actors carried out awareness sessions and drawing activities for school children. They drew images of the impact of war from their perspectives to raise awareness among their peers. On 3rd April an event was held in Al Baihani school attended by students and family members of students, local authorities. In addition to speeches by authorities, students performed role-plays, and sang songs and joined the discussions to combat the plague of mines and explosive remnants of war. These activities were concluded by an exhibition of the children’s drawings.
Campaigners in Albania, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Cambodia, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Georgia, Germany, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Norway, Pakistan, Senegal, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vietnam and other countries also took action on or around 4 April to mark the day.
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