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Working for a world free of landmines and cluster munitions                                        View this email in your browser
ICBL-CMC Newsletter - October 2020

Dear All, 

Welcome to the October 2020 ICBL-CMC newsletter.

In this edition you will find:

Cluster Munition Coalition Activities to Promote Universal CCM Adherence 

In preparation for the Second Review Conference of the CCM taking place November 2020 in Switzerland, the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) continues to promote universal adherence to the treaty. 

August 2020 marked ten years since the CCM became international law and network members took the opportunity to call on all countries worldwide to accede to or ratify the convention and call for an immediate end to all use of the banned weapon and for clear condemnation of any use, including in Syria. 

Below are some examples of recent global campaign actions:







 
Video message from Mines Action Canada with Mine Action Fellows and the Association for Public Policy in Argentina (Associación Para Politicas Públicas), explains the importance of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and calls on Brazil and Argentina to join without delay. 
Thanks to all those who have carried out campaign actions in support of CCM universalization in recent months.

For more on Cluster Munition Coalition member actions, see our webpage social media channels:
Review Conference

On 4 September the CM joined States for the second preparatory meeting for the Second Review Conference of the CCM taking place November 23 to 27 in Lausanne, Switzerland. 

Discussion focused on the draft Lausanne Action Plan and the Political Declaration. The CMC contributed to strengthening language and actions for universalization, and noted the alarming ongoing use of cluster munitions by state-not party Syria as the biggest challenge facing the convention. 

The CMC welcomes the creation of an early warning mechanism for convention reporting, announced at the meeting, as well as a proposal to reinstate intersessional meetings.
See the full meeting proceedings and relevant documents here.
According to the information provided by the Swiss Presidency to date, plans for the Second Review Conference in Lausanne are going ahead. However, in keeping with public health precautions at local, national and international level, the meeting will almost certainly take a hybrid format, with limited in-person delegations, and an online platform that will support the effective participation of States Parties and civil society stakeholders unable to be present physically. 

The ICBL-CMC is coordinating with global network members and partners to find creative solutions to the challenge of meaningful participation in the context of online fora for convention meetings, 
and will be sharing information on this as it is available. 
Congratulations Niue on becoming CCM State Party #109! Read more here
Congratulations Saint Lucia on becoming CCM State Party #110! Read more here

ICBL Activities supporting Mine Ban Treaty Implementation and Oslo Action Plan


ICBL joined MBT States Parties and stakeholders for the 2020 Intersessional Meeting held June 30 to 2 July. The event was the first such MBT virtual meeting following COVID-19 restrictions, and presented new challenges for civil society and state participants alike. 

You can see the full Intersessional programme here.
See ICBL and State Party statements here
View Landmine Monitor products shared at the meeting, here

Progress on Oslo Action Plan and 18 MSP 
The 18th Meeting of States Parties to the MBT will take place 16 to 20 November in Geneva and will be held in a hybrid – online/in-person format (as above for the CCM) – with provisions for one member per delegation at the Palais des Nations. Sessions related to presentation of extension requests, clearance, mine risk education, and victim assistance will be held via a virtual platform. The entire meeting will be broadcast via UN-Web TV with interpretation in all UN languages.
 
The ICBL expects to hear updates from States Parties with outstanding obligations on their implementation of the treaty and progress on the Oslo Action Plan and its 50 concrete actions adopted at the 4th Review Conference and aimed at achieving full universalization and implementation of the treaty by 2025. 
 
During the meeting, States will also consider and decide on requests for extension to clearance deadlines that are expected to be presented by some ten States Parties: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Sudan, and Ukraine.  Requests from Eritrea and Nigeria are still pending. ICBL expects all requests to be clear, realistic and evidence-based, as well as ambitious, for the minimum amount of additional time absolutely necessary.
 
For more information on the November meeting please visit the ISU’s website here.

ICBL-CMC Member News


ICBL-CMC warmly welcomes the following new member organizations to the network: See the global list of ICBL-CMC members here

Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor Updates

  • The Monitor team is currently busy putting together its two annual reports: Cluster Munition Monitor 2020 (a 10-year review edition to mark the Second Review Conference) and Landmine Monitor 2020 to be launched November 2020. Updates of country profiles are available now on the Monitor website.
  • For any questions regarding the upcoming Monitor products or national launches for the annual reports, please contact monitor2@icblcmc.org.

ICBL-CMC Annual Report 2019 



Find out more about the ICBL-CMC global network and our work to eliminate landmines and cluster munitions, in the 2019 Annual Report

Investing in Action


Support for national networks is more crucial than ever in 2020 in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic and responses. Organizations carrying out mine risk education, victim assistance, and advocacy activities – among others – at local level are facing particular challenges, while the situation for many cluster munition and landmine survivors and their organizations is extremely precarious.  

ICBL-CMC's Investing in Action small grants programme seeks to encourage and enable national campaign efforts supporting universalization and implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and the Mine Ban Treaty (MBT). This year, ICBL-CMC has provided additional support for national survivor network organizations, through supplementary Together in Action grants. 
 
The programme builds on the legacy of the previous ICBL-CMC funded Survivor Network Project and helps to ensure the continued inclusion and participation of survivors in advocating for their rights at the national and international level.  

Below are some examples of the critical work being carried out national campaigns, including survivors networks, under the 2020 Investing in Action programme:
  • Alb-Aid, Albania – Public workshop conducted with local NGOs and cluster munition and mine survivors, assessing national implementation of CCM victim assistance provisions; 1 August photo exhibit and press conference highlighting survivors rights and state obligations under the CCM, and the need for social inclusion. 
  • Survivor Network, (Red de Sobrevivientes) El Salvador – Survey and data collection on situation of survivors in context of COVID-19 and recent natural disasters.
  • Survivors Recovery and Rehabilitation Organization (SRaRO), Ethiopia – Advocacy w/government authorities for compliance with treaty reporting obligations, and capacity building of former Ban Advocate national survivor network. 
  • Ban Landmines Nepal Campaign – Mine Risk Education materials and outreach, advocacy for adherence to MBT and CCM.
  • Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines – National outreach on cluster munition awareness and advocacy on CCM adherence. 
  • Iraqi Alliance for Disability – Held a participatory dialogue w/survivor activists, health representatives, and national Mine Action authorities, on MBT obligations and support for rehabilitation and empowerment programmes; meetings with national authorities for Rehabilitation, on importance of including survivor networks in development policy planning fora.

Key 2020 Dates 

Your feedback regarding national and regional campaign events and communications is highly welcome. Please send your updates to: media@icblcmc.org .
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Our mailing address is: The Ecumenical Centre, Route de Ferney 150, P.O. Box 2100, CH-1211, Geneva 2, Switzerland
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