Dear friends,
We are shocked and revolted at the humanitarian crises unfolding in Ukraine following Russia's invasion of the country, targeting of civilians and widespread use of banned cluster munitions. Now more than ever we must push to strengthen the norm prohibiting these indiscriminate weapons that devastate communities for decades, and urge all states to loudly condemn any use anywhere by anyone. Getting as many states as possible onboard the Cluster Munition Convention and ensuring widespread condemnation of use requires a concerted effort from the global campaign. We welcome working hand-in-hand to this end.
As we emerge from the COVID fog, we welcome meetings in person, and remain cautiously optimistic that we will be able to continue seeing and hearing more through much missed interpersonal exchanges with colleagues. We hope all will remain prudent and stay in good health as the global health situation evolves.
2022 is also a year to rejoice for the many achievements of the civil society mine ban movement since the International Campaign to Ban Landmines was launched thirty years ago. On the occasion of the 30th anniversary, we're taking stock of the achievements, and looking closely at the necessary next steps on the road to a mine free and cluster munition free world!
Convention on Cluster Munitions
The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) together with a growing number of states has strongly condemned use of cluster munitions and targeting of civilian populations by Russian forces in the Ukraine conflict. Read our statements:
See the statement by the UK Convention on Cluster Munitions Presidency here.
ICBL-CMC is calling for an immediate halt to use of the internationally banned weapon in the Ukraine conflict, protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law and for all states to clearly condemn use of the weapon and join the Convention without delay.
We continue to support Convention universalization efforts overall and look forward to addressing these and other challenges in formal meetings where we will participate this year including:
23-24 March Africa Regional Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) Universalization Workshop (Abuja, Nigeria)
16-17 May CCM Intersessional Meeting (Geneva, Switzerland)
Today, we're celebrating the immense and positive impact of the mine ban movement, and the shared successes of the life-saving Mine Ban Treaty as it marks 25 years since adoption, as well as the 25th anniversary of ICBL's receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. We'll be sharing a few gems from our archives this year and encourage you to share your photos of key mine ban moments over the past three decades. You can send your favorites along with a short note to: media@icblcmc.org
On the occasion of International Mine Awareness and Mine Action Day - 4 April - we're joining with the United Nations Mine Action Service for a week of visibility and outreach events including:
Participation in a 4 April High-level symposium with mine action partners at UN New York Headquarters.
An exhibition at the UN, highlighting ICBL member and mine action partner contributions towards a mine free world, to open on 4 April.
Side event to be held at UN New York, looking at ICBL member activities in mine action thematic areas, and challenges - week of 4 April.
Details on the above events will be shared soon via our social media channels.
Mine Free 2025 Aspirational Goal
The ICBL continues to urge states and mine ban partners to make all efforts towards achieving a mine free 2025. Three years away from Mine Ban Treaty States Parties’ aspirational completion goal of 2025, few appear to be on track to meet that target. Delays in clearance result in ongoing human suffering and the devastation of human lives. In 2020 alone the Landmine Monitor reported over 7000casualties globally, with about half recorded in States Parties to the treaty.
To address this challenge we're calling for immediate, strategic, and inclusive rethinking of implementation efforts, including the extension request process, to speed progress towards clearance completion goals. To find out more see our 2021 discussion paper "Completion...in our lifetime?"
CALL FOR PHOTOS. The Monitor is looking for photos taken in 2021 or 2022 for this year’s annual reports. In particular, we are interested in photos and stories from all regions of the world that capture the global landmine and cluster munition situation and highlight efforts to address the humanitarian problems caused by these weapons. Individuals and organizations can submit their best photos at monitor2@icblcmc.orgby 31 May 2022. When submitting an entry, please ensure to include: a descriptive caption about the photo providing as much context as possible: what it shows, who it portrays, when and where it was taken.
NEW FACTSHEET. The Monitor launched in March 2022 a new factsheet on mine action funding in 2016–2020. The factsheet shows that greater coordination among international donors is needed to ensure a more efficient distribution of resources to address all levels of mine contamination, provide adequate support to survivors and affected population, and ensure the timely implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty obligations.
Investing in Action Small Grant Programme
Investing in Action provides support, for advocacy on universalization and implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the Mine Ban Treaty, as well as for survivor rights networks, at national level.
This year we are launching three distinct calls for small grant opportunities under the programme. The first call - Investing in Action - was launched in March and projects will be launching activities around the 4 April Mine Awareness and Mine Action Day. A call for proposals for support to national survivor networks - Together in Action - is currently underway. At mid-year, we will be inviting national members to submit proposals for Landmine and Cluster Munition information outreach and dissemination.
Campaign News
After six years contributing to ICBL-CMC administration, operations, and advocacy, and most recently carrying out Monitor research, colleague Éléa Boreux left the organization at the end of February. We are grateful for her contributions and wish her the best in her new endeavours.
The ICBL-CMC has been striving for many years to rid the world of landmines and cluster munitions. Campaigning, strategizing, mobilizing states, raising awareness, condemning use, investigating and monitoring international community response to the landmine and cluster munition situation, are a few examples of our work in action.
ICBL-CMC's Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor is the leading resource for information on communities affected by the weapons.
We are a civil society network of organizations working in over 100 countries and bringing together landmine and cluster munition survivors and other members of the mine action community, to put an end to the suffering caused by these weapons.
ICBL-CMC played a critical role in the creation of both the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and was instrumental in ensuring that civil society, and the rights of survivors, be included in the treaties. The campaign was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 as a result of this work.
We believe that a world free of landmines and cluster munitions, where the rights and needs of victims are guaranteed, is not only possible, but inevitable. We invite you to join us in making a mine-free world a reality.
