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Dramatic cut in landmine victims Dramatic cut in landmine victims
(8 days later)
It is rare, when it comes to weapons, to be able to report progress.It is rare, when it comes to weapons, to be able to report progress.
Campaigners on Monday marked the 15th anniversary of the treaty outlawing landmines saying the number of reported new casualties had fallen dramatically.Campaigners on Monday marked the 15th anniversary of the treaty outlawing landmines saying the number of reported new casualties had fallen dramatically.
Between 1999 and 2011, the number of reported new landmine casualties had dropped by more than half, from 8,807 to 4,286.Between 1999 and 2011, the number of reported new landmine casualties had dropped by more than half, from 8,807 to 4,286.
"There has been remarkable progress in saving lives from landmines since the treaty to ban them was signed in 1997. This shows that international treaties do not end up as just words on paper," said Anna MacDonald Oxfam's head of arms control. "The fact that even those countries that have so far not joined the treaty are abiding by it is strong evidence that setting high standards in international agreements is the right approach"."There has been remarkable progress in saving lives from landmines since the treaty to ban them was signed in 1997. This shows that international treaties do not end up as just words on paper," said Anna MacDonald Oxfam's head of arms control. "The fact that even those countries that have so far not joined the treaty are abiding by it is strong evidence that setting high standards in international agreements is the right approach".
Most landmine casualties occur in just a few countries. The one with the worst record is Afghanistan where 14,951 new victims were recorded between 1999 and 2011. Second worst was Colombia, which suffered 8,448 new casualties over the same period, and Cambodia, third with 8,041.Most landmine casualties occur in just a few countries. The one with the worst record is Afghanistan where 14,951 new victims were recorded between 1999 and 2011. Second worst was Colombia, which suffered 8,448 new casualties over the same period, and Cambodia, third with 8,041.
"From November 1992 to July this year, MAG's [Mines Advisory Group]
operations in Cambodia released 560 square kilometres of land back to communities", said Nick Roseveare, MAG's chief executive.
"From November 1992 to July this year, MAG's [Mines Advisory Group]
operations in Cambodia released 560 square kilometres of land back to communities", said Nick Roseveare, MAG's chief executive.
"The long term consequences on survivors and their families can be devastating" said Steve Smith, chief executive of Action on Armed Violence whose recent survey of more than 900 survivors in Western Sahara found that a quarter had no income."The long term consequences on survivors and their families can be devastating" said Steve Smith, chief executive of Action on Armed Violence whose recent survey of more than 900 survivors in Western Sahara found that a quarter had no income.
The Mine Ban Treaty has been signed by 160 countries. They, and others which have not yet signed, are attending a meeting in Geneva, which started on Monday.The Mine Ban Treaty has been signed by 160 countries. They, and others which have not yet signed, are attending a meeting in Geneva, which started on Monday.
Before the treaty, it was estimated that 65m anti-personnel landmines had been laid between 1978-1993, said the campaigners.Before the treaty, it was estimated that 65m anti-personnel landmines had been laid between 1978-1993, said the campaigners.
Over the past decade, only a few non-signatory states have deployed the weapons.Over the past decade, only a few non-signatory states have deployed the weapons.
Over the past year, Syria alone had used antipersonnel landmines, campaigners said. Last year, in 2011, they were deployed by three countries - Israel, Libya and Burma.Over the past year, Syria alone had used antipersonnel landmines, campaigners said. Last year, in 2011, they were deployed by three countries - Israel, Libya and Burma.
Four countries - India, Myanmar, Pakistan and South Korea - were still actively producing landmines, according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.Four countries - India, Myanmar, Pakistan and South Korea - were still actively producing landmines, according to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
Though they have a combined stockpile estimated at more than 140m landmines and have not signed the treaty banning them, China, Russia, and the US do not deploy them and have not transferred them to other countries.Though they have a combined stockpile estimated at more than 140m landmines and have not signed the treaty banning them, China, Russia, and the US do not deploy them and have not transferred them to other countries.
Monday's report says Britain has played an important role in the efforts to ban landmines and is one of the world's leading donors to mine clearance.Monday's report says Britain has played an important role in the efforts to ban landmines and is one of the world's leading donors to mine clearance.
"Diana, Princess of Wales encouraged the UK to use its leadership in support of the global effort to ban landmines. This British leadership continued with the ban on cluster bombs and future UK leadership on other issues related to banning weapons which cause unacceptable human harm and encourage the protection of civilians would be a fitting way of continuing the Princess' legacy," said Dr Astrid Bonfield, chief executive of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund."Diana, Princess of Wales encouraged the UK to use its leadership in support of the global effort to ban landmines. This British leadership continued with the ban on cluster bombs and future UK leadership on other issues related to banning weapons which cause unacceptable human harm and encourage the protection of civilians would be a fitting way of continuing the Princess' legacy," said Dr Astrid Bonfield, chief executive of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.
One of Britain's leading human rights lawyers, Geoffrey Robertson QC, has pointed out that while there is a treaty outlawing landmines and dumdum bullets and other weapons, there is no law banning nuclear weapons.One of Britain's leading human rights lawyers, Geoffrey Robertson QC, has pointed out that while there is a treaty outlawing landmines and dumdum bullets and other weapons, there is no law banning nuclear weapons.
Robertson, whose latest book, Mullahs Without Mercy, Human Rights and Nuclear Weapons, has just been published, was speaking on Monday on BBC Radio 4's Start the Week programme.Robertson, whose latest book, Mullahs Without Mercy, Human Rights and Nuclear Weapons, has just been published, was speaking on Monday on BBC Radio 4's Start the Week programme.
The British American Security Information Council (BASIC) thinktank on Monday adopted an optimistic note.The British American Security Information Council (BASIC) thinktank on Monday adopted an optimistic note.
Acclaiming arms control anniversaries, it noted that on 3 December 1989, Mikhail Gorbachev and George Bush met in Malta to declare an end to the cold war. The Malta summit, it said, built on the success of a series of arms-reduction treaties between the two superpowers, including Salt II in 1979 and the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987.Acclaiming arms control anniversaries, it noted that on 3 December 1989, Mikhail Gorbachev and George Bush met in Malta to declare an end to the cold war. The Malta summit, it said, built on the success of a series of arms-reduction treaties between the two superpowers, including Salt II in 1979 and the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty in 1987.
On 7 December, the 25th anniversary is reached of the INF, which banned all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500km - missiles capable of hitting European targets, including western Russia, added BASIC.On 7 December, the 25th anniversary is reached of the INF, which banned all ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500km - missiles capable of hitting European targets, including western Russia, added BASIC.
While Reagan and Gorbachev agreed the treaty, European and American public opposition to US nuclear weapons in western Europe inspired it, it said.While Reagan and Gorbachev agreed the treaty, European and American public opposition to US nuclear weapons in western Europe inspired it, it said.
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