Handicap International strongly condemns the reported use of cluster munitions by the Syrian state in the northern regions of Idlib and Latamneh.

Geneva, Switzerland — At the Twelfth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, the United States observer delegation stated that the U.S. will be announcing the outcome of its three-year review of its landmine policy—and whether or not it will join the treaty—“soon.”

In the statement, Steve Costner, deputy director of Weapons Removal and Abatement at the U.S. Department of State, said, “We have not made a decision on United States accession to the Convention. Our review has identified operational issues related to accession that require careful consideration. This consideration is ongoing, and we expect to be able to announce a decision soon.”

In response, the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines (USCBL) held a briefing to discuss the statement and the status of the review. Speaking as a member of the panel, Costner indicated that “soon” meant—at the least—that an announcement of the decision of the review would take place no later than the next Meeting of States Parties in November 2013.

Civil society campaigners at the conference recognized that this was the first time the administration has indicated publicly that the review is nearing conclusion, but were disappointed that there was no mention of an actual end date for the review; information about the current stage of the process; or what “operational issues” had been identified—and what strategy was being implemented to overcome them.

“On the one hand, we were happy to see the continued engagement of the U.S.,” said Zach Hudson, USCBL coordinator. “And it was also positive to hear that the review would be completed ‘soon.’ But on the other hand, at this point we expected a stronger statement. This process has been languishing for three years now. We hope the President will now take bold action at the beginning of his second term and ban this weapon once and for all.”

At the briefing, Costner also stated, in response to questions about the “operational issues” cited in the statement, “We’ve made real progress. We’ve identified the issues. Our homework is done. Now it’s about looking at the options and going forward.”

The U.S. reportedly retains some 10 million stockpiled antipersonnel mines for potential future use. With Poland’s imminent ratification of the treaty, also announced at this conference, the U.S. is now one of only 36 countries in the world that have not joined the Mine Ban Treaty—and is the only member of NATO that is not a States Party, and the only country in the Western Hemisphere, aside from Cuba, that has not joined.

Over the past three years, Obama and his administration have received letters of support for U.S. accession to the Mine Ban Treaty from 68 Senators, nearly 100 leaders of prominent U.S. nongovernmental organizations, key NATO allies, U.S. military personnel, 16 Nobel Peace Prize recipients, landmines survivors and countless citizens from around the world.

“The U.S. was the first government to call for the elimination of antipersonnel landmines in 1994, but then President Clinton postponed joining the treaty until 2006, and President Bush did away with that goal altogether,” said Steve Goose, executive director of the Arms Division at Human Rights Watch and Head of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines Delegation. “We’re still waiting.”

One hundred and fifteen countries are registered at the States Party Meeting—including the U.S. and 17 non-States Parties participating as observers.

About the United States Campaign to Ban Landmines
The USCBL, currently coordinated by Handicap International, is a coalition of thousands of people and U.S. non-governmental organizations working to: (1) ensure no U.S. use, production, or transfer of antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions; (2) encourage the U.S. to join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty and the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions; and (3) secure high levels of U.S. government support for clearance and assistance programs for victims of landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war. The USCBL is the U.S. affiliate of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)—the co-laureate of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize—and is a member of the Cluster Munition Coalition, an international coalition working to protect civilians from the effects of cluster munitions by promoting universal adherence to and full implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. www.uscbl.org

Contacts
Zach Hudson, Coordinator
United States Campaign to Ban Landmines
+1 (917) 860-1883
[email protected]

Mica Bevington, Director of Communications and Marketing
Handicap International US
+1 (240) 450-3531
[email protected]

Molly Feltner, Communications and Marketing Officer
Handicap International US
+1 (240) 450-3528
[email protected]

Geneva, Switzerland — The U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines (USCBL) joins Nobel Peace Laureate Jody Williams, International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) campaigners and landmine survivors from nearly 40 countries in calling on governments to commit to eradicating antipersonnel landmines in years, not decades. The call comes at the opening of the Twelfth Meeting of States Parties (12MSP) to the Mine Ban Treaty, taking place from December 3-7 in Geneva. More than 100 governments are expected to participate—including the United States, which will participate as an observer.

The USCBL welcomes the participation of the U.S. delegation at the conference. In response to calls from civil society for the United States to join the Mine Ban Treaty, the Obama administration began a review of U.S. landmine policy in December 2009, but has yet to announce the conclusions of the review. The USCBL continues to urge the United States to move swiftly towards accession to the treaty and, during the upcoming conference, expects to hear news of the administration’s progress.

“We’re excited that the U.S. is here at the conference,” said Zach Hudson, coordinator of the USCBL. “We welcome their active engagement and are looking forward to hearing about the status of the landmine policy review following the recent U.S. presidential election. We look forward to a future when the United States has joined the treaty and destroyed the 10.4 million landmines currently held in its arsenal.”

Over the past three years, President Obama and his administration have received letters of support for U.S. accession to the Mine Ban Treaty from 68 Senators, nearly 100 leaders of prominent U.S. nongovernmental organizations, key NATO allies, U.S. military personnel, 16 Nobel Peace Prize recipients, landmines survivors and countless citizens from around the world.

The 12MSP begins 15 years to the day after the Mine Ban Treaty was opened for signature in Ottawa, where it was signed by 122 states. Since the signing of the Mine Ban Treaty vast tracts of land have been cleared. Nineteen states have declared their territories mine-free to date, and four more—the Republic of Congo, Denmark, Jordan, and Uganda—are expected to announce completion of mine clearance at this year’s meeting. More than 46 million stockpiled mines have been destroyed under the treaty. Most importantly, the annual casualty rate from landmines and explosive remnants of war has decreased dramatically since the treaty came into force.

Today 160 countries, or more than 80% of countries worldwide, have joined the treaty, with another—Poland—expected to announce its ratification during the meeting. With Poland, all of the European Union and all of NATO, with the exception of the United States, will be States Parties.

“This week, and for as long as it takes, we will continue to challenge the international community to finish the job we started some 20 years ago, to definitively end use of these weapons, and to fully address consequences of past use, and to do so as quickly as possible. The giant steps taken over the past 15 years prove that this is not only possible, but imminet," said ICBL Director, Katarzyna Derlicka.

More Information
ICBL 20th Anniversary Video 
Landmine Monitor 2012 
Individual country profiles

About the United States Campaign to Ban Landmines
The USCBL, currently coordinated by Handicap International, is a coalition of thousands of people and U.S. non-governmental organizations working to: (1) ensure no U.S. use, production, or transfer of antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions; (2) encourage the U.S. to join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty and the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions; and (3) secure high levels of U.S. government support for clearance and assistance programs for victims of landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war. The USCBL is the U.S. affiliate of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)—the co-laureate of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize—and is a member of the Cluster Munition Coalition, an international coalition working to protect civilians from the effects of cluster munitions by promoting universal adherence to and full implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. www.uscbl.org

Contacts
Zach Hudson, Coordinator
United States Campaign to Ban Landmines
+1 (917) 860-1883
[email protected]

Mica Bevington, Director of Communications and Marketing
Handicap International US
+1 (240) 450-3531
[email protected]

Molly Feltner, Communications and Marketing Officer
Handicap International US
+1 (240) 450-3528
[email protected]

Handicap International welcomes the participation of the U.S. delegation at the 12th Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva, from December 3 to 7.

Takoma Park, Maryland — Handicap International welcomes the participation of the U.S. delegation at the 12th Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva, from December 3 to 7. In response to calls from civil society, the Obama administration began a review of U.S. landmine policy in December 2009, but has yet to announce its conclusions. Now that President Obama has been elected for a second term, Handicap International urges his administration to move swiftly towards accession to the treaty. News of the administration’s progress is expected during the upcoming conference.

The 2012 Landmine Monitor—an annual report that provides a global overview of developments in mine ban policy; mine contamination, clearance, and casualties; and support for victim assistance and mine action—was released on Nov. 29, and presents several disturbing findings. Handicap International is particularly concerned about a reported 30% drop in international funding for victim assistance last year. Despite the overall reduction in aid to victims, however, the U.S. has increased its mine action aid.

If the U.S., which has supplied $534.5 million in aid since 2007, making it the biggest funder of mine action,” says Elizabeth MacNairn, Executive Director of Handicap International U.S. “However, assistance must be coupled with an absolute ban on further use of the weapon. It is time for the U.S. to match its policy to its financial commitment by ratifying the Mine Ban Treaty and destroying the 10.4 million landmines currently held within the U.S. stockpile." The Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty bans the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.

The 2012 Landmine Monitor counted 4,286 new victims of landmines and explosive remnants of war in 2011. It estimates that around the world, there are more than 500,000 survivors of mine accidents who require lifelong assistance. However, the resources deployed by the State Parties to the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty are not equal to the very serious challenges faced.

“Funding for victim assistance is at its lowest ever level since the Landmine Monitor began keeping records,” says MacNairn. “Last year the State donors gave only $30 million to support 500,000 survivors and their families and communities which is clearly not enough.”

Eighty-eight countries and territories are still affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war. One new victim of these weapons is recorded every two hours. Almost three-quarters of these victims are civilians, and more than 40% are children. In some countries, the proportion of child victims is much higher: in Kenya, Uganda, and Yemen, 90% of victims are children and the figure stands at about 60% in Libya, Afghanistan, and Laos (58%). Yet, because of the reduction in international aid, countries such as Afghanistan and Uganda have had to scale down or halt victim assistance projects.

"The needs [of child victims] are greater than those of adults,” says Rahmatullah Merzaveean, an Afghan Ban Advocate who lost both legs in a landmine explosion at the age of nine. “Their prosthetic limbs need regular adjustment as they grow, treatment is lengthy and costly, and they run a particularly high risk of exclusion from the education system."

Handicap International and Ban Advocates, an association of survivors of landmine and cluster munition explosions, will attend the 12th Meeting of States Parties, to remind the governments present of their responsibilities and to call on them to fully respect the obligations set out in the Treaty. Ban Advocates will also confront the States Parties with the appalling consequences of landmines and explosive remnants of war.

Handicap International currently works in 63 countries, 40 of which are polluted by landmines and explosive remnants of war. The organization implements mine clearance, risk education, rehabilitation, and victim assistance projects. Its expertise in the field gives legitimacy to its international advocacy work to ban and eradicate these weapons.

About Handicap International
Co-winner of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize, Handicap International is an independent international aid organization. It has been working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster for 30 years. Working alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our actions and testimony focus on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions, and promoting respect for their dignity and basic rights. Since 1982, Handicap International has set up development programs in more than 60 countries and intervenes in numerous emergency situations. The network of eight national associations (Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States) works constantly to mobilize resources, jointly manage projects and to increase the impact of the organization's principles and actions. Handicap International is one of six founding organizations of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, and winner of the 2011 Hilton Humanitarian Prize. Handicap International takes action and campaigns in places where “standing tall” is no easy task.

About Ban Advocates 
Ban Advocates are survivors of landmine or cluster munition accidents who lobby governments in favor of banning these weapons and ensuring that the rights of victims are fully respected. Today the group is comprised of 30 victims from eight polluted countries (Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iraq, Kosovo, Laos, Lebanon, Serbia and Vietnam). This project was launched by Handicap International in Serbia in September 2007. Handicap International has supported their initiatives every year since.

Contacts
Mica Bevington, Director of Communications and Marketing
Handicap International US
+1 (240) 450-3531
[email protected]

Molly Feltner, Communications and Marketing Officer
Handicap International US
+1 (240) 450-3528
[email protected]

Handicap International today denounced the Syrian government's use of cluster bombs in Deir al-Assafeer, a town in northern Syria.

Takoma Park, Maryland — Handicap International today denounced the Syrian government’s use of cluster bombs in Deir al-Assafeer, a town in northern Syria. This practice was recently confirmed by Human Rights Watch. The organization first drew attention to the use of these weapons in Syria in July and October. Handicap International is extremely concerned by these latest developments and the recent upsurge in fighting in urban areas, which is having a serious impact on civilians. According to Handicap International teams supplying humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, more and more people injured in the conflict, including many children, are arriving every day.

Handicap International has been shocked by the use of cluster bombs (cluster munitions) in Syria. These weapons are banned under an international treaty that came into force in August 2010. According to Human Rights Watch, the weapons were used during bombing raids on the town of Deir al-Assafeer, on Sunday 25 November, killing at least 40 people, including 11 children, and injuring many others.

“Cluster munitions appear to have been used repeatedly and on a massive scale over the course of several months,” says Marion Libertucci, Handicap International’s Weapons Advocacy Manager. “Governments urgently need to put pressure on Syria to stop using these weapons.”

According to Handicap International, 94% of recorded victims of cluster munitions are civilians. The use of cluster munitions in densely populated areas therefore poses an unacceptable threat to the civilian population. The organization’s teams supplying humanitarian aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon report that the number of people fleeing Syria with serious injuries is increasing daily. Many are children.

A cluster munition is a type of bomb designed to break apart and release hundreds of smaller explosives, or sub-munitions, over a wide area. Often cluster munitions fail to explode on impact and remain a deadly threat to anyone who ventures close.

These weapons are banned under the Oslo Treaty, which has been signed by 111 States. The treaty bans the use, production, stockpiling and trade of these weapons. Handicap International played a key role in driving forward efforts to secure the Treaty. Although Syria is not currently a State Party to the treaty, its actions mark a break with the practice adopted by other non-States Parties, which have refrained from using these weapons.

Handicap International is alarmed by the continued fighting and shelling in heavily-populated areas, which continue to kill and maim civilians and violate the principle of distinction between combatants and civilians as codified in the Geneva Conventions. As a result of the conflict, many residential areas are scattered with explosive remnants of war, posing a constant threat to their inhabitants, even during breaks in the fighting.

The Geneva Conventions stipulate that States must never make civilians or civilian property the object of attack. They must strictly adhere to the definition of military objectives and fully respect the ban on the use of disproportionate force and indiscriminate attacks. They must also protect civilians caught up in the war zone. Handicap International is calling on the parties to the conflict to respect these rules and to end violence against civilians, including an immediate end to the use of cluster bombs.

Handicap International is a daily witness to the impact of the conflict in Syria. The organization’s teams report that many of the injured people arriving from Syria have only received basic treatment and include many children injured in the bombing, families who have lost their homes, women traveling alone with their children and marginalized people.

Handicap International also runs risk education activities on mines and explosive remnants of war in Jordan and is looking into the possibility of intervening in affected areas of Syria.

About Handicap International
Co-winner of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize, Handicap International is an independent international aid organization. It has been working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster for 30 years. Working alongside persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, our actions and testimony focus on responding to their essential needs, improving their living conditions, and promoting respect for their dignity and basic rights. Since 1982, Handicap International has set up development programs in more than 60 countries and intervenes in numerous emergency situations. The network of eight national associations (Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States) works constantly to mobilize resources, jointly manage projects and to increase the impact of the organization's principles and actions. Handicap International is one of six founding organizations of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, and winner of the 2011 Hilton Humanitarian Prize. Handicap International takes action and campaigns in places where “standing tall” is no easy task.

Contacts
Mica Bevington, Director of Communications and Marketing
Handicap International US
+1 (240) 450-3531
[email protected]

Molly Feltner, Communications and Marketing Officer
Handicap International US
+1 (240) 450-3528
[email protected]

Over 5,500 bombs and other explosive remnants of war were destroyed in three bulk demolitions in the city of Misrata on Thursday, November 15.

According to Human Rights Watch, the Syrian army recently used cluster munitions.

Handicap International launched a new online petition on Oct. 1, urging President Barack Obama to submit the Mine Ban Treaty to the Senate for ratification.