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 12 November 2009
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Landmine Monitor Report 2009 is launched in Geneva

12/11/2009

2009 marks 10 years since the Mine Ban Treaty which prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of land-mines and on their destruction came into force.

According to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, over 44 million landmines have been destroyed over the 10-year period. The group however, says much more work needs to be done to destroy stockpiles and provide assistance to landmine victims. Patrick Maigua reports from Geneva:

In its latest Landmine Monitor Report, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines says the global use; production and trade of antipersonnel mines has dramatically reduced. 80 per cent of the world's states are party to the Mine Ban treaty. However, 39 countries including China, India, Pakistan, Russia and the United States have yet to join the treaty. The report says more than 70 countries are still mine affected, with over 5,000 people being injured by landmines in 2008. Steve Goose from Human Rights Watch is the Editor of the Landmine Monitor Report:

"Regrettably, the pace of joining the convention has slowed down and crawled to a stop we have had no new accessions, no new states joining the convention since November of 2007. We are confident that we have not yet reached the maximum number, we think many more will come on board. While we see now only one or possibly two governments continuing to use the weapon, the problem with non- state actors, with rebel groups is larger. Since 1999 rebel groups have used anti-personnel mines in at least 28 countries with a high of 19 countries in 2001. But the trend is in the right direction. Three years ago, we identified use by rebels in ten countries, last year in 9 countries and this year we are down to use in seven countries most notably in Colombia where FARC is likely the most prolific user of anti personnel mines in the world."

The report says ensuring State parties to the Mine Ban Treaty fulfill their mine clearance obligations remains a formidable challenge with 15 countries including the United Kingdom and Venezuela unable to meet their 2009 mine clearance deadlines. Patrick Maigua UN Radio Geneva.

duration: 1'52"

Sound bites

Steve Goose from Human Rights Watch cut 1

"Regrettably, the pace of joining the convention has slowed down and crawled to a stop we have had no new accessions, no new states joining the convention since November of 2007. We are confident that we have not yet reached the maximum number, we think many more will come on board. While we see now only one or possibly two governments continuing to use the weapon, the problem with non- state actors, with rebel groups is larger. Since 1999 rebel groups have used anti personnel mines in at least 28 countries with a high of 19 countries in 2001. But the trend is in the right direction. Three3 years ago, we identified use by rebels in ten countries, last year in 9 countries and this year we are down to use in seven countries most notably in Colombia where FARC is likely the most prolific user of anti personnel mines in the world."
Duration: 1'00"