{"id":1058,"date":"2014-02-08T14:49:17","date_gmt":"2014-02-08T18:49:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wvcbl.org\/?p=1058"},"modified":"2014-06-28T10:06:39","modified_gmt":"2014-06-28T14:06:39","slug":"action-needed-on-long-awaited-us-landmine-policy-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wvcbl.org\/?p=1058","title":{"rendered":"Action Needed on Long-Awaited US Landmine Policy Review"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a>
PSALM students attend symposium at the Carnegie Endowment for Peace in Washington, D.C.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

On February 19, the US Campaign to Ban Landmines and the
\nAnti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention Implementation Support Unit, with
\nthe support of the European Union, held a symposium at the
\nCarnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC on the
\nUnited States and the Mine Ban Treaty. Senior PSALM students and members of WVCBL attended the event. Speakers
\nincluded Nobel Peace Laureate Ms. Jody Williams and Prince Mired Bin
\nRaad Al-Hussein of Jordan, Special Envoy for the Mine Ban Convention.<\/p>\n

In a letter to President Obama, PSALM and members of the US Campaign
\nto Ban Landmines urged the US to explain its landmine policy review
\ndecision at the Mine Ban Treaty’s Third Review Conference, which opens
\nin Maputo, Mozambique on June 23, 2014. The US Campaign to Ban
\nLandmines has repeatedly urged that the outcome of the policy review
\nbe a decision to join the Mine Ban Treaty as soon as possible, to
\nprohibit the use of antipersonnel mines immediately, and to begin
\ndestruction of all stocks of antipersonnel mines.<\/p>\n

\"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The US Campaign to Ban Landmines is the US affiliate of the
\nInternational Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), co-laureate together
\nwith former ICBL Coordinator Jody Williams of the 1997 Nobel Peace
\nPrize.<\/p>\n

For years, landmines have killed and wounded innocent people, causing
\nuntold suffering, loss and hardship for thousands in countries across
\nthe world. Landmines continue to claim the land of farmers and the
\nplaygrounds of children. These weapons cause death and injury to
\ncivilians during attacks and for years afterwards. Landmines hamper
\npost-conflict rebuilding and rehabilitation and the dangerous work of
\nclearance of these weapons absorbs funds that could be spent on other
\nurgent humanitarian needs.<\/p>\n

In total, 161 countries are States Parties to the 1997 Convention on
\nthe Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of
\nAnti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (also known as the
\nOttawa Convention or Mine Ban Convention\/Treaty). Parties include
\nevery member of the European Union, every member of NATO (except the
\nUS), and other key US allies such as Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, and
\nJapan. The United States is one of only 35 countries that have not
\njoined the Mine Ban Treaty and the only country in the Western
\nHemisphere aside from Cuba that has not joined. The Clinton
\nAdministration in 1997 set the objective of joining the Mine Ban
\nTreaty in 2006, but the Bush Administration reversed course in 2004.<\/p>\n

The US has not used antipersonnel mines since 1991 (in the first Gulf
\nWar), has not exported them since 1992, has not produced them since
\n1997, and is the biggest donor to mine clearance programs around the
\nworld. However, it still retains millions of stockpiled antipersonnel
\nmines for potential future use.<\/p>\n

In a January 31, 2014 letter to President Obama, the leadership of
\nthe US Campaign to Ban Landmines reiterated this call and noted that
\nsince the US policy review began in 2009:
\n* The Obama Administration has received letters of support for the US
\nto join the Mine Ban Treaty from treaty States Parties, 68 Senators,
\n16 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, key NATO allies, senior military
\nveterans, dozens of leaders from non-governmental organizations
\nincluding PSALM, victims of US landmines, and more than 200,000
\nconcerned Americans;
\n* Mine Ban Treaty special envoy Prince Mired of Jordan and
\nrepresentatives of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines have
\nmet with US officials in Washington DC and in dozens of capitals
\naround the world to discuss the need for the US to join the Mine Ban
\nTreaty;
\n* The US has participated as an observer in every meeting of the Mine
\nBan Treaty since the Second Review Conference in Cartagena, Colombia
\nin December 2009.
\n* US officials have expressed concern at new use of antipersonnel
\nlandmines by states not party to the treaty.<\/p>\n

During the timeframe of this U.S. review alone, more than 16,000 new
\nmen, women, and children have been killed or maimed by a landmine, and
\nten more casualties will continue to occur every day. Many of these
\ndeaths and injuries will be a result of U.S. landmines from conflicts
\npast.<\/p>\n

WVCBL\/PSALM students think it is time the U.S. join the treaty. Children
\nare often injured or killed when their daily activities bring them in
\ncontact with landmines…as they travel to school, play, or help to
\ncontribute to family incomes. PSALM students understand the human
\ncosts of are staggering. Children lose their limbs. Parents lose their
\nchildren. Refugees lose their homes or farms. Soldiers lose their
\nlives. All of us lose because human life is precious. We\u00a0join people around the world and\u00a0citizens from all walks of life in calling on ALL COUNTRIES,
\nespecially the United States, to bring about a global ban on
\nantipersonnel landmines.<\/p>\n

About PSALM\/WVCBL: St. Francis de Sales PSALM: PROUD STUDENTS AGAINST
\nLANDMINES and CLUSTER BOMBS\/WVCBL: West Virginia Campaign to Ban
\nLandmines and Cluster Bombs are students and citizens who for 15 years
\nhave been committed to educating the public about the devastation
\ncaused by landmines and cluster munitions and the indiscriminate
\nnature of these weapons leading to the destruction of innocent life,
\nespecially children, after wartime hostilities have ceased. We work to
\nassist survivors, to prevent future casualties through our service
\nprojects, and contribute to the universal signature of the treaties
\nbanning landmines and cluster munitions by ALL countries.<\/p>\n

For information\/research:
\nUnited States Campaign to Ban Landmines: www.banminesusa.org
\nInternational Campaign to Ban Landmines: www.icbl.org
\nCluster Munition Coalition: www.stopclustermunitions.org
\nWest Virginia Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Bombs: www.wvcbl.org
\nFor more information, see:
\n* US Campaign to Ban Landmines letter to President Obama, January 31,
\n2014: http:\/\/www.uscbl.org\/fileadmin\/content\/images\/Letters\/USCBL_Letter_to_Obama_31Jan2014.pdf
\n* United States and the Mine Ban Treaty event, February 19, 2014:
\nhttp:\/\/uscbl.org\/fileadmin\/content\/images\/Press_Releases\/USCBL_Event_Invitation__19_February_2014.pdf<\/p>\n

Please visit www.banminesusa.org
\nFollow on Facebook at: www.facebook.com\/banminesusa
\nFollow on Twitter at: @BanMinesUSA
\nFor more information, please contact in Washington DC:
\nSteve Goose, Human Rights Watch: +1-202-612-4355 or +1-540-630-3011
\n(mobile); or gooses@hrw.org
\nMica Bevington, Handicap International, +1-240-450-3531; or
\nmbevington@handicap-international.us<\/p>\n

WASHINGTON<\/b>, DC: President Barack Obama should promptly conclude the administration\u2019s review of US policy on banning antipersonnel landmines and announce a decision to join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. A decision is believed to be imminent on the US landmine policy review, which began in 2009.<\/b><\/p>\n

“A decision by the Obama Administration to ban landmines now is long-overdue,\u201d said Steve Goose of Human Rights Watch, chair of the United States Campaign to Ban Landmines, a coalition of more than 400 non-governmental organizations. \u201cUS support would help to convince other countries that have not joined the treaty to reconsider their stance. It would strengthen the norm against these weapons by helping to ensure they are not used in the future.”<\/b><\/p>\n

\"USCBL\"<\/a>
USCBL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In total, 161 countries are States Parties to the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (also known as the Ottawa Convention or Mine Ban Convention\/Treaty). Parties include every member of the European Union, every member of NATO (except the US), and other key US allies such as Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, and Japan. The United States is one of only 35 countries that have not joined the Mine Ban Treaty and the only country in the Western Hemisphere aside from Cuba that has not joined.<\/b><\/p>\n

The Clinton Administration in 1997 set the objective of joining the Mine Ban Treaty in 2006, but the Bush Administration reversed course in 2004. The US has not used antipersonnel mines since 1991 (in the first Gulf War), has not exported them since 1992, has not produced them since 1997, and is the biggest donor to mine clearance programs around the world. However, it still retains millions of stockpiled antipersonnel mines for potential future use.<\/b><\/p>\n

The US Campaign to Ban Landmines has repeatedly urged that the outcome of the policy review be a decision to join the Mine Ban Treaty as soon as possible, to prohibit the use of antipersonnel mines immediately, and to begin destruction of all stocks of antipersonnel mines. In a January 31, 2014 letter to President Obama, the leadership of the US Campaign to Ban Landmines reiterated this call and noted that since the US policy review began in 2009:<\/b><\/p>\n

– The Obama Administration has received letters of support for the US to join the Mine Ban Treaty from treaty States Parties, 68 Senators, 16 Nobel Peace Prize Laureates, key NATO allies, senior military veterans, dozens of leaders from non-governmental organizations, victims of US landmines, and more than 200,000 concerned Americans;<\/b><\/p>\n

– Mine Ban Treaty special envoy Prince Mired of Jordan and representatives of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines have met with US officials in Washington DC and in dozens of capitals around the world to discuss the need for the US to join the Mine Ban Treaty;<\/b><\/p>\n

– The US has participated as an observer in every meeting of the Mine Ban Treaty since the Second Review Conference in Cartagena, Colombia in December 2009.<\/b><\/p>\n

– US officials have expressed concern at new use of antipersonnel landmines by states not party to the treaty.<\/b><\/p>\n

“It\u2019s clear that there is widespread support for the United States to do the right thing on landmines and relinquish these weapons,\u201d said Goose. \u201cAcceding to the treaty would reinforce President Obama\u2019s stated commitment to international humanitarian law, protection of civilians, arms control and disarmament, and multilateralism.\u201d<\/b><\/p>\n

In the letter to President Obama, the US Campaign to Ban Landmines urges the US to explain its landmine policy review decision at the Mine Ban Treaty\u2019s Third Review Conference, which opens in Maputo, Mozambique on June 23, 2014.<\/b><\/p>\n

The US Campaign to Ban Landmines is the US affiliate of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), co-laureate together with former ICBL Coordinator Jody Williams of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.<\/b><\/p>\n

On Wednesday, February 19, the US Campaign to Ban Landmines and the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention Implementation Support Unit, with the support of the European Union, are holding an event at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC on the United States and the Mine Ban Treaty. Confirmed speakers include Nobel Peace Laureate Ms. Jody Williams and Prince Mired Bin Raad Al-Hussein of Jordan, Special Envoy for the Mine Ban Convention.<\/b><\/p>\n

For more information, see:<\/b><\/p>\n

– US Campaign to Ban Landmines letter to President Obama, January 31, 2014: http:\/\/www.uscbl.org\/fileadmin\/content\/images\/Letters\/USCBL_Letter_to_Obama_31Jan2014.pdf<\/b><\/p>\n

– United States and the Mine Ban Treaty event, February 19, 2014: http:\/\/uscbl.org\/fileadmin\/content\/images\/Press_Releases\/USCBL_Event_Invitation__19_February_2014.pdf<\/b><\/p>\n

Please visit www.banminesusa.org<\/b><\/p>\n

Follow on Facebook at: www.facebook.com\/banminesusa<\/b><\/p>\n

Follow on Twitter at: @BanMinesUSA<\/b><\/p>\n

For more information, please contact in Washington DC:<\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0Steve Goose, Human Rights Watch: +1-202-612-4355 or +1-540-630-3011 (mobile); or gooses@hrw.org<\/b><\/p>\n

\u00a0Mica Bevington, Handicap International, +1-240-450-3531; or mbevington@handicap-international.us<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  On February 19, the US Campaign to Ban Landmines and the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention Implementation Support Unit, with the support of the European Union, held a symposium at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, DC on the United States and the Mine Ban Treaty. Senior PSALM students and members of WVCBL […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-announcements"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wvcbl.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wvcbl.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wvcbl.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wvcbl.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wvcbl.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1058"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/wvcbl.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1140,"href":"https:\/\/wvcbl.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058\/revisions\/1140"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wvcbl.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wvcbl.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wvcbl.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}