Major Findings
Landmine Monitor Report 2006 reveals that the Mine Ban Treaty and the
mine ban movement continue to make good progress toward eradicating
antipersonnel landmines and saving lives and limbs in every region of
the world. Significant challenges remain, however.
This edition of the Landmine Monitor reports in detail on progress
and challenges remaining in over 120 countries, including mine-affected
countries and those with substantial stockpiles of antipersonnel mines,
and the dwindling minority of states which have not yet joined the Mine
Ban Treaty. Landmine Monitor Report 2006 provides an annual update to
Landmine Monitor Report 2005.
The reporting period for Landmine Monitor Report 2006 is May 2005 to
May 2006. Editors have where possible added important information that
arrived later. Statistics for mine action and landmine casualties are
usually given for calendar year 2005, with comparisons to 2004.
Increased international rejection of antipersonnel mines
As of 1 July 2006, 151 countries were States Parties to the Mine Ban
Treaty, and another three had signed but not yet ratified, constituting
well over three-quarters of the worlds nations. Four signatory
states ratified the treaty since the publication of Landmine Monitor
Report 2005: Ukraine, Haiti, the Cook Islands and Brunei. Ukraine possesses
6.7 million antipersonnel mines, the worlds fourth largest stockpile.
Several states indicated they would accede in the near future, including
Indonesia, Kuwait, Palau and Poland. Many states that are not party
took steps consistent with the treaty.
Increased support for the goal of eliminating antipersonnel mines
UN General Assembly Resolution 60/80, calling for universalization of
the Mine Ban Treaty, was adopted on 8 December 2005, with 158 in favor,
none opposed, and 17 abstentions; this was the highest number of votes
in favor of this annual resolution and the lowest number of abstentions
since 1997 when it was first introduced. Twenty-four states not party
to the treaty voted in favor, including Azerbaijan and China for the
first time.
Non-State Armed Groups committing to a ban on antipersonnel mines
The Polisario Front in Western Sahara signed the Geneva Call Deed of
Commitment banning antipersonnel mines in November 2005 and the Kurdistan
Workers Party (PKK) signed in July 2006.
Universalization challenges
None of the 40 non-signatories to the Mine Ban Treaty acceded in the
past year. Some major stockpilers, producers and users remain outside
the treaty, including Burma, China, India, Pakistan, Russia and the
United States. Some countries that were reported to be making progress
toward the treaty in Landmine Monitor Report 2005 did not report any
further progress, such as Bahrain, Oman, Kyrgyzstan, Libya and the United
Arab Emirates.
No use of antipersonnel mines by States Parties or signatories
There is no evidence-or even serious allegation-of use of antipersonnel
mines by Mine Ban Treaty States Parties or signatories. This is notable
because many were users in the recent past before becoming States Parties
or signatories.
Three governments using antipersonnel mines
In this reporting period, at least three governments continued using
antipersonnel mines-Myanmar (Burma), Nepal and Russia-with the most
extensive use in Myanmar. However, in May 2006, the government of Nepal
and Maoist rebels agreed to a cease-fire and a Code of Conduct that
includes non-use of landmines. These three governments and Georgia were
identified as users in Landmine Monitor Report 2005 and previous reports,
establishing themselves as the only ongoing state-users of antipersonnel
mines.
Non-State Armed Groups using antipersonnel mines
Non-state armed groups are using antipersonnel mines in more countries
than government forces, but NSAG use is also on the decline. In this
reporting period, NSAGs used antipersonnel mines or antipersonnel mine-like
improvised explosive devices in at least 10 countries, including in
three States Parties (Burundi, Colombia and Guinea-Bissau) and in seven
non-States Parties (Burma, India, Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia/Chechnya
and Somalia). Landmine Monitor Report 2005 cited NSAG use of antipersonnel
mines in at least 13 countries. Guinea-Bissau, where Senegalese rebels
used mines against the Guinea-Bissau Army, was added to the list, while
Georgia, the Philippines, Turkey and Uganda were removed this year.
Production of antipersonnel mines by 13 countries
Landmine Monitor identifies 13 countries as producers of antipersonnel
mines, the same as last year: Burma, China, Cuba, India, Iran, North
Korea, South Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, United States
and Vietnam. Some of these countries are not actively producing, but
reserve the right to do so. The United States, which has not produced
since 1997, has been developing new landmine systems that may be incompatible
with the Mine Ban Treaty. Vietnamese officials told a Canadian delegation
in November 2005 that Vietnam no longer produces antipersonnel mines,
a statement Landmine Monitor is attempting to confirm and clarify. At
least 38 countries have ceased production of antipersonnel mines, including
five states not party to the Mine Ban Treaty.
De facto global ban on trade in antipersonnel mines
For the past decade, global trade in antipersonnel mines has consisted
solely of a low-level of illicit and unacknowledged transfers. In this
reporting period, there were only a small number of reports of such
trafficking in antipersonnel mines.
UN panel allegation of transfer of antipersonnel mines
A UN panel leveled the most serious and specific allegation ever of
a transfer of antipersonnel mines by a Mine Ban Treaty State Party.
In May 2006, a UN arms embargo monitoring group reported that the government
of Eritrea had delivered 1,000 antipersonnel mines to militant fundamentalists
in Somalia in March 2006. Eritrea denied the claims as baseless
and unfounded and labeled the report as outrageous and regrettable.
Millions of stockpiled antipersonnel mines destroyed
In this reporting period, four States Parties completed destruction
of their stockpiles: Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Algeria and the Democratic
Republic of Congo. Seventy-four States Parties have completed destruction,
and another 64 never possessed mines, leaving 13 States Parties with
stocks to destroy. Some 700,000 stockpiled antipersonnel mines were
destroyed by States Parties since the last Landmine Monitor report.
States Parties collectively have destroyed more than 39.5 million antipersonnel
mines.
Millions of mines stockpiled by non-States Parties
Landmine Monitor estimates that non-States Parties stockpile over 160
million antipersonnel mines, with the vast majority held by a just five
states: China (est. 110 million), Russia (26.5 million), US (10.4 million),
Pakistan (est. 6 million) and India (est. 4-5 million). South Korea
for the first time reported a stockpile total (407,800); officials previously
indicated a stock of some two million antipersonnel mines. Signatory
Poland holds nearly one million antipersonnel mines.
Too many mines retained for training, too few explanations why
Over 227,000 antipersonnel mines are retained by 69 States Parties under
the exception granted by Article 3 of the treaty. Five States Parties
account for nearly one-third of all retained mines: Brazil, Turkey,
Algeria, Bangladesh and Sweden. Too few States Parties have reported
in any detail on why they are retaining mines, and in many cases it
does not appear the mines are being utilized at all. Only 11 States
Parties made use of the new format to report on the intended purposes
and actual uses of retained mines that was agreed at the Sixth Meeting
of States Parties in December 2005.
Decreased numbers of mines retained for training and development
The number of retained mines decreased by about 21,000 in this reporting
period. An additional five states chose not to retain any mines and/or
destroyed existing retained stocks: DR Congo, Eritrea, Hungary, the
Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, and Moldova. At least 71 States
Parties have chosen not to retain any antipersonnel mines.
Continued high-rate of initial transparency reporting
States Parties' compliance with the treaty requirement to submit an
initial transparency report held steady at 96 percent in 2005, with
Cameroon and Latvia providing reports.
Late transparency reporting
As of 1 July 2006, six States Parties had not submitted overdue initial
Article 7 reports: Equatorial Guinea, Cape Verde, Gambia, Sao Tome e
Principe, Guyana and Ethiopia. For the second year in a row, there was
a decrease in compliance with the requirement to submit an annual update
Article 7 report. As of 1 July 2006, 90 states had submitted updated
reports due 30 April 2006, or 62 percent.
An increasing number of States Parties are making their views known
on key matters of treaty interpretation and implementation.
Albania, Chad, Cyprus, Estonia, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, Slovenia and
Yemen provided their national understandings of the Article 1 prohibition
on assisting banned acts, particularly with respect to joint military
operations with non-States Parties; all were in basic agreement with
the views of the ICBL. Albania, Croatia, Germany, Estonia, Guatemala,
Kenya, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, Slovenia and Yemen expressed the view,
shared by the ICBL, that any mine (even if labeled an antivehicle mine)
capable of being detonated by the unintentional act of a person is prohibited,
and/or expressed the view, also shared by the ICBL, that any mine with
a tripwire, break wire, or tilt rod is prohibited.
A reduction in the number of mine-affected countries
Landmine Monitor research identified at least 78 nations as being affected
to some degree by landmines in mid-2006, of which 51 are party to the
Mine Ban Treaty, as well as eight areas not internationally recognized
as independent states or over which jurisdiction is contested. Two States
Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty?Guatemala and Suriname?reported completing
clearance of all mined areas in 2005.
Increased demining productivity
In 2005, a total of more than 740 square kilometers was demined, the
highest annual productivity since modern demining started in the late
1980s. Three major mine action programs alone?in Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Cambodia and Yemen?reduced the extent of suspected contamination by
almost 340 square kilometers. Over 470,000 landmines?the great majority
(450,000) were antipersonnel mines?and more than 3.75 million explosive
devices were destroyed.
Too many States Parties not on course to meet Article 5 deadlines
for completing mine clearance
Too many States Parties appear not to be on course to meet their Article
5 deadlines, including at least 13 of the 29 States Parties with 2009
or 2010 deadlines - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Chad, Croatia,
Denmark, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Tajikistan, Thailand, the United
Kingdom (Falklands), Yemen and Zimbabwe.
Expanded mine risk education
Mine risk education programs expanded in many countries with new projects
and activities in 28 countries, a notable development from 2004 (15
countries). For the first time, MRE activities were recorded in China.
The number of community volunteers and of national NGOs implementing
community-based MRE increased. Landmine Monitor recorded MRE in 60 countries
and eight areas in 2005-2006; 39 of the countries are States Parties,
and 21 are non-States Parties.
Increased casualties in 2005-2006
Reported casualties increased to 7,328 in 2005?11 percent more than
in 2004. In 2005-2006, there were new casualties from landmines and
explosive remnants of war recorded in 58 countries (the same as last
year) and seven areas (one less). (However, Landmine Monitor continues
to estimate there are 15,000-20,000 new casualties each year
see below). In 2005, casualties were reported in seven countries that
did not report casualties in 2004: Chile, Honduras, Kenya, Moldova,
Morocco, Namibia and Peru. In 2005-2006, intensified conflict resulted
in both more civilian and more military (national and foreign) mine
and ERW casualties in several countries including: Chad, Colombia, Pakistan,
Burma/Myanmar and Sri Lanka.
ERW casualties in more countries
Landmine Monitor has identified another 16 countries (up from 12) and
one area (none in 2004) with no new landmine casualties in 2005-2006
but with casualties caused exclusively by explosive remnants of war:
Bangladesh, Belarus, Bolivia, Cote dIvoire, Guatemala, Hungary,
Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Liberia, Macedonia, Mongolia, Poland, Republic of
Congo, Tunisia, Ukraine and Zambia, as well as Kosovo. In 11 of these
countries Landmine Monitor did not record ERW casualties in 2004.?
Increasing number of mine survivors and mine victims
Progress in data collection indicates there are approximately 350,000
to 400,000 mine survivors in the world today; there may well be as many
as 500,000. With only 10 of the 58 countries and seven areas that had
casualties in 2005-2006 able to provide complete full-year data, and
with significant under-reporting, Landmine Monitor continues to estimate
there are between 15,000 and 20,000 new landmine/ERW casualties each
year. There are some preliminary indications this estimate may be revised
downward in future years. More importantly, the number of survivors
continues to grow?and their needs are long-term.
Increased attention to victim assistance
States Parties increased support to 24 countries with significant numbers
of survivors, leading to the development of tools, objectives and action
plans, better follow-up of progress, accountability, best practices
for increased survivor inclusion, better coordination, and integration
with development. However, in 2005 existing programs were far from meeting
the needs of landmine survivors; in 49 of 58 countries with casualties
in 2005-2006 one or more aspect of assistance remains inadequate. Providers
continue to face many of the same problems as in previous years including
inadequate access to care, variety and effectiveness of assistance,
capacity, rights implementation and funding.
Significant international mine action funding in 2005
International funding of mine action funding totaled US$376 million
in 2005, the second highest funding to date and $37 million more than
two years ago. The top four donors were: United States ($81.9 million),
European Commission ($51.5 million), Japan ($39.3 million) and Norway
($36.5 million). Of the top 20 donors, half provided more mine action
funding in 2005: Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway,
Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Decrease in international funding of mine action
The 2005 total of $376 million was down $23 million, almost six percent,
from 2004. This is the first time that global mine action funding has
decreased meaningfully since 1992, when states first began to devote
significant resources to mine action. Of the top 20 donors, half provided
less mine action funding in 2005: Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
Finland, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, United States and the European
Commission. The global decrease largely reflects big reductions from
the two most significant donors: the European Commission (down $14.9
million) and the United States (down $14.6 million).
Recipients of mine action funding
Countries receiving the most mine action funding in 2005 were: Afghanistan
($66.8 million), Sudan ($48.4 million), Angola ($35.8 million), Iraq
($27.8 million) and Cambodia ($23.9 million). The largest increases
in funding was received by Sudan (up $33.4 million, over three times
the 2004 total). Other recipients with increases of at least $1 million
included: Abkhazia, Albania, Burundi, Guinea-Bissau and Uganda.
Decreased funding to many mine-affected countries
Drastic reductions in mine action funding occurred in Iraq (down $30.9
million, 53 percent), Afghanistan ($25 million, 27 percent) and Cambodia
($17.7 million, 43 percent). Other countries with substantial decreases
in 2005 included Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Jordan, Mozambique,
Sri Lanka and Tajikistan.
Some major mine action programs hit by funding shortfalls
Mine action programs in at least five mine-affected countries were limited
by major funding shortfalls: Afghanistan, Guinea-Bissau, Iraq, Mauritania,
and Tajikistan; in Croatia, parliamentarians called for increased government
funding for mine action.
Inadequate funding of mine victim assistance
Several survivor assistance programs had serious funding shortfalls
in 2005, preventing the delivery of essential services to mine survivors,
their families and communities?despite an increase of about 29 percent
in funding identified for victim assistance, to $37 million. Much of
this gain may be attributed to changes in reporting. Much greater levels
of sustained funding are needed for mine survivor assistance programs.
More national funding by mine-affected countries
Some mine-affected countries invested more national resources in mine
action in 2005, notably Croatia ($32.4 million, or 57 percent of mine
action expenditure) and Bosnia and Herzegovina ($11.3 million, or 44
percent of expenditure). Larger contributions were also made by Azerbaijan
and Chile. In 2005, some mine-affected countries reported decreases
in national contributions to mine action, including: Colombia, Mozambique
and Thailand.
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