International day for mine awareness and assistance in mine action
April 4 is a day on which attention is called to international work to clear and destroy mines, support those affected by mines and increase awareness of the risks of mines. This work takes place in the UN framework, supported by the European Commission and individual countries. Swedish support amounts to just over SEK 100 million per year. Despite progress there is still much that remains to be done.
UN Photo/Steve Malloch
Ban on anti-personnel mines
The Ottawa Convention, which prohibits anti-personnel mines, has been in force for over a decade. There are currently 156 States Parties to the Convention and most of them have destroyed their stockpiles. Large areas have been cleared and made useable again and the number of people affected by mines has decreased over the years. At a UN conference held in Colombia in December 2009, it was noted that great progress has been made towards a world free of anti-personnel mines.
Many still fall victim to mines
Despite the extensive international work against mines many people are still affected by them, and it is often children who fall victim. Many countries have still not succeeded in meeting their commitments to clear mined areas. In addition, a number of countries with large holdings of mines still remain outside the Ottawa Convention, for example China, the USA and Russia. Efforts are also being made to persuade armed non-state actors to comply with the Convention rules.
Sweden and the EU the largest contributors to the work against mines
Swedish support for action against mines in recent years has amounted to over SEK 100 million per year. Last year Sida contributed development assistance towards operations in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Lebanon, Sudan, Congo-Kinshasa and Somalia. Swedish support was also used to fund operations by the UN and various non-governmental organisations. A substantial part of the development assistance is carried out in cooperation with the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs also supports the work of developing technology and methods for mine clearance carried out by the Swiss foundation Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, GICHD. In Colombia Sweden noted that action against mines continues to be a very important task for the European Union. Efforts have been made in past years - both by the Commission and individual Member States - to clear mines, destroy stocks, educate about the risks posed by mines and offer support to those affected. Total EU support for mine action in the period 2002-2009 was EUR 1.8 billion.
