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On the sidelines of the 8th Meeting of States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention The United Nations reiterates its commitment to support mine action   Dead Sea, Jordan, 18 November 2007 –On the occasion of the 8th Meeting of States Parties - the 10th anniversary of the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Treaty - the United Nations held an event to reflect upon and celebrate achievements enabled by the unprecedented partnership between states, international organisations and civil-society organisations on mine action. The event was attended His Royal Highness Prince Mired bin Raad, Mr. Sergio Duarte, the United Nations Under Secretary-General for Disarmament Affairs, Ad Melkert, United Nations Under-Secretary General and Associate Administrator of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and heads of delegations of States and UN organizations.   Since systematic humanitarian mine action began, more than 1 billion square metres of land has been cleared of more than four million anti-personnel mines, one million anti-vehicle mines and eight million pieces of unexploded ordnance (UXO).   On behalf of the UN Mine Action Team, Ad Melkert noted that “ efforts to clear land of anti-personnel mines have saved lives and limbs. But today is a stark reminder of how landmines and explosive remnants of war slow progress to achieving the Millennium Development Goals by further reducing poverty.” Landmines contribute to food insecurity through land denial and loss of livestock as well as reducing access to health, education and water. Children are the majority of casualties worldwide and when injured their vulnerability will persist into adulthood.   The Treaty, which imposes a total ban on the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of antipersonnel landmines, resulted from negotiations led by a unique coalition between governments and civil society. While much progress has been made, 40 countries still remain outside the Treaty, collectively with 160 million stockpiled antipersonnel mines. Ad Melkert called for these states to accede to the Treaty and for those states that have either not begun - or are nearing their deadlines - to take up their obligation to complete clearance.   Within the framework of the Mine Ban Treaty, the United Nations is currently working in support of mine action efforts in 40 countries. In Jordan the UN has been working since mid-2004 to build the capacity of the National Commission for Demining and Rehabilitation (NCDR) to carry out activities in the Jordan Valley andalong the northern border. The results of this partnership are rather impressive and Jordan is close to meeting its 10 year clearance deadlineof 2009.   The United Nations in Jordan had provided major support to the country in the area of mine action.  “Spearheaded by UNDP and UNICEF, the UN in Jordan has contributed to fulfilling the National Commission for Demining and Rehabilitation’s vision of safeguarding life and promoting development” said Mr. Luc Stevens, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative, Jordan,   Along with the mine clearance the UN engaged in campaigns to raise people’s awareness of how to protect themselves from the danger of mines and to support landmine survivors to reintegrate into society and ensure that their disability will not prevent them from exercising their rights.   Globally, 14 United Nations departments, programmes, agencies and funds are involved in mine action.  They all aim for a world free of the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development and where the needs of victims are met.     For further information, please contact Mr. Olaf Jeurgensen, at e-mail: olaf.juergensen@undp.org

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