Iran/Iraq: Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan destroys antipersonnel mines

The ICBL welcomed today the recent destruction of 392 antipersonnel landmines by the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), in Koya, northern Iraq. The news was announced by Swiss-based NGO Gen…

Kidnapped Afghan deminers should be immediately released

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) today condemned the recent kidnapping of a group of Afghan deminers and called for the immediate release of the six men still being held captive.

Somalia: Puntland authorities destroy antipersonnel mines

On 24 July 2008, in Somalia, the Puntland Mine Action Centre (PMAC), with technical support from Mines Advisory Group (MAG), destroyed 48 stockpiled antipersonnel mines near Garowe. This was the first…

Western Sahara: Polisario Front continues destruction of its antipersonnel landmine stockpile and clearance of cluster submunitions

On 21 May, the Polisario Front (the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguía el Hamra and Río de Oro) destroyed 2,000 antipersonnel mines at Tifariti in Western Sahara. According to data provided by…

ICBL Urges All Countries to Join the UN Disability Rights Convention

Landmine survivors and all people with disabilities can now count on a powerful tool to ensure their rights are respected and their needs met, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) said t…

Backgrounder: Stockpile Destruction

Article 4 of the Mine Ban Treaty requires States Parties to destroy their stockpile of antipersonnel landmines as soon as possible but not later than four years after joining the treaty. It is one of …

Backgrounder: Impending treaty deadlines for mine clearance

Since 1999, a total of 156 states have adhered to the Mine Ban Treaty. All States with antipersonnel mines on their territory – roughly one-third of the total – are obliged to clear and destroy them “…

2008: Crunch time for mine action

Geneva, 3 April 2008 – The year 2008 will be critical in the struggle to free the world from antipersonnel mines, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) said today, on the eve of …

Sudan Finishes Its Stockpile Destruction Just in Time!

On 31 March, the Republic of Sudan finished destroying its antipersonnel mine stockpile, just ahead of its 1 April 2008 deadline under Article 4 of the Mine Ban Treaty. A final destruction ceremony to…

The ICBL Condemns Attacks on Afghan Deminers

The ICBL strongly condemns the cruel and deadly attacks on deminers in Afghanistan on Sunday and Monday. The ICBL calls on the government of Afghanistan to bring the perpetrators of these crimes to ju…

Burundi Finishes Stockpile Destruction

On 17 March, Burundi completed the destruction of its antipersonnel mine stockpile, just two weeks ahead of its 1 April deadline under Article 4 of the Mine Ban Treaty. The final destruction ceremony …

Ottawa Convention Implementation and Universalization Workshop, Bali 26-27 February 2008

Just over a year after Indonesia ratified the Mine Ban Treaty, it showed its potential as a regional leader on the mine ban by hosting a workshop on the implementation and universalization of the Mine…

Colombia: Alarming Increase in Landmine Casualties

On 8 February 2008, peasant Javier Benavides and his 12-year-old son died in one of the minefields scattered in the rural surroundings of Samaniego, in the southern Colombian department of Nariño. The…