Cartagena Summit - Are States Ready?

The Cartagena Summit on a Mine-Free World will be a highly significant event in the history of the Mine Ban Treaty. It will provide an opportunity to revitalize and reinvigorate our work on the treaty, and to recommit ourselves to the road ahead. At the opening of the Summit, the ICBL calls on states to Come, Share, Commit and Care!

Come: Participate in the Summit at the highest level possible: head of state/government, state secretary, or ministerial level. Such high-level participation will show that states continue to place a high priority on ridding the world of antipersonnel mines and that they will give full political support to the outcome of the Summit. In addition, affected states should include survivors as part of their official delegation to the Summit.

Share: Announce in Cartagena significant recent accomplishments made on any of the treaty obligations or towards joining the treaty. In this way, it will be clear that states' efforts are continuing at full pace, that the treaty is heading in the right direction and that we are getting closer to a mine-free world.Examples of announcements may include: completion of mine clearance; completion of stockpile destruction; specific and measurable achievements on victim assistance; joining the treaty; stockpile destruction or other interim steps by a state not party; and more.

Commit: Arrive in Cartagena with a pledge to undertake one or more actions in the coming years to move toward fulfilling specific treaty obligations or joining the treaty, or supporting other states in their efforts to do so. This will demonstrate states' long-term and serious commitment to the treaty. Examples of pledges may include: completion of mine clearance within specific period of time; implementation of the national victim assistance action plan by a specific date; inclusion of survivors at all levels in decision-making on victim assistance; specifying timeline for acceding to the treaty; pledging funds for mine action and victims assistance for the coming years; and more.

Care: Stay passionate and fully committed to the treaty until the promise of a mine-free world becomes a reality. Strong political commitment, sufficient resources, and careful planning by states are indispensable to finish the job of ridding the world of landmines.