High-level government representatives of those states that have signed the Mine Ban Treaty as well as representatives of states that have, as yet, not signed and or ratify it will also participate at the Summit.
The Cartagena Summit is the second review of the Mine Ban Treaty and is aimed at evaluating progress made and identifying actions required to fully realise the vision of a mine-free world.
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) with more than 400 members from around the world, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, invites all governments to honour their promises and commit to the full, specific and timely set of activities related to actions aimed at becoming mine free and to fulfil the goals set for mine victim assistance, mine clearance and the destruction of existing stockpiles of landmines.
“Bosnia and Herzegovina has reached a significant progress lately in fulfilment of obligations, but there is a need for many more mutual actions in order to reach the final goal: a mine and victim free world”, said Ramiz Becirovic, a representative of the organisation “Mine Survivors Initiative”. He added that it is necessary to set priority issues over the forthcoming period that can be realised as soon as possible.
In relation to the fact that the mortality rate caused by landmines has decreased throughout the world the smallest level of progress has been achieved within the segment of mine victim assistance.
“As per BHMAC data, there are more then 7,500 mine victims in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Most of them still hold the status of victim and much more effort is required to enable these people to become equal members in their communities. This means that every mine victim must participate in laws and decisions creation, improvement of their own economic status via self-employment and employment. That will be possible once there are equal opportunities for everybody”, said Zeljko Volos, a landmine survivor from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
2.2 million landmines have been cleared around the world since 1999, but it is still necessary to deal with requests from governments for an extension of the deadline for another ten years, which is both an alarm and an invitation for further action.
The representatives of Bosnia and Herzegovina at the Summit will be members of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of BiH, members of the Demining Commission and BHMAC, representatives of the organisation Handicap International for Southeast Europe and the Mine Survivors Initiative of BiH.
Source: Handicap International of Southeast Europe