THE PROBLEM WITH LANDMINES

THE PROBLEM WITH LANDMINES… IS THEIR

HUMANITARIAN IMPACT• At least 4,000 new casualties in 2009

• 3,000 km2 of contaminated land, in over 70 countries and areas

• Over 350 types of landmines have been found since World War I

• The most affected countries are among the world’s poorest - including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Colombia, Lao PDR, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, Somalia.

LM MAP 2006

THE SOLUTION

•All landmines must be found and destroyed

•All landmines survivors must be fully cared for

•All countries must never use or produce landmines again

In 1997, as a result of unprecedented cooperation between

civil society and governments, The Ottawa Convention was adopted as a solution to

the global scourge of landmines.

Treaty Obligations Clear landmines and teach people about the dangers

Stockpile DestructionMine Clearance

©Sean Sutton, Reuters

©ICRC/V. Ivleva-Yorke/ao-e-00249h

Mine Risk Education

©Gaëtan de Beaupuis

Treaty Obligations

Provide for the needs and rights of survivors everywhere

Institute For Rehabilitation, Slovenia 2005

Emergency assistanceNew limbs and rehabilitation

Social reintegration© Amaya Valcárcel

©ICBL-Georgian Committee

• 156 countries have joined the Ottawa Convention (80% of the world)

• Dramatic reduction in the # of casualties

• Only a few countries continue to lay new mines

• Vast tracts of land have been cleared and are available for development

• Destruction of remaining stockpiles

But we still need to finish the job…

SUCESSES SO FAR

Canada is a leader in the international movement to ban

landmines.

And so too are the Canadian people!

Ordinary people can have an extraordinary impact

©ICRC

Become part of the global network

of activists and

campaigners making a mine-free world

a realityreality -and not

just a dream

TAKE ACTION NOW!

www.minesactioncanada.org