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World Landmine News
Her Majesty Queen Noor, Patron of Landmine Survivors Network, Calls on World Community to Fast Track Mine Action in Afghanistan.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Mary Daly (212) 787-1399
Tuesday, July 30, 2002
Afghan Landmine Survivors, Rehabilitation and De-mining Experts, and
International Campaign to Ban Landmines Celebrate Afghanistan Decision to
Join Mine Ban Treaty
Her Majesty Queen Noor, Patron of Landmine Survivors Network, Calls on World Community to Fast Track Mine Action in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan will join The International Mine Ban Treaty at a Ceremony today in Kabul.
Afghanistan Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Abdullah declared the government’s intent to sign Sunday, July 28, at the opening of an international conference organized by the Afghan Campaign to Ban Landmines (ACBL), the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), and the United Nations Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan (MACA).
Dr Abdullah made the announcement at a conference in Kabul saying, “As soon as [the treaty] is signed, every Afghan man, woman and child will rest assured that no one in this country will ever again be targeted by antipersonnel landmines…Today, at the opening of this international conference on the ban of antipersonnel mines, we give hope to millions in Afghanistan and around the world by moving this country one step forward as a credible and viable member of the international community.”
In a letter to President Karzai on Saturday, July 27, Afghan landmine survivors appealed for Afghanistan to not only join the Ban but also address landmine victims’ needs for healthcare, rehabilitation, social and economic integration.
"Landmine survivors in Afghanistan are working to build a framework for national recovery and healing," said Jerry White, co-founder of Landmine Survivors Network. "Afghanistan must recognize the fundamental rights of landmine survivors, often amputees, to participate fully in the new Afghan society."
Afghanistan is recovering from years of war and civil conflict. As a result, an estimated 3,000 Afghans are maimed or killed each year from landmine accidents. Many are children. Those who survive require access to healthcare and rehabilitation as well as jobs and tools to generate income and economic sustainability.
LSN Patron and Honorary Chair, Her Majesty Queen Noor, commented “The Treaty does much more than prohibit the use of antipersonnel mines. It prescribes a way to rescue land and reclaim lives.”
Many countries around the world are investing resources to help rebuild Afghanistan. Hopefully, Afghanistan’s participation in the Mine Ban Treaty will inspire donor governments to invest more resources to demine the land and provide humanitarian assistance to survivors.
Her Majesty Queen Noor challenged the international community to commit to Afghanistan’s recovery and to implement the pillars of mine action outlined in the treaty in record time.
“Instead of demining in 10 years, as required by the treaty, let us aim for five. With international resources and political will, we saw Kuwait and Kosovo do it. Jordan is also ahead of schedule. Why not Afghanistan? We must make demining a priority for the health and security of the people of Afghanistan…. Let us aim to destroy landmine stockpiles in one or two years instead of four. Again, with international support, it can be done,” said Her Majesty.
Posted: Tuesday, July 30, 2002
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