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Mine actionLandmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of warAnti-personnel landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war remain a significant barrier to sustainable development in many of the world's poorest countries. These devices continue to kill and injure indiscriminately long after war and conflict has ended, and undermine the economic potential of affected lands. They can deprive affected populations of basic needs such as access to water and health facilities, and use of productive land. There is often no record of their location, and they can be found anywhere—on roads, forests, along borders, around schools or houses. Landmines and explosive remnants of war can prevent the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced people, and hamper the delivery of humanitarian aid. Casualties are mostly civilians and often include children. Local health care services are often challenged to provide for the ongoing care and rehabilitation needs of landmine survivors and their families. As of September 2010, 66 states, as well as seven areas not internationally recognised, were confirmed or suspected to be mine affected. At least 23 states and three other areas are believed to be currently contaminated with cluster munition remnants. Thirteen or more additional states may have a small level of cluster munition contamination from past use. A total of 3,956 new casualties to landmines and explosive remnants of war were recorded in 2009. International progress towards a mine-free worldThe international community’s response to these challenges is provided through mine action, which refers to a range of activities aiming to reduce the social, economic and environmental impact of landmines and other explosive remnants of war.
25 year-old Kheun Sokhon is employed as a deminer by the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Cambodia, ridding the land of the hidden legacy that nearly took her life in 2002 when she stood on a landmine. She carefully checks the ground for landmines using a metal detector and a prodder. After it has been cleared, this land will be used by the community to safely access the river. Photo: Sean Sutton/MAG Australia's support for mine actionAustralia is a strong supporter of mine action and in 2009 was ranked as the sixth largest contributor to mine action. Since 1997, Australia has contributed more than $200 million towards global efforts to reduce the threat and impact of landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Australia's Mine Action Strategy 2010–2014 guides the aid program’s engagement in reducing the threat and impact of landmines and other explosive remnants of war. In support of the strategy, Australia pledged $100 million over the five years from 2010 to 2014 to work towards a world free from landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war. This is the biggest ever commitment to mine action by Australia over a five–year period. Australia's goal—to reduce the threat and socio-economic impact of landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war—will be achieved by targeting the following four outcomes:
The strategy continues Australia's focus on assisting heavily-affected countries in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as priority countries in the Middle East and Africa, with flexibility to respond to emerging priorities. The strategy is being delivered primarily through Australia’s bilateral aid programs, targeting priorities identified by partner governments. It will contribute to the work of multilateral bodies, such as the United Nations, and of Australian and international non-government organisations engaged in mine action at country, regional and international levels. Implementation of the Mine Action Strategy will also support the achievement of Australia's disability-inclusive development strategy for the aid program, Development for All 2009–14. Australia will continue to focus its mine action support on the key areas of mine clearance, victim assistance, mine risk education and advocacy and universalisation. Recent achievements of this work is as follows. Mine clearanceIn Afghanistan, a key outcome of Australia's support has been the establishment of community-based demining teams. In 2009–10, demining teams cleared more than 800,000 square metres of land in the provinces of Khost and Uruzgan. In Lebanon, Australian funding has helped clear unexploded ordnance and cluster munitions in southern Lebanon following conflict in 2006, which resulted in widespread contamination from unexploded ordnance, in particular cluster munitions. In 2009–10, Australia’s funding supported three mine action teams to clear more than 239,000 square meters of land for community use. Following the end of hostilities in May 2009 in Sri Lanka, an Australian-supported project has recruited, trained and equipped 80 deminers. Through this project, approximately 5,000 anti-personnel landmines, one anti-tank mine and 83 unexploded ordnances were removed from more than 450,000 square metres of land. This facilitated the return of 18,500 internally displaced persons.
Victim assistance activity in Iraq. Photo: Victor Mello / UNDP Iraq Victim assistanceIn 2009–10, Australian support provided through the International Committee of the Red Cross’ (ICRC) Special Fund for the Disabled helped to improve the services of physical rehabilitation centres in Vietnam for people with disability. This builds on Australia’s contribution of $2 million over five years which has provided rehabilitative services including prosthesis to more than 17,000 people with disabilities including mine victims. In Cambodia, Australia is partnering with the Australian Red Cross to support non-government organisations to provide services, and advocate on behalf of, people who have a disability caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war. Since 2007, the fund has supported more than 10,000 beneficiaries to receive prosthetics, wheelchairs, physiotherapy and livelihood training and support, as well as access to adequate health care, clean water and latrines. In Afghanistan, Australia’s contribution is strengthening rehabilitation services provided by the Ministry of Public Health, and is training physiotherapists to assist people with a disability including mine victims.
Soeun Rem, 27, stepped on a mine while working with her father in their soy beans field in Pailin, Cambodia. She now runs a grocery shop, started through a micro-loan from the Australian Government funded Landmine Survivor Assistance Program. Photo: Somira Sao / Australian Red Cross Mine risk educationIn Laos, Australia is funding CARE Australia to reduce unexploded ordnance risk and improve the livelihoods of ethnic communities in Sekong province. The project is clearing mines and educating communities at risk. Three villages previously vulnerable to unexploded ordnances have improved livelihoods by expanding agricultural activities. Through Australia's support to UNICEF in Sudan, 100,000 people, including internally displaced persons and returnees, have been educated on risk behaviour in mine and unexploded ordnance-affected communities. This program helped integrate mine risk education into the broader education system through training and school-based activities. Advocacy and universalisationAustralia is funding organisations that undertake activities contributing to the universalisation of the Mine Ban Convention and the Convention on Cluster Munitions. This includes support to:
A school teacher trained by the Mines Advisory Group presents a mine risk education lesson to children in Bavel, Cambodia. Photo: Sean Sutton / MAG International instruments guiding mine actionMine action is guided by a number of international instruments, or conventions, which prohibit or restrict the use of landmines and other devices which may become explosive remnants of war. Australia has taken an active role in the development and elaboration of these instruments. The Mine Ban ConventionThe 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (also known as the Mine Ban Convention) is the principal international instrument prohibiting the use of anti-personnel landmines. The Mine Ban Convention obliges signatory countries to clear landmines on their territory, and sets up a framework for international assistance. It recognises that mine action is not just about removing dangerous landmines from the ground; it is also about understanding how people interact with mine-affected environments. Australia was one of the original signatories to the convention in 1997 and passed legislation in 1998, giving effect to the Mine Ban Convention under Australian criminal law. A year later, Australia destroyed its stockpile of anti-personnel landmines, years ahead of the deadline agreed to under the convention. The Convention on Cluster MunitionsThe Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force on 1 August 2010. Australia was one of the original signatories to the convention and is committed to ratifying the convention as soon as possible. The Convention on Cluster Munitions prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions. Broadly defined, cluster munitions are weapons that, when launched or dropped by aircraft, disperse large numbers of sub-munitions over wide areas. These sub-munitions, or bomblets, are usually designed to explode upon impact, but often fail to do so and remain unexploded on the ground, posing considerable threats to civilian populations. The convention also creates a new standard for victim assistance, which takes into account the broader socio-economic impact of cluster munitions, with provisions to assist the survivors of cluster munitions, their families and communities.
Unexploded ordnance found in Oruzgan province in Afghanistan. Photo: Jacob Simkin / MACCA The Convention on Conventional WeaponsThe 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects, or the Convention on Conventional Weapons, also provides elements guiding mine action activities. Under this convention, States Parties and parties to armed conflict are required to take action to clear, remove or destroy explosive remnants of war and record, retain and transmit information related to the use or abandonment of explosive ordnances. Australia ratified the convention on 29 September 1983. Further informationFor further information on Australian mine action see:
Useful external linksInternational conventions
United Nations agencies
Non-government organisations
Last reviewed: 24 October, 2011
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