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VA: Summary and Statements

Tuesday 24 April & Friday 27 April

1.     Opening of the meeting

The meeting was opened by its Co-Chairs, Markus Reiterer of Austria and Rahma Elobied of Sudan.

  • Opening statement by the Co-Chairs PDF 27KB

2.     Status of implementation of the Convention in relation to victim assistance

The Co-Chairs also delivered a statement on the status of implentation of the Convention and the Nairobi Action Plan as it concerns the care, rehabilitation and reintegration of mine victims.

  • Statement by the Co-Chairs on the status of implementation PDF 27KB
  • Status of the development of SMART victim assistance objectives and national plans PDF 322KB

3.     Updates from States Parties on the status of implementation

Of the 24 States parties that have reported the responsiblity for significant numbers of landmine survivors, the following provided updates on their efforts:

In addition, landmine survivors presented the International Campaign to Ban Landmines' Guiding Principles for Victim Assistance.

  • ICBL / Landmine Survivors Network PDF 24KB
  • Guiding Principles for Victim Assistance compiled by the ICBL Working Group on Victim Assistance PDF 42KB

4.     Cooperation and assistance in providing for the care, rehabilitation and reintegration of landmine survivors

The Co-Chairs provided an opportunity for updates by States Parties and organizations in a position to provide assistance for the care, rehabilitation and reintegration of landmine survivors. The following provided updates:

5. Update of the activities of victim assistance experts

6.     Update on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Since the 7MSP, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) was adopted and opened for signature in on 30 March 2007.

  • Update by Ambassador Don MacKay of New Zealand, Chair of the negotiations on the CRPD.
  • Overview by Mr. Simon Walker, Advisor on Human Rights and Disability at the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and its linkages with the AP Mine Ban Convention. PDF 20KB | Matrix PDF 21KB

In addition, the following contributed to discussions on this matter:

7.     Matters of a thematic nature related to victim assistance

  • Austria reported on the symposium on victim assistance it convened in Vienna on 12 February 2007 to mark the 10th Anniversary of the Vienna Meeting on the Convention for the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines PDF 10KB

8.     Closing remarks by the Co-Chairs

  • Closing remarks by the Co-Chairs PDF 12KB