Global Conference on Mine Survivors and Disability Rights Opens in Jordan

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Photos of the meeting

Amman, Geneva 9 September 2019 – Nearly 200 representatives of States and civil society including dozens of landmine survivors from Jordan and all over the world, have begun three days of in-depth work to foster national and international partnerships that can contribute towards meeting the rights of mine survivors and other persons with disabilities in countries that are or have been affected by explosive remnants of war.

 

The three-day Global Conference on Assistance to Victims of Anti-Personnel Mines and Other Explosive Remnants of War and Disability Rights, is being chaired by His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan and sponsored by a Decision adopted by the European Union Council to support implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.

“Jordan has been able to achieve a great milestone, clear our lands of the deadly bondage brought about by anti-personnel mines,” said Prince Mired. “However, Jordan is among the 30 States that have declared a significant number of landmine survivors. This means that while we have removed the mines, too many still live with the devastating consequences caused by these weapons. Jordan has not forgotten its commitment to meet these victims’ needs. Nevertheless, because this demands a comprehensive response, we have ensured that our efforts to assist survivors are integrated into other government programmes such as development, health and labour, and obligations acquired under another international instrument, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” said His Royal Highness.

Prince Mired is deeply engaged in matters related to disability issues as Chairman of the Hashemite Commission for Disabled Soldiers and President of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He is also Special Envoy of the Convention.

Thanks to the European Union, representatives of mine-affected States, including some of the poorest in the world, have been able to reach Amman so that their voices, concerns and expertise can be heard. “The European Union is proud to be part of this global movement seeking to end the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines,” said H.E. Ambassador Maria Hadjitheodosiou, Head of the European Union Delegation.

“For the past 18 months the European Union has been supporting national stakeholder dialogues in places like Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iraq, Senegal, South Sudan and Uganda so that all parties responsible for the wellbeing of mine-affected communities and survivors can better address the challenges they face through strengthened dialogue and partnerships.

We will continue to support these States as they revise or develop inclusive national action plans,” said Ambassador Hadjitheodosiou. Over 40 countries are represented at the conference including some heavily affected by explosive remnants of war such as Afghanistan, Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Iraq, Jordan, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Libya, South Sudan, and Yemen.

Organisations contributing their expertise include the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, UN Mine Action Services, UN Special Envoy for Disability and Accessibility, World Health Organization, UNICEF, International Campaign to Ban Landmines, International Disability Alliance, International Committee of the Red Cross, International Labour Organization, and Humanity and Inclusion (formerly Handicap International) among others.

 

For more information, contact the Convention's Implementation Support Unit, isu(at)apminebanconvention.org