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Peru to enhance its commitment to landmine survivors and other persons with disabilities

24.04.2013

Geneva and Lima – Peru, one of 28 States Parties of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, or Ottawa Convention, that has reported a significant number of landmine survivors, is leveraging high-level interest in addressing its landmine challenge to improve the condition of all persons with disabilities including landmine survivors, through a revision of its National Plan for Persons with Disabilities. 

At a two-day workshop, Peru’s National Mine Action Centre (CONTRAMINAS) and Peru’s National Council for Persons with Disabilities (CONADIS) are meeting to integrate its response to landmine survivors within broader approaches to disability. 

“I am pleased that Peru, in a just and efficient manner, is committed to fulfilling its commitment to landmine survivors as a party to the Convention,” said Kerry Brinkert, Director of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention’s Implementation Support Unit (ISU). “And to complying with its obligations as a party to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)”. 

“Through a revision to its national disability plan, Peru will reduce the duplication of efforts, making better use of scarce resources and streamlining activities to equalize opportunities for persons with disabilities, including landmine survivors,” added Kerry Brinkert.

In addition to the participation of Peru’s National Mine Action Centre and its National Council for Persons with Disabilities, the workshop will involve experts from other ministries, disabled persons’ organizations, the United Nations Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the International Committee of the Red Cross’ Special Fund for the Disabled, and the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize laureate International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

Peru has reported on efforts to assist landmine survivors predominantly through actions lead by CONTRAMINAS. Peru has also established CONADIS, which has been actively working to implement the provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities since it joined in 2008.

This is the second time in two months that Peru is benefiting from a European Union (EU) Council Decision in support of the implementation of the Convention’s Cartagena Action Plan 2010-2014. 

In March, Peru received EU support to host a national stakeholders’ workshop on demining in order to update its plans to tackle remaining landmine contamination along its border with Ecuador.

The Geneva-based Implementation Support Unit is assisting Peru with its national landmine victim assistance and disability response with funds provided by the European Union Council Decision. 

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