By Martin Banks - 12th November 2007
EU member states have been urged to do more to provide support for victims of landmines.
Handicap International says European countries should “increase support for individuals, families and communities affected by mines, cluster munitions or other explosives remnants of war”.
The Brussels-based non-governmental organisation made the appeal at the release of its landmine monitor report in Brussels on Monday.
Stan Brabant, of Handicap International, said, “Progress towards meeting the needs and rights of survivors is insufficient.”
Brabant, head of the policy unit of its Belgian section, said “other important challenges” remain.
These include persuading Finland and Poland to join the 1997 mine ban treaty.
Speaking at a news conference, Brabant said the Finns and Poles are among 40 countries – and the only two in the 27-member EU – which remain outside the treaty.
The treaty prohibts the use, production and trade of anti-personnel landmines and requires clearance of mined areas within 10 years and the destruction of stockpiled mines within four years.
“The near total halt of the use and trade of antipersonnel mines, as well as the destruction of millions of stockpiled mines and increased de-mining efforts clearly show that the treaty is successful,” he said.
“The EU, generally, is doing fantastic work in this area and parliament, in particular, is very supportive,” he said.
Although there were fewer recorded casualties in 2006, the number of mine survivors continued to rise to 473,000 worldwide.
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