YOUNG PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL MINE ACTION PROGRAM 2011

1. YOUNG PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL MINE ACTION PROGRAM 2011 MINES ACTION CANADA BAN LANDMINES CAMPAIGN NEPAL DUSTIN CIUFO

2. YOUNG PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL MINE ACTION PROGRAM 2011 Presentation Overview Introducing Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal The State of Landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices in Nepal Girl Child Education Scholarship Program Youth Mobilization Blast From Below Questions and Thank You

3. INTRODUCING BAN LANDMINES CAMPAIGN NEPAL PURNA SHOVA CHITRAKAR COORDINATOR AND CHAIRPERSON PRABIN CHITRAKAR PROGRAM COORDINATOR REENA BAJRACHARYA PROGRAM COORDINATOR DINESH SUBEDI VICTIM ASSISTANCE COORDINATOR

4. THE STATE OF LANDMINES AND IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES IN NEPAL The Lasting Legacy of Conflict: Landmines and Improvised Explosive Devices Nepal’s decade-long conflict from 1996-2006 originated with the intention of the Maoists to overthrow Nepal’s monarchy. As their efforts intensified, the security forces attempted to quell the uprising. The Royal Nepal Army would utilize anti-personnel landmines while all parties involved used improvised explosive devices. Improvised Explosive Devices Context – During the conflict, IEDs were utilized by both the security forces and Maoist Army. Victims – Based on the data available from January 2006 to June 2011, there were 473 casualties including 78 fatalities from IEDs. State – IED fields laid by the Nepal Army are to be cleared by the end of 2011 but there is an undetermined number of IEDs left by the Maoist Army and used by armed groups. Landmines Context – During the conflict, the Royal Nepal Army laid landmine across 53 fields. Victims - Based on the data available from January 2006 to June 2011, there were 23 casualties including 4 fatalities from landmines. State – As of 14 June 2011, all 53 landmine fields have been cleared, however, the Nepal Army still possesses stockpiles of landmines.

5. THE STATE OF LANDMINES AND IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES IN NEPAL The Impact of Mine Action Advocacy: Mine Field Free Nepal On 14 June 2011, Nepal was officially declared a mine field free country. Nepal should take pride in becoming only the 2nd mine affected Asian state to remove their landmines. Despite this achievement, mine action must continue in earnest. Mine Risk Education Must spread awareness for IEDs left from the conflict and currently in use by armed groups. Advocacy Must be aimed at pressuring the Government to destroy existing stockpiles. Survivor Assistance Must be provided and maintained for the sustainable livelihoods of innocent victims.

6. THE STATE OF LANDMINES AND IMPROVISED EXPLOSIVE DEVICES IN NEPAL Obstacles to Overcome, Initiatives to Implement: How Nepal Can Accede to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention Political Instability Nepal is currently working through a peace process that has leaders changing positions with tremendous frequency. It is imperative that campaigners find their champion for the landmine cause and take steps to protect her/his position. Military Utility The old guard of the military remain staunch in their defence of landmine use and it may take a generation for views to change. Discussing the military utility of the weapon is a non-starter. It is the disproportionate risk to civilians that must be focused upon. Geopolitics As a landlocked country between China and India, Nepal is reluctant to act internationally without considering these two superpowers. While neither have signed the APMBC, they are party to the CCW. By linking the two, it could prove fruitful for acceding to both treaties.

7. GIRL CHILD EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Women Development Society & Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal Present An Evening in Support of Girls’ Education Objective Hosting a Fundraising dinner to enhance the number of Girl Child Education Scholarship Recipients. Positive Outcomes Money raised to enhance the number of Girl Child Education Recipients. Awareness spread to over 40 embassies/consulates, INGOs & NGOs. Follow-up contact with attendees and invitees with program proposals. Areas for Improvement Unable to get representatives from embassies/consulates to attend. Consider the event more of a celebration of the girl child program. Reconsider the high end and find a medium ground to increase attendees.

8. GIRL CHILD EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Providing Education to Conflict-Victim and Marginalized Girls: Girl Child Education Scholarship Program in Dang and Chitwan Districts Objective Distribute school fees and materials to girl child recipients and develop a deeper understanding for the program for writing funding proposals. Positive Outcomes School fees and materials distributed to Dang and Chitwan Districts. Tremendous cross-cultural and experiential education developed. Knowledge for the program enhanced and advocacy video captured. Areas for Improvement Bandha (strike) prevented travel to Bardiya District. Could have taken the chance to ask more questions about the program. Perhaps longer period of time spent at different districts required.

9. GIRL CHILD EDUCATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM Equal Opportunities for Education: Girl Child Education Scholarship Program Funding Proposals Objective Create Girl Child Education Scholarship Program Funding Proposals to enhance the number of Girl Child Education Scholarship recipients. Areas for Improvement Unable to secure an embassy, consulate , INGO or NGO donor. Discussed proposal writing with co-workers but should have done more. Reconsider methods utilized and attempt different approaches. Positive Outcomes Program proposals constructed for Bardiya, Dang and Chitwan Districts. Caritas International requested meeting Bardiya recipients. Program proposals submitted to over a dozen embassies/consulates.

10. YOUTH MOBILIZATION International Action Network on Small Arms’ Global Week of Action Against Gun Violence: NCPB Discusses the Global and Local Context Objective Discuss the global and local context of small arms for speaking out against their use, to determine conflict mitigation strategies and remember those affected by gun violence. Positive Outcomes Awareness for small arms spread amongst the youth. Linking with international groups for knowledge transfer and in solidarity. An emerging issue that the NCBL is looking to enhance involvement in. Areas for Improvement Consider alternative strategies to invite enhanced youth dialogue. Allocate greater amount of time to the issue at hand. Include small-arm related group activity for enhanced participation.

11. YOUTH MOBILIZATION Say to the Darkness We Beg to Differ: The National Campaign for Peace Building Youth for Peace Symposium Objective Provide the NCPB the opportunity to further develop their advocacy skills while spreading awareness for peace related issue in their community. Positive Outcomes Youth-to-youth advocacy for peace related issues. Reached close to 200 students. Kidnapping, food security, enforced disappearances, cluster munitions, pollution and girls’ trafficking issues. Areas for Improvement Jig-saw learning resulted in youth doing presentations too frequently Required more time for the youth to give their complete presentations. Consider group summary activity for relationship of issues and activism.

12. YOUTH MOBILIZATION Peace Through Disarmament: International Humanitarian Law, Mine Action and Youth Activism Objective Spread awareness for the landmine issue in Nepal, provide steps youth can take for change and create linkages with the colleges in Kathmandu Valley. Positive Outcomes Presentation conducted at 5 colleges reaching over 1000 students. Awareness for landmine issue and youth activism presented. Linkages with schools established for select students to attend future event. Areas for Improvement Target the audience by presenting to more journalist students. Should have brought along a member of the NCPB for sustainability. Future event postponed (bandha) and new date saw decreased attendance.

13. BLAST FROM BELOW http://www.youtube.com/user/MinesActionCanada?feature=mhee#p/u/0/0dXyHziTeeI

14. QUESTIONS AND THANK YOU Questions ??? Thank You CANADIAN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY MINES ACTION CANADA BAN LANDMINES CAMPAIGN NEPAL BENCHEN VIHAR MONASTERY MY FAMILY

15. YOUNG PROFESSIONAL INTERNATIONAL MINE ACTION PROGRAM 2011 MINES ACTION CANADA BAN LANDMINES CAMPAIGN NEPAL DUSTIN CIUFO