MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gallus
The release today of the fifth edition of the Landmine Monitor Report:
Towards a mine-free world has been welcomed by Australia's Special
Representative for Mine Action, Mrs Chris Gallus.
'It is not acceptable that landmines still cause 15,000 casualties every
year, the vast majority of them innocent civilians,' said Mrs Gallus. 'Despite
the efforts of Australia and other countries, children and their parents
continue to be harmed by landmines, which may have been lying in the ground for
more than a decade.'
'Landmines cause death and physical injury. They also greatly affect people's
livelihoods by restricting access to agricultural land, killing livestock and
reducing opportunities for many people to earn a living,' Mrs Gallus said.
Mrs Gallus said the Australian Government was very pleased to support the
International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), and their advocacy work and
publications.
'Landmine Monitor is a unique civil society initiative of ICBL and the 2003
Report keeps us up to date with the latest statistics and most affected
countries.'
'Australia has a strong commitment to dealing with landmine issues and
contributes significantly to de-mining operations, survivor rehabilitation and
mine awareness education,' Mrs Gallus said.
'By 2005, Australia will have provided $100 million towards creating a land
mine free world.'
'Australia was an original party to the 1997 Ottawa Convention, which aims to
bring about an international ban on the use, production, stockpiling, and sale
of anti-personnel landmines.'
'With more than 140 countries now signatories, the Convention represents a
global move towards a world without landmines,' Mrs Gallus said.
The full 826-page report can be accessed on www.icbl.org/lm/2003/
Media contacts:
Shane Fairlie (Office of Mrs Gallus) 0408 680 442 or 02 6277 4840
Lorraine Mulholland (AusAID) 02 6206 4727 or 0417 680 590