Landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war remain a significant barrier to development in many of the world's poorest countries. These devices kill and injure civilians long after war and conflict has ended and undermine the economic potential of affected areas.
Australia delivers a broad range of mine action programs, from grassroot village projects to high level international advocacy. Australia's aid helps clear landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war. It also provides support to victims and their affected families and communities, rebuilds livelihoods, restores the environment and promotes economic development.
Australia played a leading role in bringing the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions into effect and was one of the first countries to sign the Convention. The Convention prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions. Australia is now working with partner countries on its implementation.
Laos received funding from Australia to enable it to take a lead role in mobilising support for the Convention, including hosting the First Meeting of States Parties on the Convention of Cluster Munitions. The Meeting is taking place in Vientiane this week 9–12 November 2010.
Delegates at this Meeting are seeing how victims of unexploded ordnance (UXO) and other explosive remnants of war are being assisted in Laos, the country most affected by cluster munitions in the world. In Laos there have been more than 50,000 victims of explosive remnants of war since 1964, with an average of 200 people injured each year.
Guests viewed an exhibition on cluster munitions and disability in the Cooperative Orthotic and Prosthetic Enterprise (COPE) Visitor Centre, watched a demonstration wheelchair basketball game and visited a prosthetic and orthotics workshop.
His Excellency Dr Ponmek Dalaloy, Laos Minister of Health, officially opened the event which attracted several hundred guests active in the UXO sector, including cluster munition survivors.
'Assistance to UXO victims, especially access to the services they require to help them rebuild their lives, is vital in countries affected by land mines and cluster munitions,' said Dr Ponmek.
The Meeting illustrated the positive results of supportive governments and civil society working together to address the cluster munitions issue. It highlighted the need for comprehensive victim assistance, which is central to the Convention, and encouraged continued collaboration to achieve the objectives of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
At the Meeting Australian paralympic athletes Ms Liesl Tesch and Mr Brad Ness lead a demonstration wheelchair basketball game and conducted wheelchair basketball clinics with disabled students and Lao wheelchair basketball players.
Since 1998, Australian-funded victim assistance projects have helped 12,000 vulnerable people living in remote communities in Laos. This funding has increased access to rehabilitation services and helped people with disabilities participate in community activities. Australia has contributed almost $20 million to the UXO sector in Laos since 1996.
This year Australia has provided $2.7 million to build capacity in Laos to address the threat of unexploded ordnance and help Laos host this first meeting of the Convention. A further $1 million for UXO action in Laos was announced by Mr Peter Woolcott, Australian Ambassador for Disarmament, during the meeting.
Australia's assistance to Laos is part of Australia's Mine Action Strategy for the Australian Aid Program 2010–14. This Strategy sets out how Australia will help realise the objective of a world free from landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war.
The Australian aid program places an emphasis on improving the lives of people with disability in developing countries.
The Meeting was jointly supported by the Government of Laos, the Government of Australia, the Cluster Munition Coalition and COPE.
Further Information
- Australia's Mine Action Activities 2009–10
- Mine Action Strategy for the Australian aid program 2010–14
- Mine Action
- Laos country program
- The Convention on Cluster Munitions [external site]
- Media Release–Introduction of Legislation to Ban Cluster Munitions [external site]
- Development for All: Towards a disability-inclusive Australian aid program 2009–2014