Introduction: Press Release
Geneva, 4 September 2003


A Guide to Mine Action : Understanding Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance


Over the past decade, Mine Action has developed as a humanitarian and development discipline. However, up to now, no single handbook has been available to provide basic information for diplomats, donors, lawyers, practitioners, scholars, as well as journalists in the key aspects of Mine Action.

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining has published the ‘Guide to Mine Action’ as an information source that can assist in decision making, program planning and research. It is intended to reflect current realities in a fast developing humanitarian environment.

The origin of Mine Action can be traced to 1988, when, for the first time, the United Nations agencies appealed for funds to carry out civilian demining activities in Afghanistan. Nowadays, there are national programs in dozens of countries, covering the five core components of Mine Action :
- mine risk education
- humanitarian demining
- victim assistance
- stockpile destruction, and
- advocacy against the use of anti-personnel landmines.

The Guide will be a useful tool for the newcomer to understand the complexities and inter-relationships of the different Mine Action components. Moreover, specialists in one area of the discipline may become aware of the developments in another.

Copies of the Guide can be ordered via the GICHD web-site :

http://www.gichd.ch/about_gichd/guide/index.cfm


For further information, please contact :

Davide Orifici
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Phone : + 41 22 906 16 91 – Mobile : + 41 79 747 10 57
[email protected]

Groups, movements whom it is about: Aknabetilt?s kamp?ny

Date of creation or issue: 2003. 09. 04.

Group, movement, tendency (wherefrom it comes from): Aknabetilt?s kamp?ny

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