Humanitarian Mine Action

Twenty years after mine action first became a topic at international level, considerable progress has been made on the way towards achieving a mine free world. Since 1991 large areas have been cleared, international standards have been introduced at a technical level, new instruments of international law have been created and effectively implemented. Switzerland continues to be a committed and active player and to make significant contributions to these processes.

Nonetheless, significant challenges remain since every year sees new victims of anti-personnel mines, of cluster munitions as well as of other explosive remnants of war (ERW). Communities continue to be affected by these legacies of war. As these weapons remain active for years. Civilian and military peace promoters alike are impeded by mines and unex-ploded ordnance.

Over the long term, Switzerland will continue to pursue the vision of a world without new vic-tims of anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war – a world in which economic and social development progresses smoothly and the needs of the affected populations are adequately met. Also in the years 2012 to 2015, Switzerland wants to make a substantial contribution to making this vision become true.

In concrete terms, the international effort comprises both political and diplomatic activities and throughout the world financial, personnel and material contributions to demining programmes. Here the Swiss Armed Forces make valuable contributions.

As one of the first states, Switzerland signed the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention ) and ratified it on 24 March 1998.

In the meantime, the treaty has been ratified by 159 governments (status: April 2012).

The treaty prohibits the state parties to use, stockpile, produce or transfer anti-personnel mines and requires that they be destroyed within four years of ratification. Furthermore they have to be cleared from the sovereign territory of a state party within ten years of ratification with the possibility of requesting an extension period if needed.

The special feature of the Ottawa Convention consists in the fact that the state parties have undertaken to give each other mutual support. The idea is primarily to give support to countries affected in their efforts to clear mined areas, prevent accidents and give assistance to victims.

Apart from the Mine Ban Treaty, the Convention on Cluster Munitions - known as the Oslo Convention - and its signing by Switzerland in December 2008 is an important legal step in support of humanitarian demining: The comprehensive ban on production, transfer, stockpiling and use of cluster munitions should pre-emptively curtail the humanitarian consequences of explosive war residues.

The Convention entered into force on 1 August 2010. As this strategy was being drafted, Switzerland was still in its national ratification process.

In the meantime, the treaty has been signed by 111 governments (status: April 2012).

The main emphasis of Switzerland's contribution has been defined in the Mine Action Strategy of the Swiss Confederation 2012-2015.

Apart from the measures to contributing actively to the strengthening, the implementation and universal application of all international legal instruments in this domain ratified by Switzerland, our country will aim to alleviate the suffering and to improve the living conditions of affected populations. Furthermore, Switzerland will enhance the integration of mine action into other relevant policy fields and operational activities.

In addition, Switzerland will develop instruments for the measurability of change and will contribute proactively to new instruments, policies and activities in mine action and in related areas.