10th Anniversary of the Mine Ban Convention and Treaty into Force Day (1 March) of Mine Ban Treaty was celebrated in Kathmandu. It was organized by NCBL on 29 February 2008. On the occasion honourable foreign minister Ms. Sahana Pradhan was present as a chief guest. Purna Shova Chitrakar, Coordinator, NCBL; Mr. Grant Milthorpe, Senior Advisor, Central Regional Office, UNMIN; Ms. Joanne Doucet, Chief, Child Protection, Unicef; Mr. Andre Paquet, DHOD, International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) delivered their speeches. Ambassadors & Consular General of different diplomatic missions in Nepal, Parliamentarians, officers of ministries, security forces, victims from civilians, security forces and maoists, journalists etc. were the participants. Honourable minister Ms. Sahana Pradhan released Landmine Monitor Report 2007 on the occasion.

Speech by Honorable Minister Ms. Sahana Pradhan
Foreign Minister's Statement as Chief Guest of Tenth Anniversary of Ottawa Treaty on Anti Personnel Landmines, Kathmandu, 29 February 2008

Chairperson Excellencies
Distinguished Participants
Ladies and Gentlemen

I feel honored to be invited as chief guest of the event to celebrate the Tenth Anniversary of the Ottawa Convention on The Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Landmines.

At the outset, let me express my sincere appreciation to the "Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL)" for organizing this event and demonstrating activism to create general awareness and to advocated Nepal's becoming a party to the Convention.

There is no doubt that landmines cause inhuman and indiscriminate casualties even long after the conflict is over. Particularly, women and children become the most affected. We have experienced decade long painful armed conflict. In the aftermath of conflict, we come across the news frequently that due to the explosion of landmines, some innocent civilians have lost their lives and families, and some have lost their limps, making them disabled for the rest of their lives.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) signed between the Government of Nepal and Communist Party of Nepal- Maoists (CPN-Maoists) on November 22, 2006 has categorically made the provision for the Government and the CPN-Maoists to mark the landmines by providing necessary information within 30 days and de-fuse and excavate them within 60 days. This shows our commitment to do away with the landmines.

Accordingly, work has already started on identifying, mapping, fencing and marking landmines in different parts of the country, which were planted during the conflict period. The Government has also constituted a steering and technical committee to take the responsibility of mine action works. All related agencies involved in this area are expected to carry out the task in a smooth and expeditious manner.

I once again underline the urgent need to destroy the landmines, and the Government of Nepal is committed to carry out its obligation in this matter.

And let me take the opportunity to express the Government's deep sympathy towards all those inured and handicapped by the landmines and our willingness to take appropriated measures to help them lead a normal life. At the same time, the Government also expects full cooperation from the NGOs, civil society, academia, and the media working in this field.

I thank you all.

Speech On the Occasion of 10th Anniversary of Mine Ban Treaty by
Purna Shova Chitrakar, Coordinator, Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL)
29 February 2008

Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, let me welcome to you on behalf of my organization, Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL) and myself. I would like to thank you for your invaluable time for this occasion, the 10th anniversary of the Mine Ban Treaty.

I hope you are aware of Mine Ban and Mine Action activities going on in Nepal. Though progress is slow, the achievements encouraged us in our mission/campaign. The achievements we have made were only possible due to civil voices, efforts made by the government, political parties and the cooperation of the international community.

I am proud to say that during the latest mission of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 1997, in October, Nepal was praised for its efforts in Mine Action.

We are very glad that the government is mapping and clearing some of their minefields. However, clearance has proven to be challenging and the National Mine Action Technical Committee is facing problems due to a lack of skilled human and technical resources. Also, we are glad that IEDs from CPN (Maoist) are being stored in cantonments, but this party has found it difficult to map and record the IEDs they planted during the conflict. The civilians of affected regions are still at risk.

However, we are still facing challenges. Despite the fact that the Peace Accord has been signed, mines and IEDs continue to kill and maim civilians. In fact, landmines and IEDs victimized the number of 190 people in 2007. This year, accidents of explosions are continuing.

On this occasion we have to ask: How do mines affect victims? What do victims feel about mines and improvised explosive devices? Today, we have the opportunity to meet some of the civilian, security force and CPN (Maoist) victims.

Victims of mine/IEDs do not only loose his/her parts of the body; they also loose their identification in their own communities. They become unable to cultivate their land, loose their job and have to face poverty. Some of them experience negative psychological consequences due to the disorder of their family and lives. There is inadequate assistance, lack of rehabilitation and economic reintegration programs for these individuals. In Nepal there is also not enough Mine Risk Education programs to protect civilian from the risk of mines.

I think that the international community, consisting of both signatory countries and non-signatory countries, still has many issues to face and overcome with respect to Mine Action. We have to do more with respect to the universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty. We have to dedicate ourselves to mapping and clearing minefields and mine risk education. Finally, we have to assist victims of landmines and IEDs by building their skills and capacity so that they can return to their normal lives.

Honorable Guests,

I am sorry to take so much your time. But I believe that you can also assist us in this humanitarian mission. You can help to increase the role of Nepali government in Mine Action and contribute to the universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty. I hope that you will assist us. Only our joint efforts can ensure that the world will be free from landmines.

Lastly, I would like to thank all honorable ministers, parliamentarians, representatives of ministries, yours Excellencies, security personals, survivors of mines and IEDs, journalists and the whole NCBL team who works hard on this campaign.

Thank you.