How does Geneva Call establish contact with NSAs?

Initiating dialogue with NSAs is done through personal contacts or through third parties, such as conflict experts, members of the diaspora, local campaigns of the ICBL and other local NGOs. The decision to engage a group is made after a thorough analysis of the group (its character, objectives, leadership, internal structure, past practices, etc.), as well as an assessment of the dynamics of the conflict and of other factors such as the NSA’s ability and willingness to implement the obligations contained in the Deed of Commitment.

What motivates NSA to sign the Deed of Commitment?

NSAs that have signed the Deed of Commitment have done so for a variety of reasons, such as to protect members of their constituency, be they civilians or soldiers; to improve the stability and quality of life for people living in the areas under their authority or de facto control; to make it possible for mine action programmes to be launched in the areas in which they are active; or to demonstrate their capacity to uphold principles of humanitarian law. It is also important to note that a number of NSAs have come to realize the limited military utility of AP mines. This provides them with an added incentive to sign the Deed of Commitment.

How do NSAs implement their commitment?

In order to address the challenges of implementation, some of the NSAs that have signed the Deed of Commitment have taken the initiative to set up bodies and mechanisms for overseeing this process. In other cases, assistance is needed. Geneva Call provides support for implementation in a number of ways, such as organizing workshops to help signatories disseminate their mine ban policies; assisting in planning for mine action and the introduction of technical assistance; and promoting mine action in areas that are covered by the Deed of Commitment.

How does Geneva Call monitor compliance with the Deed of Commitment?

Geneva Call recognizes that the commitments made by NSAs take time to implement and that monitoring can, in some cases, be challenging. Geneva Call monitors compliance by requiring that signatories report on measures put in place to implement the Deed of Commitment and by ensuring ongoing communication with independent local and international organizations working in the field. In cases of alleged non-compliance, Geneva Call may chose to conduct on-site verification missions, as it did in Central Mindanao in the Philippines in 2002.