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Armed Non-State Actors and Landmines Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, 14 November 2007 Today Geneva Call is launching a new report on engagement with armed non-state actors (NSAs). This third volume of the multi-agency research project “Armed Non-State Actors and Landmines” discusses the findings and lessons learned from the project within the broader context of NSA engagement, in particular for the human security issues of child soldiers and small arms. This report is part of a joint project with the PSIO of the Graduate Institute of International Studies. Institutions contributing to the report are the United Nations Mine Action Service, the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, the University of Geneva and the Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva. The overall project is supported by the Geneva International Academic Network (GIAN/RUIG), the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Government of Italy, and enjoys the continued support of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Abstract Globally, humanitarian and human rights actors are increasingly approaching not only the armed forces of States, but also those of NSAs to try to reduce the abuses committed during armed conflict. By combining relevant literature with the findings from the analysis of NSA involvement in humanitarian mine action, the report suggests some factors and incentives that might influence the behavior of an NSA and its likelihood of committing itself to respect humanitarian norms, as well as factors that might influence the outcomes of such engagement. This study is the third volume of a project that investigates the involvement of NSAs in the landmine problem, both in its negative (use of landmines) and positive (contribution to mine action) aspects. The report summarizes and analyzes the main findings of the project, and applies these findings to other related issues - child soldiers and small arms - as well as places the issue in the broader context of NSA engagement. It should be noted that humanitarian engagement does not affect the legal status of the NSA involved. In conclusion, the report argues for a holistic view of NSAs, hence considering both their capacity for destruction as parties to a conflict, but also their potential to contribute to the solution of human security problems. It has been demonstrated that it is possible to work with NSAs in humanitarian action, such as mine action, and that this has direct beneficial effects for the civilian population (reduction of humanitarian suffering and removal of obstacles to development). Notably, one important finding is that although many NSAs used landmines, their contribution to mine action activities was more extensive than expected. This potential could and should be used. |