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Engaging Armed Non-State Actors in a Landmine Ban: November 2007 Geneva Call is pleased to announce the release of its latest publication “Engaging Armed Non-State Actors in a Landmine Ban: The Geneva Call's Progress Report (2000-2007)”. This report, which builds upon a recent self-assessment and research efforts carried out by Geneva Call, provides a comprehensive review of the action taken by Geneva Call and its partners to engage armed non-State actors (NSAs) to prohibit the use of anti-personnel mines. The report documents the progress accomplished to date and the remaining challenges. It also provides recommendations on the way forward, in an effort to further enhance the effectiveness of future NSA engagement work. Abstract Since the launch of Geneva Call in 2000, significant progress has been made. 34 NSAs from Burma/Myanmar, Burundi, India, Iraq, the Philippines, Somalia, Sudan, Turkey and Western Sahara have signed the “Deed of Commitment”, an innovative mechanism that enables NSAs, which by definition cannot accede to the 1997 Ottawa Convention, to subscribe to its norms. Signatory groups have, by and large, complied with their obligations, refraining from using anti-personnel mines and cooperating in mine action with specialized organizations. In addition, nine other NSAs have pledged to prohibit or limit the use of anti-personnel mines, either unilaterally or through a ceasefire agreement with the government. In some countries, the signing of the “Deed of Commitment” by NSAs facilitated the launch of much-needed humanitarian mine action programs in areas under their control, as well as the accession by their respective States to the Ottawa Convention. Of course, many challenges remain, notably the continued use of anti-personnel mines by non-signatory groups, the lack of technical and financial resources to support implementation of the “Deed of Commitment” and insufficient cooperation from some concerned States. Yet, this report illustrates how NSA engagement can be effective in securing their compliance with international humanitarian norms. For more information on the report, please contact Pascal Bongard, Geneva Call's Programme Director for Africa Hardcopies can be requested to info@genevacall.org.
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