Book III: Reference material

8/14/2019 Book III: Reference material

1/132

Thi prt cntin rnge reerence teri, incuding:> guidnce n dt gthering/nyi, ri eductin nd urvey/cernce> cpertin nd cpcity uiding> eg text nd guidnce n their ppictin> deing with hun rein in cntinted re> gry> urce dditin inrtin

book III: REFERENCE maTERIal


2/132

Prece

This manual has been written to act as the ICRCs institutional reerence and to provide

guidance or those working in weapon-contaminated areas. This includes to a greater

or lesser extent any situation where the persisting presence o contamination continues

to impact people physically, socially or economically.

The manual consists o three books and is based on the Preventive Mine Action

Operations Framework, approved by the ICRC in 2005. It outlines a broad and exible

approach which includes rapid response, multisectoral approach (the application o

assistance and protection to reduce impact) and cooperation/capacity building.

This manual was primarily written by Ben Lark and Lena Eskeland with important

contributions rom many people working both at headquarters and in the eld, in

particular Boris Cerina, Robin Coupland, Herbi Elmazi, Patrick Fruchet, Ute Homeister,Srdjan Jovanovic, Matthieu Laruelle, Kathleen Lawand, Lou Maresca, Morris Tidball-Binz

and Andy Wheatley. External contributions were made by Stuart Maslen o the Geneva

International Centre or Humanitarian Demining, and photographs were provided by

Chris Clark, the Danish Demining Group, Tim Lardner, Ben Lark, Matthieu Laruelle,

Chris North and Andy Wheatley.

International Committee of the Red Cross

Mine Action Sector

19 Avenue de la Paix1202 Geneva, Switzerland

T + 41 22 734 60 01 F + 41 22 733 20 57

E-mail: [email protected]

www.icrc.org

ICRC, August 2007


3/132

CoNTENTs book III

1 TECHNICal REFERENCE sECTIoN 3

1.1 Dt gthering nd nyi 5

1.2 Ri eductin 21

1.3 survey nd cernce 31

2 CooPERaTIoN aND CaPaCITY bUIlDING 37

2.1 mveent cpertin 39

2.2 strengthening the cpcity Ntin scietie t cnduct ine ctin 40

2.3 Cnidertin r prviding tructur upprt t gvernent

r ntin uthritie 43

3 lEGal DoCUmENTs aND GUIDaNCE 45

3.1 The ottw Cnventin 47

3.2 The Cnventin n Certin Cnventin Wepn,

aended Prtc II nd Prtc V 59

3.3 Pie repreenttin reted t the ue r preence ine,

y-trp, expive rennt wr (ERW) r cuter unitin 87

4 ClEaRaNCE aND HUmaN REmaINs 101

4.1 mngeent hun rein gener requireent 104

4.2 Reprting nding hun rein 105

4.3 Recrding nding hun rein y nn-peciit 106

4.4 mngeent ite cntining hun rein 108

4.5 security ri nd heth hzrd 109

4.6 Recvery hun rein y nn-peciit 110

4.7 strge hun rein y nn-peciit,

incuding teprry uri 111

4.8 Pernent uri nd cretin y nn-peciit 112

4.9 Reerence 113

5 GlossaRIEs, abbREVIaTIoNs aND UsEFUl WEbsITEs 115

5.1 Engih/French gry 117

5.2 Gry revitin 125

5.3 Ueu weite 127


4/132


5/132

1TECHNICal REFERENCE sECTIoN

1.1 Dt gthering nd nyi 5

1.2 Ri eductin 21

1.3 survey nd cernce 31


6/132


7/132

ICRC data gathering is carried out in three ways:

> as a specic activity;

> as part o other assessments such as eld, protection and assistance;

> through health activities.

This section will explain the nature o data gathering, outline key considerations when

gathering data, and specic technical aspects o analysing and managing data.

Why cect dt?

The rst major obstacle encountered when dealing with the problems o contamination

is that relevant data is generally lacking in a conict or post-conict situation. Without

the requisite statistics and acts, priorities cannot be established, policy articulated and

programmes planned. The gathering and analysis o data is the oundation o all mine

action activities. Data gathering inorms o the location, scale and scope o potential

risk reduction, risk education and whether there is a need (or not) or the ICRC to

become involved in clearance activities.

Data is required not only to prioritize and target the ICRCs own activities but also to

support mine action more broadly within an area.

5

1 TECHNICAL REFERENCE SECTION

1.1Dt gtheringnd nyi

DaTa GaTHERING

PPC/assIsT

assEssmENT

DaTa

DaTa aNalYsIs IDENTIFICaTIoN oF PRoblEm bENEFICIaRIEs aCTIVITIEs

HEalTH

DaTa

mINE/ERW

INCIDENTDaTa


8/132

Wht dt t cect

Dt nd inrtin hud e cected n:

> the physical impact to understand the nature and scope o the problem:

deaths and injuries rom mines and ERW;

inormation on vulnerable groups , dangerous areas and high risk activities;

> the socio-economic impact to identiy appropriate solutions:

inormation on the impact on daily and seasonal activities;

> the types and volumes o ordnance to inorm clearance, risk education, conduct

o hostilities analysis and sta saety:

estimation o ailure rates o dierent ordnance;

types used;

quantities red and target areas.

In eect, data inorms all ICRC risk reduction and risk education activities. Activities

must be tailored according to needs and the actual situation identied through the

analysis o the data collected.

miniu inrtin required r victi dt (phyic ipct):

> date

> time

> location

> number o victims per incident

> ages

> sex

> activity at time

Experience has shown that such basic data can be collected relatively easily even in

immediate post-conict situations.

additin inrtin which cn e cected r victi:

> what was the type o device involved?

> how long did it take to reach medical assistance?

> had the victim received risk education prior to incident?

> is he/she the head o his/her household?

> had the person been to/through the area beore?> is the person a local or not? (i.e. local knowledge?)

> is the person a returnee? how long has he/she been back?

> what is the type o injury?

An eective incident surveillance system aims to capture data on all new mine and ERW

victims, both injuries and atalities, in a given area. A single explosion may wound

several people this is especially common with anti-vehicle mines and ERW and it is

important to record details o each o the victims, wherever possible.

6

WEAPON CONTAMINATION MANUAL BOOK III


9/132

Generic dt gthering r

7



10/132

8



11/132

Data o this type, when analysed, provides a wealth o inormation on:

> age or occupation groups most exposed to the dangers o ERW and mines;

> likely dangerous areas;

> existing local knowledge;

> gaps in service provision;

> eectiveness (or not) o risk education sessions.

Additionally, it is important that inormation be collected and shared on:

> specic known or suspected mine/ERW locations;

> type o inrastructure or land blocked by the existence (or ear) o mines/ERW;

> animals killed by mines when mines are common people oten orget to

mention the death o livestock, however this can be a very useul indication o the

extent o contamination in an area;

> activities impeded or prevented owing to mine/ERW risk;

> type o munitions.

Depending on the scenario, incident data gathering is a sustainable key role or

National Societies to play within a national mine action plan. In this scenario, the

emphasis is on surveillance, not the storage or analysis o data, which is the role o the

National Authority.

In emergency situations inormation on mine/ERW contamination is normally integrated

into a survey orm that incorporates inormation on a broad range o humanitarian

issues. These include the level o destruction o shelter and inrastructure, supply o

clean water, ood, the location o displaced people and other data. These orms are

normally multi-agency, developed by the UNs OCHA and the weapon contamination

element inserted by the UN Mine Action Coordination team. The data gathered through

these orms is oten an excellent source o inormation.

Dt gthering pprche

The most important consideration rom a programme management point o view is how

such a data gathering system can best be implemented. In eect the choice is between

a dedicatedmine action data collection system, and a light integratedapproach.

Incident dt gthering pecic ine ctin ctivity

Incident data gathering is the ongoing collection o comprehensive incident data rommultiple sources to enable and inorm preventive mine action planning. This data

enables mine action operations to identiy dangerous areas, high-risk activities, the

scope and type o contamination, the ages, gender and location o vulnerable groups

and the reasons or deliberate risk-taking. This in turn determines the prioritization and

design o clearance, survey, marking, risk education, risk reduction and protection.

Oten relatively costly in terms o resources and time, this role can be extremely

important, particularly in immediate post-conict scenarios, not only or the ICRC, but

also or other mine action agencies. Developing a dedicated mine action inormation

gathering structure can provide a rapid and eective means o developing a clear

understanding o the scale and scope o the mine/ERW problem. It may be more

eective still to combine this data gathering role with another mine action activity,such as risk education initiatives.

9



12/132

Incident data gathering is a key, sustainable role or National Societies to play within

a national mine action plan. In this scenario, the emphasis is on surveillance, not the

storage or analysis o data, which is the role o the National Mine Action Authority or

MAC. The National Society in Aghanistan is currently responsible (2007) or gathering

over 90% o the casualty data which in turn plays a crucial role in inorming one o

the largest humanitarian mine clearance programmes in the world.

Dt gthering prt ther ctivitie

In the eld, sta involved in protection, assistance or other activities may be asked to

carry with them a data collection orm and to use it to report any incidents or other

inormation on contamination and impact they come across during their work. The

orm used should be a standard ormat agreed between mine action organizations

working in that area. The data should be passed on to the relevant NMAA or MAC,

unless the ICRC is the sole mine action actor.

Training assistance and protection sta, and including mine incident data gathering orms

in activities undertaken during and immediately ater conict can be an appropriate and

resource-light approach that still allows valuable inormation to be collected. While this

has implications or sta training, such a transversal approach helps ensure that all sta

are aware o mines/ERW, their impact and the danger they pose not just to the local

population but to ICRC and other humanitarian sta as well.

Dt n injurie gthered thrugh heth ctivitie

Data on those treated at health acilities or mine- and ERW-related injuries is important.

This data can be used to check and cross-reerence with other sources o data, although

care must be taken to:

> ensure that mine action specic data is routinely recorded and that this covers

only those injured accidentally by mines and ERW data which includes

combatants injured during combat, other traumatic injuries rom vehicle

accidents, etc. or those who have been shot must not be included;

> ensure that those patients recorded at the health acility are not reported twice

the incident may have been recorded at the place o incident and then

re-recorded at the health acility as an incident.

The ICRC should consider sharing victim data rom health and physical rehabilitation

centres. This data usually gives an incomplete picture o the impact o contamination

as many victims will not reach or be reported to the health network, but is an important

element o surveillance networks. Although not implementing a specic preventivemine action operation, by making victim data available rom health activities the ICRC

makes an essential contribution to the impact o mine action operations. Precautions

to be taken when sharing such data are outlined below.

10



13/132

Uing exiting netwr r dt gthering

It is preerable to use existing networks to gather data wherever possible rather than

seek to set up new ones. A convenient and appropriate network is one that uses the

National Society volunteers, as is the case with the Cambodian Red Cross. The

volunteers not only gather data on mine and ERW victims, they also, wherever possible,

administer rst aid at local level.

shring dt when nd hw?

Wherever pie, the ICRC hud ee t hre nn-cndenti

inrtin. An important consideration is that data is oten collected not only orICRC internal use, but also to assist mine action activities o other organizations. ICRC

health activities can provide a valuable source o inormation. The ICRC shouldconsider sharing incident data rom health and physical rehabilitation centres. Where

the ICRC is not implementing a specic preventive mine action operation, by making

incident data available rom health activities the ICRC makes an essential contribution

to the impact o mine action operations. Additionally, ICRC assistance and protection

teams working during and immediately post conict can provide valuable

inormation to UN and specialized clearance organizations, which can be used to

identiy the nature o the threat and assist in the rapid prioritization o clearance

activities.

I the ICRC is the only organization able to establish mine action activities, or example

when the ICRC is the only one with access to the contaminated area, then establishing

a data gathering and analysis capacity is crucial to ensuring that the activities planned

match the needs. In many cases the ICRC may collect data and later share it with mine

action organizations when they step in. In certain circumstances, however, incident or

victim data may be regarded as sensitive and it will not be appropriate to share it. In

such cases, whether or not other organizations are present and active, the ICRC should

consider very careully whether it is necessary or appropriate or it to set up its own data

collecting system.

In a post-conict context , data on mine and ERW incidents is generally not condential.

The only data that is (potentially) condential is the name o the person. Data on ERW

and mine incidents can be shared with other organizations i this aids a coordinated

and inormed mine action response.

11



14/132

Cnidertin when gthering dt

There are a number o issues that must be taken into account when gathering incident

data; these are set out below.

> Ideally, the team gathering incident data rom victims should consist o two data

collectors, one man and one woman.

> Wherever possible, men should interview men and boys, and women should

interview women and girls.

> An interview should only be conducted with the ull consent o the victim or the

victims amily. You must explain who you are, why you are collecting inormation,

and what will be done with it.

> Be sensitive and tactul when asking questions. Collecting data rom mine or ERW

victims is sometimes difcult. It may be upsetting to the victim to talk about the

accident and discretion is essential.

> Condentiality is oten required and this must be respected i the trust o thecommunity is to be maintained.

> I the interviewee does not want to answer a question, do not put pressure on

them to do so. Write on the orm that the interviewee does not want to answer.

This will enable anyone engaged in quality assurance to understand why the

inormation is missing.

> Be prepared to answer questions rom the interviewee, including those on why

specic questions in the questionnaire are asked.

> Do not raise expectations. Be careul not to raise alse hopes, while stressing that

the data is being collected or a purpose which is ultimately to help

communities in need.

> Make sure the needs o women are considered. Gender, social and educational

background may aect the way people respond.

string nd nying dt

There are in eect three options when considering how best to analyse data in

ascending orders o complexity:

> a simple Excel spreadsheet;

> EpiIno programme, mine action module;

> the industrys standard system, IMSMA.

All three have advantages and disadvantages depending on the specic context.

12



15/132

Exce predheet

A simple Excel spreadsheet is oten sufcient. To be eective and to provide meaningul

analysis, the ollowing basic elds are mandatory:

> location o incident;

> age o those injured and killed;

> gender o those injured and killed;

> activity at the time o incident;

> date and time.

An incident may involve one or more victims. The victims o an incident must be

recorded as part o that one incident, which should be given an incident code. Simple

Excel analytical graphs should be programmed to give breakdowns o victims

as required.

Expe Exce victi dt nyi r the yer 2000 in the Tigry Regin

Ethipi

The peak o victims in March corresponds with the advance o Ethiopian troops whocaptured Badme. By mid-March, local administrative structures had been re-established

in the area. This tempted people to move back in order to check their property and also

re-opened access to grazing areas. As in 2000, ollowing the Ethiopian advance through

the Eastern zone, the vast majority (84%) o the victims were herders and travellers.

Ethiopian advances continued until July, when victim levels ell o, rom 15 in July, to

4 in August. Limited demining and battle area clearance1 by the military, although not

to acceptable international standards, probably reduced victim gures overall, once

control had been established over the captured areas.

1 Battle area clearance is the destruction and/or collection o unexploded and discarded ordnance o all types.

13


7

16

23

18

8

10

15

4

23

6

3

0

5

10

15

20

25

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Month

Victims

Victims

Month


16/132

Expe Exce nyi high ri ctivitie in the Tigry regin Ethipi

in the yer 2000

Deinitin

Tpering Touching, moving, hitting, throwing or playing with mines and UXO

Detic ctivity Collecting wood/water, incidents in houses

Trveing Includes travelling or trade, between villages or returning rom

displacement

Fring Village level subsistence arming

Herding Shepherds tending livestock

Nt nwn Activity at time o accident unknown, normally because o death o victim

EpiIn - ine ctin due

EpiIno is the primary database to be used by the ICRC in situations where incident data

has to be recorded. It is available as part o authorized ICRC sotware. In addition to the

basic EpiIno, there is a specic mine and ERW module which is available rom the mine

action sector or mine action regional advisers. This module allows both the storage

and analysis o data. Inormation in an EpiIno database can be downloaded into

IMSMA easily.

EpiIno does not have the built-in GIS sotware that IMSMA has (although it can link to

ArcView and represent data spatially). Mine and ERW inormation can be plotted on

ICRC GIS systems where they are being used in delegations. The water and habitatsector (WATHAB) has responsibility or GIS.

EpiIno is a tool initially designed as a eld-compatible analytic programme to assist

epidemiologists and other public health specialists to conduct inectious outbreak

investigations. Public health practitioners use it to create questionnaires (orms) or

disease outbreak investigations, studies or surveillance activities, and to enter, manage

and analyse data both statistically and geographically.

14


Unknown 5%

Herding 61%

Travelling 23%

Domestic 4%

Tampering 6%

Farming 1%


17/132

EpiIno is also useul in assessing knowledge, attitudes, and practices and to measure

theoretical concepts associated with behavioural interventions. It is applicable to a wide

range o questionnaire-based inquiries, such as community needs assessment and

programme evaluations. EpiIno is compatible with IMSMA and allows or the easy

importing and exporting o data les. It is public domain sotware, which means that

people anywhere can download the programme ree rom the internet.

Inrtin mngeent syte r mine actin (Imsma)

The IMSMA system has become the standard or mine action inormation management.

Almost all UN and national managed mine action programmes are using IMSMA. The

IMSMA sotware is available as a standard sotware within the ICRC. The IMSMA system

should only be used by a delegation ollowing expert advice rom a mine action

delegate or adviser. For ICRC purposes EpiIno, simple Excel spreadsheets and water and

habitat GIS are quite sufcient.

IMSMA map products should be requested rom MACs as they are invaluable aids to

security, mission planning and eld assessments.

Incident dt trend

These systems will help determine three key variables : who, where, when. While every context

is dierent, there are usually a number o constants that hold true in most contexts.

Casualties normally peak immediately ater hostilities cease, as a mine/ERW-unaware

population tries to leave displaced and reugee camps and return home. Returnees,

oten unaware o what a mine may be, and usually unaware o how they can minimize

their exposure and keep themselves and their amily sae, are highly exposed to death

or injury rom mines and ERW.

Cn injury trend cue t wh i uuy t ri, nd when:

> males between 10 and 35 are at highest risk;

> women and emale children are lowest risk;

> herding leads to high risk (in particular adolescent boys);

> travellers/nomads are at high risk;

> oten accidents are related to economic need;

> accidents increase again as people gain condence;

> accidents increase as population returns and there is competition or land;> seasonal variations;

> usually peak just ater ceasere/peace.

Cn ctr inuencing injury rte:

> degree and type o contamination;

> population movement;

> population growth;

> agricultural season;

> access to basic needs ;

> economic need;

> cultural dynamics (macho, etc.);> religious belies;

> superstition/coping belies.

15



18/132

16


Quity urnce dt

O course, data is only as useul and usable as it is reliable, so great care must be

taken to ensure accuracy. The ollowing monitoring questions must be asked

systematically by ICRC sta supervising the data gathering system.

> Is the nalized victim surveillance questionnaire understood and used by all

personnel collecting data on mine and ERW victims ? I not, why not ?

> Are girls and women being adequately covered by the victim surveillance system?

> Are all victim surveillance questionnaires reviewed prior to submission to the

National Mine Action Authority to check that the elds o the questionnaire have

been lled out correctly ?

> Are hospitals and rehabilitation centres visited regularly at least monthly to

ensure that all mine and ERW victims are being identied by the surveillance

system ?> Is all the data collected on mine and ERW victims subject to any issues o

condentiality regularly submitted to the National Mine Action Authority ?

> Are all victim surveillance questionnaires entered switly and systematically into

the relevant mine action inormation database ?

It can be very difcult to spot inaccurate reporting. Additional issues to consider when

assessing the quality o the inormation system are listed below. Lack o an integrated

system oten results in:

> double reporting: other organizations reporting the same casualties, or example

i hospitals the ICRC visits also provide inormation directly to the mine action

authority;

> inaccurate reporting: mines may be misreported to exaggerate or understate the

scale o the problem;

> the including o gunshot/other traumatic injuries or a variety o reasons such as

the lack o a specic code or mine injuries;

> non-reporting: perhaps because o ear o consequences or remoteness,

particularly as regards marginalized groups (physically remote, or economically

excluded).

In addition:

> previous under-reporting may lead to a seeming increase in the scale o the

problem;

> the reach o the data gathering system may not be comprehensive and there maybe geographic or social exclusion;

> poor training/numeracy o data gatherers may aect the quality o the primary

data received.


19/132

merndu undertnding (moU) r dt hring

Data on mine and ERW incidents is not condential the only data collected that is

condential is the name o the person. Data on mine and ERW accidents can be shared

with other organizations through a memorandum o understanding: names o victims

can be shared or the purpose o cross-checking data although they cannot be

subsequently shared with others.

I the ICRC is to systematically share incident data with a mine action centre or national

authority, an MOU should be signed. The MOU should include a description o the data

that will be shared and the data that will not. For instance, personal details are not

required or the purposes o mine action prioritization and do not have to be included

in the data shared. Data used or the purposes o victim assistance does require that the

personal data be shared.

The MOU should also speciy the agreed uses that the data can be put to and who the

data may be transmitted to. It should also include the duration o the MOU, how it is to

be reviewed and the procedure or extension.

17



20/132

Expe dt-hring moU, etween the ICRC nd the United Ntin in aghnitn

18


Ter greeent n the exchnge ine nd UXo victi dt in aghnitn

Data collection on mine and Explosive Remnants o War (ERW) victims was initiated in 1990 in Aghanistan by the ICRC

through the health structures. This inormation is essential or mine action planning monitoring and allocation o resources

o actors concerned.

a) Exchnge dt

1. The MAPA is compiling all inormation on mine and UXO victims collected by other agencies.

2. All data collected by the ICRC will be handed out to MAPA on a monthly basis and on a regional basis at least once a

month to the UN Regional Mine Action Centre. Names o victims will also be shared providing that the condentiality

principle is strictly respected by all actors involved in the data collection process or those having access to the

database.

3. The other data handled by MAPA will be handed out to the ICRC on a monthly basis in electronic or other orm. A copyo the IMSMA sotware will be put at the disposal o the ICRC by MAPA, with the understanding that this sotware will

not be urther distributed by the ICRC to any third parties.

The ICRC can have access to all reports/documents/publications/analysis (using or reerring to mine/UXO victim data)

produced by other actors participating in the data collection process.

b) Reprting

1. Annual or special reports produced by one o the above-mentioned organizations using data o the other, should be

sent to the other organization or consultation prior to publication. This process will permit to veriy that the

inormation released conorms to the undamental principles guiding the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Any

report containing mine/UXO victim data should not include explicit or implicit statements which could compromise

the Red Cross and Red Crescent undamental principles especially the neutrality and impartiality o the ICRC in

Aghanistan.

2. Each organization will give its agreement or comments on the relevant reports o the other organization within one

week (maximum) o the reception o the document.

3. The actors involved in data gathering should be accredited or their work in all reports, documents or publication

including mine/UXO victim data analysis. The percentage o data provided by the organization concerned should be

mentioned.

C) Terintin the dt exchnge

1. The exchange o data will be established or a one-year period, starting on 10 February 2004. At the end o this period,

the exchange process will be automatically renewed unless objected to by one o the two parties.

2. The exchange o data can be terminated i one o the terms mentioned above is not respected.


21/132

sury guide t pprprite dt gthering ctivity

This table outlines Movement data gathering activities and acts as a guide to good

practice. However it is recognized that there are many considerations regarding ICRC

and National Society involvement and that each real lie situation has its own dynamic.

Thereore the table below is a guide and, depending on need and circumstances, other

activities may be considered.

Scenario PoSSible MoveMent Data GatherinG involveMent

1. amd d sus

r d gg w m muW j mmzg mp ms d erW ppu, mpg suy s,>suppg ss d s d yg uds ps m sps, d gg sp gg p/ssssm/sss s sud sdd sg mp m s.

lky us s

cg m s mp s, xmp dug md sss s. D sud sk> g pu s, u d pp ps s.

is p n Sy m nSs w uy wkg y?i s, s p p psps w n Ss, p psps w nSs wkg>y. ts w us dpd ssus ss d suy.

2. immd ps md d sus

r d gg w m muW j spdg pdy mmz sus, d ssg mgy p d>sss s, d gg s ky mj us m s ds pp pz s, d udsdg s d u m /erW g w skdu d pssy sk du s.

lky us sGg m us y s g ps su; ssg ds>d pz s m ; d pdg m sk du ug mps spm xpd m gs, d kw s d dgus us d s.

is p n Sy m nSs w uy wkg y?i s, s p pu p psps w n Ss, pssy p>psps w nSs wkg y.

3. exdd ps d sus

r d gg w m muW j mmzg sm mp ms, suppg m suu d>pg n Sy g s s d us gm pgmmg ssy, d gg dm sk du s ky m us s w ssy kd up w sk dus.

lky us sD ms my s pdd y icrc d d y ds. t icrc my sss w, m>mppg d yss d u y uy Un s w p d pg us.

is p n Sy m nSs w uy wkg y?i s, icrc sud sk sg n Ss d udk s y d sk p>psps w n Sy s pd p. t s p mg d gg sw m m pus su susy ssy.

19



22/132

Scenario PoSSible MoveMent Data GatherinG involveMent (ud)

4. nm pms

r d gg w m muW j pg n Sy pp uu s d sss m suu>

dp s py mg , d gg my sdd.

lky us stg n Sy mpm su s d dgus s d u>gups.

is p n Sy m nSs w uy wkg y?i s, us w sgg py n Sy spd y p uu>.

5. nu dsss md s

r m sk du w m murdug ppus uy, sug s sy d suppg d s. Dpdg >sp u , d gg my m s.

lky us s

Pdg d gg d yss s d ppu sy.>

is p n Sy m nSs w uy wkg y?i s, s p p psps w n Ss d, s m, p supp>m nSs wkg y.

20



23/132

Wht i ri eductin?

This is something o a catch all phrase that includes a number o separate, but linked

aspects. A common misunderstanding is that risk education is simply about the design

and development o public education posters on the dangers o mines and ERW. It is

more than this the ICRC denes risk education as comprising our elements:

> community liaison,

> public awareness,

> education, and

> training.

Risk education is not so much a communication driven initiative, as an integratedapproach closely linked to protection and assistance initiatives.

Cunity iin is the basis or all preventive mine action planning, putting

communities at the centre o the planning process. It is based on the exchange o

inormation between the community and the mine action organization. The aim is to

establish priorities or action and the identication o eective approaches to adopt

within communities to reduce impact, whether through an alternative water source, a

sae play area, targeted awareness or a combination o activities. Community liaison also

seeks to act as the link between communities and clearance teams, ensuring that the

community understands, agrees with and trusts the scope and quality o the clearance.

awrene is the application o communication techniques to sensitize vulnerable

elements o the population to the threat posed by contamination. Awareness is most

eective in the early stages o an emergency, when returning reugees or internally

displaced persons may have little or no knowledge o the threat posed by mines or ERW.

In addition to this mass public awareness approach, targeted awareness can be

implemented once vulnerable groups have been identied, and in conjunction with

risk reduction, marking and survey. Targeted awareness activities that seek to change

behaviour should be tailored to vulnerable groups and identied through the analysis

o incident data. Activities should be community-based and work through existing

social and administrative structures.

Eductin aimed at young people may entail the integration o mine and ERW

awareness into school curricula as a part o public awareness campaigns or Exploring

Humanitarian Law (EHL) programmes. This long-term education approach should only

be attempted i the mine and ERW problem appears to be a long-term problem.

stf ety trining is the provision o technical advice and (in support o the security

unit) saety training or ICRC and Movement sta working in mine- and ERW-

contaminated areas.

Community liaison and awareness are complex issues, requiring a number o important

components to ensure success. However it should also be remembered that riskeducation is not a long-term solution, but may be an eective interim measure to limit

the impact mines and ERW have on a population.

21


1.2Ri eductin


24/132

Why hud the ICRC cnider underting ri eductinctivitie?

It is crucial that the ICRC ask itsel why it should become involved in risk education

activities and what added value it may bring to the process that others do not. Possible

reasons or undertaking such activities include the ollowing.

> The presence o contamination is in itsel a protection issue, and thus a mine

action response is required. Mines/ERW represent (just) another source o

vulnerability impacting on conict-aected populations that the ICRC may need

to address.

> There is no one else in a position to respond or the existing response is

inadequate.

> There may be a specic added value that ICRC involvement can bring. For

example by linking risk education activities to assistance solutions which reduce apopulations exposure to the risk o injury rom mines or ERW.

When hud the ICRC cnider tpping, r chnging the cu ri eductin?

It is important to constantly re-evaluate the situation. As time goes by, the situation

aced by an impacted community will change: more mine action players may arrive and

begin operating, be they clearance organizations, NGOs engaged in risk education, or

UN entities. Substantial clearance may take place, meaning that the communities

knowledge o the problem, and the nature and severity o the threat may change

substantially.

The ICRC should seek to ensure that these changes are taken into consideration and the

need or continued activities constantly re-evaluated. This review and re-evaluation

process should take place regularly, as oten as once every 36 months in a rapidly

changing environment.

Two questions in particular should be borne in mind:

> why is the ICRC continuing to be involved does it still have a distinct added

value in this regard ?

> is it more appropriate or the ICRC to consider assisting other actors, in particular

the National Society, rather than implementing risk education directly ?

While it is acknowledged that every mine action situation that the ICRC aces will have

its own dynamic, the need or long-term ICRC risk education much beyond the

immediate post-conict period is unlikely. At this point it is likely that more mine action

NGOs will be active, and the ICRC will be able to concentrate on capacity building o

the National Society as an integrated element o a national mine action plan.

22



25/132

The re the Ntin scietie in ri eductin

While it is likely that the direct operational invlovement o the ICRC in risk education is

likely to be relatively short, National Societies can and do play a crucial role in ensuring

that eective, well-targeted and relevant messages continue to be directed at the

people who remain at risk rom mines/ERW (see example in box below).

In such situations the most appropriate role or the ICRC may be to assist and support

the development o eective programming through cooperation support to National

Societies. This again demonstrates the advantages o the transversal approach to mine

action programming, and the important role that all operational departments play in

supporting this approach.

Cunity iin

The need or community liaison became apparent as the limitations o standard

awareness/risk education became clear. Knowledge o sae behaviour is not enough to

ensure saety when the situation orces people to take risks in order to survive. Telling

a poor, hungry person who knowingly enters a mined area to collect water or ood not

to go there will be ineective. It is critical to help them nd realistic options to minimize

risks.

23


The prce dpting new ehviur nd the re ri eductin in iting it

As one o the main aims o risk education is to encourage the adoption o sae behaviour, it is important to understand why

and how people change what they do.

A large body o behavioural research shows that people react dierently to accepting and adopting new behaviour. As a

rule, they do not suddenly begin to do something they have never done beore: they learn and weigh the benets o doing

it or not doing it; they look around to see i anyone else is doing it and whether their riends and community accept the

new behaviour. I it seems socially acceptable, valuable and practical, people learn the skills to undertake the new behaviour

and may apply it to their own lives. They then evaluate whether it is worthwhile to continue. From their experiences they

may reject the new behaviour, or may encourage others to ollow their example.

The objectives o a risk education communication strategy should thereore be to:

> provide the inormation, assurance and encouragement that are needed to encourage sae behaviour;

> identiy and promote model sae behaviour;> teach the skills that are needed and ensure people can use the new skills;

> provide a social environment that supports sae behaviour;

> provide ongoing encouragement to continue with sae behaviour; and

> encourage people to pass the inormation and new skills on to others.

This requires knowledge and understanding o what inormation is the most useul and practical to the target audience,

which people and communication channels they trust, when the best time to communicate with those communities is,

and what the eective communication approaches are. It also requires a knowledge o appropriate messages to be shared

with the various communities.


26/132

24


Community liaison attempts to strengthen mine action planning by putting

communities at the centre o the planning process. This participatory approach is based

on the exchange o inormation between aected communities and mine action and/

or relie and development organizations. The primary aim o community liaison is to

establish priorities or action and identiy eective approaches to adopt within

communities to reduce impact, whether through an alternative water source, a sae

play area, targeted awareness or a combination o activities.

Community liaison also serves as the link between communities and clearance teams,

ensuring the community understands, agrees with and trusts the scope and quality o

the clearance.

The ultimate goal o community liaison is to place the needs and priorities o mine- and

ERW-aected communities at the centre o the planning o mine action and other

activities. The ollowing are some o the key objectives o liaising with a community toaddress its mine or ERW impact in pursuit o that goal:

> to obtain relevant background inormation on the community itsel (e.g.

population size and movements, main livelihoods or sources o income and other

socio-economic concerns);

> to obtain inormation about the background to the mine/ERW problem in a

specic community (history o local battles/conicts);

> to identiy specic at-risk groups in the community and understand the extent o

and underlying reasons or ongoing risk-taking in mined or ERW-contaminated

areas;

> to provide accurate inormation on the location or types o contamination to

clearance and marking teams, which is necessary to direct mine action operations

eectively;

> to ensure that community representatives are consulted on and involved in

prioritizing mine action interventions; and

> to support community development based on community participation known

as building social capital.

There are, however, no hard and ast rules to implementing community liaison and no

standing operating procedures. This exibility may be threatening to organizations

used to working in a more structured environment.

Certainly, taking time to build relationships within the developmental and the local

community may be time consuming and the results may not always correlate smoothlywith the stated objectives o a given organization. Participatory community liaison tools

can throw up unpredictable results and do need time to be eective. Communities can

consist o very diverse groups with conicting interests, and some have little interest in

communal assistance or collaboration, and a high degree o insularity. However, the

humanitarian benets are considered signicant by organizations that have included a

community liaison component in their programmes.

awrene

Awareness involves communication among and between dierent individuals and

dierent groups, or audiences. To achieve sae behaviour it is important not only to

inorm and educate communities on sae behaviour but also to provide an environment


27/132

25


that supports this behaviour. This could include having legislation that supports sae

behaviour or local or national political support.

An eective awareness programme will usually have one or more communication

audiences. It is important that these audiences be clearly dened. This is the purpose

o a needs assessment.

Deveping efective pprche ey cnidertin

Message development involves decision-making in ve main areas:

> determining the needs o your audience beore you start your activities;

> determining message concepts that will bring about the desired behaviour change;

> selecting the most appropriate means o communicating with your audience;

> choosing the message appeal or tone;

> ensuring your messages are clear and understandable.

To do this will require a basic understanding o the scale and scope o the problem

aced by the communities aected by the presence o mines/ERW. Usually the

establishment o mine risk education programmes, particularly in conict or immediate

post-conict scenarios, takes place in a situation characterized by a lack o inormation,

a lack o time, and a pressing need. However there a number o golden rules that need

to be observed.

Rue 1

Need eent re cruci

Something is better than nothing and even in conict or immediate post-conictscenarios needs assessments must be undertaken to determine who is at risk, why, and

whatcan be done about it.

A needs assessment in a conict or immediate post-conict scenario should seek at the

very least to determine the ollowing elements.

> The ctin the pre. How widespread (or contained) is the problem?

> Wh i t t ri? This may be specic social groups, those doing certain

jobs, specic age groups, or those undertaking specic risk-taking activities, either

knowingly or unknowingly.

> The edic repne. What happens to victims and their amilies? Whatmedical and other support acilities are available?

knw yur udience : the ur in ctegrie ri-ter rund ine nd ERW

Most mine risk education proessionals put risk-takers into the ollowing our broad categories:

> The Unwre (the person does not know about the danger o mines or ERW);

> The Uninred (the person knows that mines or ERW are dangerous but does not know about sae behaviour);

> The Rece (the person knows about mine- and ERW-sae behaviour but chooses to ignore it); and> The Frced (the person has little option but to intentionally adopt unsae behaviour in order to survive).


28/132

> Chnge gent. Who or what are considered to be respected and authoritative

sources o inormation and authority in the community, and could they possibly

be used to assist dissemination o risk education inormation?

> Exiting prgring. Mine action programmes may already be operating, or

there may be ongoing relie or development projects or programmes that could

benet rom mine action in their area.

> Hw inrtin i pred.The assessment should nd out what the

important communication channels are either the traditional community means

by which inormation is shared or the wider media, such as radio, newspapers or

government channels.

> Ri eductin prgre jective. What should the programme seek to

do, how should it seek to do it, by when, and what will be required to achieve its

goals? O course, it may become clear ater a needs assessment that a risk

education approach is not appropriate or necessary, or that other non-

educational interventions are more appropriate.

Rue 2

be ure the need yur trget udience

What inormation does your audience require? Inormation can generally be grouped

into eight categories:

> how to recognize mines and UXO;

> what eects mines and UXO have, physically, psychologically, socially

and economically;

> areas liable to be mined;

> clues indicating possible mines or mined areas;

> signs and markings indicating mine- or UXO-contaminated areas;

> what to do beore travelling in unknown (and thereore possibly dangerous) areas;

> what to do when a mine or suspected mine/UXO is encountered; and

> what to do in case o an accident.

Rue 3

Cnider the t efective en dieinting yur ege

It is important to consider how to disseminate your chosen message. A variety o tools

or approaches exist each with advantages and disadvantages.

> m edi pprche: radio, TV, posters, leaets, etc. These are appropriate in

emergency situations where there is a need to disseminate a basic message to large

numbers o people. They are generally not appropriate, however, or a more nuancedand targeted long-term activities approach.

> micr edi pprche: community-based or school discussions, and presen-

tations, using or example hands on materials as props or verbal presentations

mine models, games, puppets, child to child activities, educational materials or

schools, etc. These are oten eective in longer-term programming when there is

time to undertake participative activities with small groups, and have proved eective

when targeted at reugee populations preparing to return. However using these

approaches may not be appropriate when you need to target large numbers o

people in a short period o time, or instance during mass displacements.

26



29/132

Rue 4

There ut e pitive ege

People need to eel that they can take action and that by taking action they can

improve their own and their amilies lives. Be very careul with risk education

the wrong message can kill.

Messages to be communicated depend on target audiences, the behaviour to be

promoted and the actors likely to encourage target audiences to adopt the desired

behaviour. But, in general, good messages should do the ollowing:

> reinorce positive actors;

> address misunderstandings and areas o decient knowledge;

> address attitudes;

> explain the benets o the behaviour being promoted;

> urge specic action;

> state where to nd the services being promoted;> state where to nd help, i needed; and

> address barriers to action.

Rue 5

The need t enure yur ege i cery undertnde: pre-teting

ege nd teri i eenti

One o the most common mistakes in risk education is to omit to pre-test the ideas and

channels to be used or to test them only in the ofce corridor and not among the

people or whom they are intended. This can result in messages that are meaningless,

or potentially culturally oensive, or in producing materials that many o the target

group cannot access. For example, written brochures are o little value to the illiterate,

and TV spots have little eect i the target audience has no electricity.

Pre-testing must be done among the target audience. I the target audience is young

male armers o a specic ethnic group, pre-testing must be undertaken among these

people not among young male armers o an ethnic group living closer to your ofce.

Pre-testing means trying out ideas, messages and pilot programmes with a representative

sample o the target audiences and colleagues beore they are nalized. Pre-testing can

be done at various levels o sophistication with various costs. It does not have to take long.

Pre-testing aims to ensure that messages or materials are:

> understandable;> socially acceptable;

> relevant;

> attractive; and

> persuasive.

Bearing in mind that the target audiences are the ultimate judges o the messages, the

process or pre-testing is to:

> start by consulting local colleagues in your own organization to check technical

inormation;

> discuss messages and show proposed materials to experts in other MRE or mine

action bodies;> i the message or material has been prepared by a man, get a womans view

and vice versa;

27



30/132

> i changes are necessary, make them and then pre-test the idea/message/material

with your target audience, or example, by using a ocus group discussion;

> carry out group or individual interviews i the primary audience is young men

in rural villages, test the messages with a sample o these young men; i a

secondary audience is mothers and/or school teachers, test these messages

directly with them;

> i necessary, make changes based on the target audiences responses and go

through the process again.

It is also crucial to remember that messages should always be appropriate or the given

context. It undermines the credibility o the message and the messenger i this is not

done. Thereore it is important never to use messages developed in one context in

another, since rarely will these materials ocus on the correct target group, threat

or solution.

Rue 6

Enure tht the ege rein reevnt

In a rapidly changing environment it is crucial to ensure that the message promoted

remains relevant to the needs o the target population. For instance messages designed

or a threat rom mines may no longer be relevant i the main threat is now rom cluster

munitions or mortar bombs. Alternatively it may be that messages geared around mine

recognition may need to evolve to take into account activities or belies o the target

population that lead to risk-taking behaviour. Failing to regularly review messages and

compare these with the real world situation can lead to a loss o programme relevance

and the credibility o the organization, amongst beneciary populations or other

international organizations and NGOs.

Integrting ri eductin int ther ctivitie

The ICRC seeks to take a transversal approach to mine action wherever possible,

combining mine action activities within other programming where possible and

appropriate. Just as data gathering activities do not necessarily need to be stand alone

projects in their own right, neither do risk education activities. It may be more eective,

quicker and operationally easier to combine the dissemination o risk education with

other activities. For example distributing inormation during assistance activities such

as the distribution o emergency relie items, or perhaps with protection activities or

instance at the same time as the registration o IDPs or returnees.

However in chronic long-term programme contexts such as Cambodia and Aghanistan,

risk education has developed through the National Societies as part o a wider and

integrated Movement mine action response. Such an approach ocuses on longer-term

goals, usually linked to national mine action strategy.

28



31/132

Do .. Dont ..

> ays d dm w s sk d w y sk: yss dds w m g d w pp

mssgs d.

> idpdy dd w m d d pp g w m/erW d: wys y yss d dm

m d.> ck w m pp dy u m/erW pm

d w y sd s: us quss ss dmw m pp pssd s.

> Us pss s m m: pp msudsd m g ug ps. ls m u wwkg w ppu ws pp ss pp s mg .

> esu m s s ppd yp m; m s s s, gus d g ds m d md pp dg.

> P m wu g md d s dsg d mssg: d sg sus pp udsd m dgz s s y p u ms p ps.

> Us xsg mmu s: ms pp ug dgu m ms. t mjy pp sms d y m g pssd y wd mu.

> lu pp w ms k k: mjy ss mspp w s m y sp . ts s d erW s mjy pp s erW p usg d.

> iud mssg Fd u w dgus s ud yug dug y dsuss d ps. ts s s

s k w sm us g skg u dgus s ud s .

> Us mssg d u ms. ts d ds pds: mjy m ds usd y pp ug

ms. Pp d kw w dgus s d w gz s dgus.

> Mk su yu d p: g mssgs u wpp m ws sp mssgs d ppd w pp u gs d mds yg udy sks d ss s.

> Jus sp wss s. Pp m mpdd d d m djus pu w sysms p. oysp s w y g dd yu kw sm mmuy nS gg k .

> riSK eDUcation iS aboUt PeoPle, not aboUt MaterialS: the eMPhaSiS neeDS to be on WorKinG With PeoPle rather than ProviDinG theM WithMaterialS Which We thinK Will teach theM aboUt the DanGer.

> KeeP inForMation SiMPle: PeoPle Will not aPPlY SPeciFic aDvice iF theY Do not Yet UnDerStanD hoW thiS relateS to theM.

Ri eductin in vriu cenri

Below is a table outlining the potential or Movement activities, and the likely ocus o

activities. This table acts as a guide to good practice and to help decision-makers

identiy potential programming approaches. However there are many considerations

to take into account regarding ICRC and National Society involvement and each real

lie situation has its own dynamic. Thereore the table below is only a guide to

programming depending on need and circumstance other activities may be

considered.

Scenario PoSSible MoveMent riSK eDUcation involveMent

1. amd

d sus

r sk du w m mu

W j mmzg mp ms d erW ppu, mpg suy s, suppg ss> d s d yg uds ps m sps, sk du sud sdd sgmp m s g w d gg w pss, d s p gg p/ssssm/sss s, d pssy sk du pus sd ppu.

lky us simpmg mss wss mpg d s d mgs iDPs d ugs ky u , uy g , >md .igg m/erW d s FaS d p s d suu supp us.>iudg wg d sy mssgs d d d ms, ud Mre ssss dsu ps.>

is p n Sy m nSs w uy wkg y?i s, s p p psps w n Ss, p psps w nSs wkg>y.

29



32/132

Scenario PoSSible MoveMent riSK eDUcation involveMent (ud)

2. immd psmd

d sus

r sk du w m muW j spdg pdy mmz sus, d ssg mgy p d sss>

s sk du s ky mj us m s, g w d gg ds pp pz s, d udsdg s d u m /erW d sk dus.

lky us sMss wss s g ug ugs s g ug sg md s p>dg.im ps ug mps s ug m. Fus g mssgs d ps sp>m g kw s d dgus us d s.

is p n Sy m nSs w us wkg yi s, s p p psps w n Ss, p psps w nSs wkg>y.

3. exdd ps d sus

r sk du w m muW j suppg m suu d sssg n Sy g s s >

p. t ms d uy m x sgs d w s d d icrc m.

lky us srsk du y sud d u w pss y n Sy d s p dd m> p. W pss, y pdud d wsd ms mdgs sud usd. t icrc sudsu s Mm pu dpm s.

is p n Sy m nSs w uy wkg y?i s, icrc sud sk sg n Ss ps udk s y d sk p psps w> n Sy s pd p gm sk du d m s sdd ssy.

4. nmpms

r sk du w m muW j suppg n Sy pp uu s, d sss m suu dp>s py mg , sk du my sdd. hw, s ky dpg d d ggpy d g n Sy sk du w m y m s my k p.

lky us stg n Sy mpm mgy wss, d udg sk du FaS s d >s g suu supp.

is p n Sy m nSs w uy wkg y?i s, us sud sgg py n Sy spd y p uu .>

5. nudsss mds

r sk du w m muW j dug ppus uy, sug s sy d suppg d s, sk du>py s dd m sps. Dpdg sp u , my ss d gg suy d .

lky us sSm s 2 us sk du s s ky pd dssm m dgus s>d ppp s u. i dd mp w ky ud pdg sy g icrc d Mm s.

is p n Sy m nSs w uy wkg y?

i s, s p p psps w n Ss, d s m p supp m nSs> wkg y.

30



33/132

The ICRC pprch t urvey nd cernce

In certain circumstances, it may be necessary or the ICRC to directly coordinate or to

mobilize survey and clearance:

> immediately post conict to ensure the saety o sta, sae access or relie or

protection activities or to save lives;

> in any scenario, when implementing activities in contaminated areas;

> when only the ICRC has access to a contaminated area where mines/ERW have a

notable impact on the population, are blocking ICRC relie activities or posing a

threat to the saety o sta.

The mine action sector at headquarters is the technical point o reerence or the surveyand clearance o mines and ERW.

Tw wy in which the ICRC cn crdinte r iizeurvey nd cernce

1. Directy thrugh the g cernce moU

A memorandum o understanding (MOU) exists which enables the ICRC to draw on

explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) sta. The MOU is with the Swedish Rescue Services

Agency (SRSA), Swedish civil deence. SRSA EOD sta deployed under the MOU will

always work within a delegation under the direct management o an ICRC mine action

specialist. They work under the identity o the Red Cross as members o the delegation

and under the ultimate authority o the head o delegation. The ICRC in conjunction

with the Swedish Red Cross provides training to those SRSA sta included in the ICRC

roster with a view to ensuring that they are amiliar with the ICRC and the way it works

prior to any deployment.

Although the MOU is designed primarily to address emergency response situations, it

can also be mobilized when the ICRC has sole access to an area, and survey and/or

clearance is considered necessary by the delegation either to protect the population

or to acilitate the sae implementation o ICRC eld activities.

The composition o teams can be adapted to address the required tasks, depending onthe situation. This could range rom one SRSA sta member simply undertaking a visual

survey o contamination and impact under the supervision o an ICRC team leader, to

the deployment o a ull team o our EOD operators, capable o surveying, marking,

moving, neutralizing or destroying contamination in specically designated areas

(around a health clinic, a National Society ofce, a warehouse, a vital water installation

etc.) according to the instructions o the delegation.

The rapid response aspect o the MOU is available at 72 hours notice and can be

requested through the transmission o a ormal request to the respective ICRC

operational region. Delegation analysis o the need or support and specic

requirements should be supported by the mine action sector and/or the relevantregional mine action adviser.

31


1.3survey nd cernce


34/132

2. Requet t ntin ine ctin uthrity, ine ctin crdintin

centre r cernce rgniztin wring cy

Delegations may request clearance organizations to carry out survey/clearance activities

i necessary. The clearance organization selected must be accredited under the national

mine action authority.

The exact nature o the tasks required and the clearance capacity required must be

agreed with the clearance organization depending on the task, terrain, type o

contamination and end use o the cleared area.

When requesting clearance support, the ollowing should be remembered:

> wherever possible, support should be requested through the national or UN mine

action coordination body or small and occasional tasks, clearance organizations

may be approached directly;

> beore making a request, an ICRC assessment o the scope o the work requiredshould be made with the technical support o an ICRC mine action adviser;

> only organizations accredited under national, international mine action standards

or both should be approached or support;

> It is essential that the exact scope o the area cleared be conrmed with the ICRC,

marking or any partially completed task be explained and understood, and any

communities in the vicinity inormed o the area cleared and any area still

considered dangerous.

> The task should be quality assured and handed over according to the applicable

national mine action standards.

apprche t cernce

btte re cernce

Battle area clearance involves checking areas that are known not to be mined, or

explosive remnants both at ground level (surace) and below ground level (sub-surace).

Sub-surace clearance tends to take place i there is a requirement or the land to be

excavated or dug, in other words, cultivated or prepared or oundations or irrigation

ditches. Surace clearance consisting mainly o a visual search supported by metal

detectors takes a lot less time than sub-surace. Dogs may also be used to support this

task. Surace clearance is particularly important when dealing with cluster munitions,

as it tends to be the visible munitions that pose the main threat to civilians. Sub-surace

cluster munitions pose a longer-term threat. Farmers in South East Asia, or example,continue to be killed and injured whilst tending their elds where cluster munitions

were dropped over 30 years ago.

spt t

Spot tasks are small targeted actions to achieve a specic aim. A spot task may be to

clear an entry lane to access water inrastructure or repair, the removal o ammunition

rom a potential warehouse or ood distribution area, the destruction o a limited

number o unexploded munitions (or instance in a village which people are returning

to) or just a survey to check and mark a specied area is sae.

32



35/132

mineed/ined re cernce

The clearance o mineelds or mined areas involves checking every square centimetre

o ground in a given area dened as the suspected dangerous area down to a specied

depth. The depth depends on the types o mine used, the mine-laying tactics, soil type

and probable uture land use. The area suspected will already have been reduced in

size rom the initial report through a process o investigation and technical survey to

locate the edge o the mined area.

I the suspected area is not too heavily contaminated with metal ragments (domestic

or rom ghting), or i the laterite content o the soil does not mask the metal content

o the mines used, then a metal detector will be used. I the ground is too

contaminated then detectors will not be used. A metal prodding implement will be

inserted into the earth every 2.5 centimetres across a one-metre ront to the agreed

depth and any objects encountered uncovered and visually identied. In certain

circumstances, a whole layer o soil will be removed to the agreed depth, a processknown as sapping. This process continues until the suspected area is covered and/or

no more mines are ound.

Cering rd nd rute

There is no magic way to completely ensure that a route is ree o mines. This is partly

because o the length o most routes, and the laterite content o soil or bitumen.

Sampling and risk assessment approaches are commonly used. On dirt roads, the route

will have changed every wet season making the area to be checked more difcult to

identiy. It also means that a cleared route may change course, taking trafc into an

unchecked but contaminated area. Opening routes up to trafc can draw people into

mined areas previously inaccessible. Decisions thereore have to be made on how ar

to clear each side o the route.

Dg, chine nd high techngy

Neither dogs nor machines provide an answer to clearing contaminated areas. Each can

be a useul tool in addition to manual mine clearance and i available are normally

deployed as part o a toolbox approach. There are many rumours, particularly in the

press, o new high technology solutions that will revolutionize clearance. So ar (2007),

there is nothing to replace a man with a metal detector and a prodder, a dog and a

simple machine to cut vegetation or process soil. This was exactly the situation at the

end o the Second World War and apart rom incremental improvements in equipment,

remains unchanged today.

33


1. Pearson armoured tractor with blast-

resistant wheels and segmented roller.

This roller is well suited to area

reduction and quality assurance

work.

2. An explosive-sensing dog being used

or battle area clearance.

1 2


36/132

34


Reprting upected dngeru re

When conducting assessments, delegates may come across areas that appear to be, or

are reported as, contaminated by mines or ERW. I this happens, it is important that an

accurate report be made. This report can then be used either to directly task the

clearance element o an ICRC rapid response team or to mobilize clearance support

rom an NGO, the UN or other accredited clearance operators. At no time should

delegates put themselves at risk whilst completing a report.

On the opposite page is an example o a suspected dangerous area report orm which

was used in Iraq in 2003. This should be modied to suit the context in which it is used.

One o the roles o a mine action delegate is to ensure that these report orms are

developed and used.


37/132

35


supected dngeru re reprt r

WARNING: DO NOT APPROACH EXPLOSIVE REMNANTS OR SUSPECTED SITE(S).

DO NOT PUT YOURSELF AT RISK TO GATHER THIS INFORMATION!

Governorate

DiStrict

villaGe & PcoDe

DeScriPtion oF areans udg .

GriD reFerence 8 gu gd

aGencY & contact nUMber naMe oF rePorter

Date oF rePort

eStiMateD nUMber oF SUSPecteD erW SiteS in villaGe

n 1 S 2 Ss 35 Ss >5 Ss Ukw

tYPe oF erW rePorteD anD QUantitY

aP m at/av m Mss

rk Gd M

rPG cus m mus Sm ms mmu

o UXo amud Fggv Wps

conDition oF the aMMUnition

bxd ls Fd

Dgdd o m:

tYPe oF SUSPecteD SiteS tk ss

rsd udg Gd hsp S

o udg:

aguu rd rd gs PMy ps bdg rwy ey pys

W suo:

inciDentS

h ds? YeS no

i ds:

hw my? W?

vms:

cd c du My du am Ukw

*Explosive Ordnance Disposal

icrc im

icrc : _________ ___

G eoD* ________


38/132

36


clearance PrioritY

hg Mdum lw

exp gy d y s pu mp:

SoUrce oF inForMation

naMe contact DetailS

ry m: Gd Mdum Qus P

aDDitional inForMationr y sp ss gs py ug s qud. Ps dd sk w d d s ppp.


39/132

2CooPERaTIoN aND CaPaCITYbUIlDING

2.1 mveent cpertin 39

2.2 strengthening the cpcity Ntin scietiet cnduct ine ctin 40

2.3 Cnidertin r prviding tructur upprtt gvernent r ntin uthritie 43


40/132


41/132

2.1mveent cpertin

National Societies acting internationally or working in their own countries have an

important role to play in all mine action scenarios. The extent to which they are able to

do so will depend on their capacity, level o interest, level o access and the particular

situation. In its lead role or mine action within the Movement, the ICRC is responsible

or ensuring that Movement partners are involved when appropriate in mine action. In

this regard, the ollowing points apply.

> The preerred partner or mine action activities is the National Society working in

its own country, owing to its local knowledge and network, and the shared

commitment to the same principles. In such partnerships the institutional

capacity o the host National Society is to be taken into consideration.

> In capacity-building agreements, and unless the National Society is well unded

and supported, incident data gathering and community liaison are oten the only

appropriate long-term, sustainable activities.

> Where easible, the National Society should be involved in the planning and

development o mine action operations. In situations requiring a rapid, intensive

response, the National Society is more likely to take on the role o operational

partner. In extended post-conict scenarios and normal peacetime activities,

and depending on their actual or potential capacity, they should be supported so

that they may take on a lead operational role, with capacity-building support

rom the ICRC.

> For capacity-building operations, the ICRCs objectives ocus on the ve key

elements o the Cooperation Policy (i.e. ownership, structure and organization,

competencies, relationships, tools and working resources).

> The mine action roles and responsibilities o the National Society, the ICRC and

other partners should be dened and ormalized in an agreement.

> In its dialogue with external partners, the ICRC should promote the integration o

the National Society into national mine action plans, and ensure recognition o

the National Society by key stakeholders, including donors.

In some cases, where the ICRC decides not to implement mine action operations, the

National Society may be approached by the UN or international NGOs. It is important

that in these cases the ICRC have the ability to oer technical support and guidance,

not only at delegation level, but in discussions at policy level. In coordination with the

National Society, the ICRC will promote the application o international mine action

standards and tools. In cases where the National Society implements activities

independently, the ICRC will maintain a regular exchange o inormation and views.

National Societies working independently will be included by the ICRC in any Movement

training or other capacity-building activities.

39

2 COOPERATION AND CAPACITY BUILDING


42/132

Deired ipct the ine ctin prgre the Ntin sciety

As long as there is mine/ERW contamination in a country, the National Society (NS) may

have an important role to play in reducing impact. Its ability to act will depend on the

reach and coherence o its network in contaminated areas, its management capacity

and the status and attitude o donors, and any national mine action authorities. The

most appropriate and sustainable role or the National Society will oten be providing

national mine/ERW incident surveillance and community liaison capacity as an integralelement o the national mine action plan.

ojective r uiding Ntin sciety cpcity in ine ctin

> Prepare a National Society to implement emergency mine action activities in the

event o a conict or natural disaster.

> Ensure that a National Society can implement sustainable mine/ERW action activities

which are a coordinated element o national mine action eorts.

> Support the setting up or strengthening o Movement mine action capability i.e. o

National Societies working internationally (PNS).

The ve eeent cpcity-uiding r the ine ctinprgre the Ntin sciety

1. ownerhip

> I the ICRC initiates the programme, the National Society is included at the earliest

possible stage, taking into consideration all levels and starting at the top

(headquarters).

> I the National Society initiates the programme, the ICRC commits itsel to workingthrough National Society headquarters to support its branches.

> The needs assessment, programme capacity assessment, proposal, budget and plan

o action are ormulated by the National Society with technical support rom the ICRC.

> The National Society person or unit responsible or mine action is explicitly

included in the organigram o the National Society.

> National Society leadership at all levels has knowledge o, and commitment to,

planned mine action activities.

> The leadership o the National Society recognizes and responds to the

requirements or the implementation o the Ottawa Convention and o the CCW

and its additional Protocols.

> Responsibilities are clearly dened in an MOU between the ICRC, the NationalSociety and where appropriate the national authorities and donors (including PNS).

2.2strengthening the

cpcity Ntinscietie t cnduct

ine ctin

40



43/132

2. structure nd rgniztin

> Mine action is integrated into other National Society activities where carried out

in areas impacted by mines and ERW.

> At branch and headquarters level, there are ocal points responsible or the

management o mine action (including volunteer management).

> Wherever possible, people directly impacted by mines and ERW are selected as

volunteers.

> All those involved in mine action activities have job descriptions which are

realistic and agreed upon.

> Volunteers are involved in implementation; they are compensated or their work,

and managed by coordinators at headquarters and branch level according to the

National Societys volunteer management system.

> The National Societys mine action activities operate under the same conditions

as other National Society activities; e.g. salary scales,per diem policy etc.

3. Cpetencie

> The coordinator/ocal person, headquarters/branch leadership understand the

basic provisions o the policies guiding Movement involvement in mine action.

> The coordinator/ocal persons at headquarters and branch levels have the skills to

assess needs, write proposals, develop working tools, implement, monitor and

report.

> The National Coordinator and persons responsible or mine action at branch level

have public relation skills to address the media and other actors involved in mine

action.

> Volunteers at branch level have the skills and motivation necessary to conduct

mine action activities.

> Where a national mine action authority exists and has an accreditation system,

the National Society is successully accredited to work in mine action.

4. Retinhip

> National authorities accept and support the role o the National Society as a

signicant actor within the national mine action plan.

> Relevant ministries/government institutions give legitimacy and recognition to

the mine action role o the National Society, notably through its involvement in

the national body or bodies dealing with mine action.

> The local authorities support the National Society to implement activities in

aected areas.

> The National Society shares inormation and cooperates with other mine actionactors on a regular basis, via systematic coordination meetings.

> Where appropriate, the National Society lobbies government authorities/

parliamentarians concerning the need to sign, ratiy, and implement the Ottawa

Convention and the CCW and its Protocols.

> National Society activities are recognized and respected by the people living in the

aected areas (image and credibility o National Society) and by all armed groups.

> The National Society establishes and maintains contacts with existing and

potential donors or mine action.

41



44/132

5. T nd wring reurce

> The programme is properly budgeted and nancially managed.

> Sustainable sources o unding are identied within the country or externally;

i there are no other alternative sources, the ICRC helps mobilize unds.

> A reporting system is established, including monitoring and evaluation,

guidelines, standards, and statistics.

> A cooperation agreement is concluded regulating the extent o support and the

nancial procedures.

42



45/132

2.3Cnidertin rprviding tructurupprt t gvernentr ntin uthritie

43

In some capacity-building situations it will be necessary or the ICRC to provide

structural support to government or national authorities in order to help them better

address the issue o weapon contamination within their own countries. In some

contexts, it is necessary to work with government in parallel to the development o

National Society capacity to ensure the latters capacity is properly utilized. For instance

there is no point in establishing an incident surveillance network i there is no

government capacity to use the data or respond to identied needs.

The decision whether to support government or national authorities can be divided

into our levels o consideration.> Is the ICRC willing to engage with the government in the broadest sense?

> I so, is it possible to strengthen existing government mine action structures or

would new structures have to be developed?

> Realistically, would this approach have the desired result?

> Is the ICRC technically able to provide the correct support?

I engging with the gvernent pie r deire?

> What is the quality o governance and degree o transparency?

> Does the ICRC have condence in the government as a potentially close

interlocutor in mine action (considerations concerning IHL etc)?

> How much attention does the government give to mine action and its eective

management? Is this broad based or reliant on a ew key individuals?

> Does the government wish to be a close interlocutor o the ICRC with regard to

mine action?

> What mode o action is required?

> Which mine action scenario is applicable?

> Which level o government should the ICRC be engaged with (ederal, sub-regional)?

> What are the risks o working closely with a government service provider?

I , hud the ICRC engge with the Ntin mine actin structure?

> What is the nature o the Mine Action Authority: is it predominantly civilian run or

is it a military structure?

> Are there any national mine action standards?> Is there a mine action strategic plan?

> Does the government have condence in the National Society/ICRC?

> Has the ICRC been specically asked to assist with a particular unction?

> Is there anyone else who can do it eectively (National Society, Participating

National Society or a third party?)

> What is the perception o external actors o ICRC/National Society involvement

UN, other agencies, political parties in country?



46/132

44


Wud the chen pprch hve the deired reut?

> Realistically, is the government structure likely to perorm as required?

> I not, is it worth engaging?

> I the ICRC does not engage, what implications does this have or the National

Societys programme?

Wht re the ICRC cpcitie?

> Does the ICRC have the capacity to assist?

> What is the current ocus o activities in the country, will these be aected (both

mine action and non-mine action)?

> What is the opportunity cost o engagement: what cannot be done i time and

energy are devoted to supporting government structures (both with regard to

mine action and non-mine action activities)?

> How much time will this require (ull time/part time)?

> What is the ocus o the mine action activity?> Who will undertake activities?

> What nancial commitment will this require?

> What managerial back-up and support will be required?


47/132

3lEGal DoCUmENTsaND GUIDaNCE

3.1 The ottw Cnventin 47

3.2 The Cnventin n Certin Cnventin Wepn,aended Prtc II nd Prtc V 59

3.3 Pie repreenttin reted t the uer preence ine, y-trp, expive rennt wr (ERW) r cuter unitin 87


48/132


49/132

Cnventin n the Prhiitin the Ue, stcpiing,Prductin nd Trner anti-Pernne minend n their Detructin

o, 18 septeer 1997

Pree

The States Parties,

Determined to put an end to the suering and casualties caused by anti-personnelmines, that kill or maim hundreds o people every week, mostly innocent and

deenceless civilians and especially children, obstruct economic development and

reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation o reugees and internally displaced persons, and

have other severe consequences or years ater emplacement,

Believing it necessary to do their utmost to contribute in an efcient and coordinated

manner to ace the challenge o removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the

world, and to assure their destruction,

Wishing to do their utmost in providing assistance or the care and rehabilitat

Documents

Book III: Reference material