[child-rights] UNICEF praises Afghanistan for accepting treaty on land mines

Press Release

Commitment to Ottawa Treaty is A Big Step Forward For Heavily-Mined
Country

NEW YORK, 29 July 2002 - UNICEF hailed the Government of Afghanistan
for deciding today to accede to the Ottawa Convention banning land
mines.

"Afghanistan is one of the most heavily-mined countries in the world,
so to commit to this important treaty is a huge step forward," said
UNICEF Executive Director Carol Bellamy. "For the Afghan national
authorities to have taken this step so quickly sends a powerful
message that the battle against land mines must not be delayed and
requires commitment at the highest level."

Bellamy noted that the human cost of mines and unexploded ordnance is
especially high for children, whose natural curiosity and need for
play space draws them to areas where mines and UXOs pose a threat.
She noted that:

   * Afghanistan contains about 10 per cent of the 60-70 million
     landmines laid world-wide;
   * Close to 5 per cent of households across Afghanistan have at
     least one person who has been affected by a landmine or UXO
     injury;
   * Children are the most vulnerable victims, affected while playing,
     tending animals, or collecting firewood. Children represent half
     of all injuries and deaths from landmines in Afghanistan;
   * Growing numbers of returning populations are also at risk as they
     resettle across the country.

UNICEF said it has been working with the Afghan administration to
integrate landmine awareness education into the new school
curriculum. UNICEF is currently supporting a quick-impact mine
awareness campaign targeting 3,800 schools nationwide. The campaign
offers both direct mine awareness sessions and training for teachers
to give them the skills needed to conduct mine awareness education
themselves.

(UNICEF has been a leader in supporting the reopening of schools,
training teachers, and providing learning materials for children and
teaching materials for classrooms.)

The Mine Ban Treaty aims to not only prevent mine production and use,
but to address existing mine problems and to assist mine-affected
countries and victims of mines.

"We see Afghanistan's acceptance as a huge step forward for a country
that has suffered so long from conflict," Bellamy said. "Today's
decision is a clear commitment to turning the page on that chapter of
history, and to 'building a peaceful future' - the theme of the mine
ban workshop currently underway in Kabul."

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