(Provisional)
Tokyo Conference on Anti-Personnel Landmines
Chairman's Summary
Tokyo, Japan
March 7, 1997
Responding to the initiative of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto at the1996 Lyon Summit, the "Tokyo Conference on Anti-Personnel Landmines" was held on Thursday, March 6 and Friday, March 7, 1997. This Conference was attended by 27 countries, the European Union and 10 international organizations. Participants undertook a comprehensive discussion to strengthen international efforts on the problems of anti-personnel landmines.
General Remarks
Recognizing the problem of anti-personnel landmines as a humanitarian concern, a threat to peace and stability, and an obstacle to reconstruction and development, the conference emphasized the strong need to further address the problems of anti-personnel landmines through international cooperation. In addition, the participants noted the need to make efforts to work toward the total ban on anti-personnel landmines.
Establishing a Goal
The participants expressed their will to work toward substantially reducing the number of mine victims, with the ultimate goal of zero victims. In the meantime, the international community should seek to bring adequate medical care to a much greater proportion of injury victims.
Guidelines for Landmine Clearance by the UN and Other Organizations
The participants of this Conference acknowledged the following basic principles of the United Nations for mine action programs: (1) to get involved early, (2) to make mine action a feature of the peace process , (3) to take an integrated approach to mine action from the start, (4) to emphasize the principle of comparative advantage when several partners cooperate towards the same humanitarian goal, (5) to move toward the ownership of the mine action program by the concerned State, as proposed by the U. N. Department of Humanitarian Affairs.
Noting the importance of partnership among the international community, the participants emphasized the need for better coordination among the UN agencies, other international organizations, mine-infested countries, donor countries, and NGOs in the process of implementing mine programs. It was pointed out that mine-infested countries should play a key role based on the idea of ownership.
Reiterating the role of the UNDHA as a focal point in assisting mine clearance activities, the participants shared the view that the ways and means of strengthening the UNDHA should be further discussed.
The participants endorsed the broad priorities set out by the ICRC and the UNDHA, while noting that specific priorities would need to be set for each country's program. Taking into consideration the impact of the anti-personnel landmine problem on the process of reconstruction and development, development agencies, including the UNDP and the World Bank, were invited to discuss the priority of mine programs.
Guidelines for Development of New Technology for Mine Detection and Removal
The participants concurred to strengthen international efforts to develop usable and cost-effective technologies for humanitarian reasons and for promoting reconstruction and development in mine-infested countries.
The participants took note of the following five guidelines for technology development to clear mines, as proposed by both the UNDHA and UNDPKO: (1) to define specifications, (2) to develop field sensor technology, (3) to develop protective clothing, (4) to promote the transfer of technologies, and (5) to integrate the tool-box approach.
Addressing the difficulties of developing new demining technologies, the participants recognized the imperative for a "two-track" approach. In a short- term track, it is crucial to determine the most appropriate, effective method of combining existing technologies (a tool-box approach, plus the utilization of dogs), suited to the given conditions. In a mid-term track, developing new technologies is still required to expedite mine clearance activities and increase their effectiveness.
The participants confirmed that at an early stage in developing new sensor and demining technologies, feasibility testing should be conducted in the actual minefields, due to the varying conditions and circumstances of given sites.
The participants recognized the necessity to share information on technologies for mine detection and removal. For this purpose, the participants indicated the desirability of registering with the UNDHA as much information as possible on the results of testing and the development of technologies.
The participants recognized the importance of information transfer and the exchange of experience among mine-infested nations. Cambodia and South Africa showed their willingness to cooperate in this field.
Guidelines for Assistance to Victims
The participants noted that the international community's primary objective in assisting the victims of anti-personnel landmines is to develop national capacities to manage and execute comprehensive programs. The programs consist of first aid, surgery, manufacturing of artificial limbs, rehabilitation, vocational and reintegration training for victims.
The International Committee of the Red Cross proposed the establishment of a mines information system to collect and analyze information at the local level for the purpose of assisting victims and preventing further human suffering by anti-personnel landmines.
Noting the importance of promoting information exchanges on anti-personnel landmines, the participants endorsed the ICRC's proposal of a mine information system. They requested that the ICRC elaborate the proposal for presentation to the international community.
The participants noted the desirability of fostering and sustaining a high public awareness level of the urgent need to address the problems of anti- personnel landmines.
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