VAEM

The Committee on Victim Assistance is mandated to provide “advice to the States Parties in the fulfilment of their commitments under the Oslo Action Plan” and to “facilitate discussion on ways and means of enhancing victim assistance (VA) and to ensure the wellbeing of mine victims.”

Following its mandate, the Committee hosted a Victim Assistance Experts Meeting (VAEM) on the margins of the Twentieth Meeting of the States Parties on 23 and 24 November 2022 at the UN Office in Geneva. 

The VA Experts Meeting provided an opportunity to some 60 Experts to exchange best practices and lessons learned on provision of assistance to mine victims.

In line with its 2022 theme, the Committee dedicated the VA Experts Meeting to matters related to rehabilitation, an important pillar of victim assistance in the framework of the Convention, and a significant commitment under Action 38 of the Oslo Action Plan (OAP).

The VA Experts Meeting enhanced understandings on various aspects of rehabilitation, as well as challenges and shortcomings experienced in delivering quality rehabilitation services in an efficient, affordable, and sustainable manner, including in situations of risks and humanitarian emergencies.

There were nearly 60 participants representing,

  • States Parties: Algeria, Angola, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Italy, Iraq, Jordan, Mozambique, Senegal, Serbia, Slovenia, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Yemen, Zimbabwe
  • States not party: Armenia
  • International organisations: International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), World Health Organization (WHO), UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS);
  • Non-governmental organisations: Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Humanity & Inclusion (HI), Enablement Netherlands/Disability, CBR & Inclusive Development (DCID) Journal, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and representatives of its member organisations including the Afghan Landmine Survivors Organization (ALSO), Organization of Amputees Republika Srpske (UDAS), Cambodian Campaign to Ban Landmines/JRS-Cambodia, Latin American Network of Mine/ERW Survivors and Persons with Disabilities (RED-LAT), Assistance Advocacy Access Serbia (AAAS) and Uganda  Landmine Survivors Association (ULSA).  

23 November 2022

Opening

  • Chair of the Committee on Victim Assistance 
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina Paralympian providing a message in representation of mine survivors
  • Landmine Monitor, International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) 

Updates by the VA Experts on progress and challenges in rehabilitation,

  • Algeria
  • Ethiopia
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Senegal
  • Sri Lanka
  • Latin American Network of Mine/ERW Survivors and Persons with Disabilities (RED-LAT)

Community Based Rehabilitation (CBR); Does CBR still work? What are its advantages?

  • CBR and Inclusive Development Journal / Enablement Netherlands
  • The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Uganda
  • Humanity & Inclusion

Integrating victim assistance, especially rehabilitation, into humanitarian response; while victim assistance is a long-term need, its timely and continued availability in situations of crisis, conflicts and other forms of emergencies is critical. What are the challenges and how they can be addressed?  

  • Iraq
  • South Sudan
  • Yemen
  • Amputee Self Help Network Uganda
  • Humanity & Inclusion
  • ICRC
  • UNMAS
  • WHO

24 November

National capacity and ownership in rehabilitation; What are the prerequisites for a State to avoid such risks and to ensure the uninterrupted rehabilitation services upon departure of external assistance? What is the best exit-strategy for a donor/organization in such situations?

  • Cambodia
  • Sudan
  • Tajikistan
  • Türkiye
  • ICRC
  • ITF
  • JRS Cambodia
  • WHO         

Sharing national responsibilities; After a year of its adoption, what difference has the International Mine Action Standard (IMAS 13.10) made? To build on progress made, how can it be further utilised? And how do mine clearance operators apply it?

  • Humanity & Inclusion
  • Danish Refugee Council

Closing remarks

  • Implementation Support Unit (ISU) 
  • European Union
  • Uganda, as incoming Chair of the VA Committee, priorities and activities in 2023
  • Algeria, outgoing Chair of the Committee on Victim Assistance