Programme

Field visit (by invitation): Exceed Worldwide has worked with partners in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka since 1989, establishing specialist Prosthetic & Orthotic (P&O) Schools. These institutions train local professionals to international standards and operate clinics which provide person with disabilities with high quality P&O treatment and devices. In Cambodia, Exceed Worldwide provides community-based support services which enable children and adults with disabilities to access opportunities for education, vocational training, employment, or new business creation.
The work is supported by The Nippon Foundation, other organisations, and individual donors. CMAA Vice President H.E. Prum Sophakmonkol will lead the visit. www.exceed-worldwide.org/cambodia

The number of mine victims has declined significantly since the entry into force – nearly 25 years ago – of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production, Stockpiling, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, often referred to as the Ottawa or Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. Adopting this landmark instrument was stirred by the sheer tenacity of civil society and like-minded governments willing to address the devasting humanitarian consequences caused by anti-personnel mines.

After a dramatic decline in new casualties, the increased use of anti-personnel mines (mostly of improvised nature) and other explosive ordnance (EO) in recent years, has led to a sharp rise in global casualty rates around the world. States, whether Parties to the Convention or not, have understood the need to step up efforts to fulfil the rights and needs of those who have fallen victim to these weapons.

In this opening session, representative figures of the global movement to ban anti-personnel mines will join advocates of a rights-based approach to victim assistance. To Inspire and Empower, Youth Representatives from mine affected communities will lead the opening session that will include the:

• Ambassador of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, Tun Channareth, Cambodia

• International Committee of the Red Cross Vice President, Gilles Carbonnier (video message)

• Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Country Representative, Roueida El Hage

• Special Envoy, His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein, Lord Chamberlain of the Royal Court and President of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Jordan

• President of the AP Mine Ban Convention and Ambassador of Germany to the Conference on Disarmament, H.E. Thomas Göbel

• European Union Ambassador-Designate to Cambodia and EU Special Envoy for Myanmar H.E. Igor Driesmans • President Designate of the Siem Reap Review Conference, Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, H.E. Dr Ly Thuch

The Convention’s preamble records the wish of the States Parties “to do their utmost in providing assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the social and economic reintegration of mine victims.” This has been translated into the legal obligation and human rights-based approach known as victim assistance (VA). This concept first appeared in 1997 in the text of Convention and has since served as the basis for how other international disarmament instruments address this obligation.

It has been amply accepted that to be effective and sustainable, victim assistance should be integrated into broader national policies, plans, and legal frameworks related to the rights of persons with disabilities under the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD); and to health, education, employment, development, and poverty reduction in support of the realisation of the Sustainable Development Goals.

In this session, the Chair of the Committee on Victim Assistance Brig. Gen. Emmanuel Kazahura of Uganda, and the Director of the Convention’s Implementation Support Unit (ISU) Juan Carlos Ruan, will take us through the rich history and different stages of a movement marked by the understanding that victims must remain at the forefront of efforts. It will also be an opportunity to introduce the programme featuring experts, policymakers, survivors, activists, and innovators working to support these goals

The Convention has taken a multi-sectoral, holistic, and inclusive approach to address victim assistance. But how can VA practitioners build “Bridges between Worlds” and “Foster Partnerships” to avoid working in isolation? Are there trends and approaches we should be aware of, which can further empower mine and other EO survivors and other persons with disabilities?

Anne Héry, Director for Advocacy and Institutional Relations of Humanity and Inclusion, an organisation at the forefront of the mine ban movement, will lead the session which includes participation of representatives of mine- and EOaffected States, and international organisations working to break silos, including:

• Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority Director of the VA Department, H.E. Mao Bunnhath

• Ethiopian Commissioner for Disability Rights and the Rights of Older Persons, Rigbe Gebrehawaria Hagos

• ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Programme Manager in Cambodia, Marc Zlot

• Officer at the Secretariat of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Catherinne Pedreros

• World Health Organization’s Team Lead, Access to Assistive Technology, Kylie Shae

• World Bank Group Global Disability Advisor, Charlotte V. McClain-Nhlapo (via video) To help us Reflect and Inspire this session will be kicked off by Émilie Pin Vath and her powerful story.

The so-called integrated approach has been practiced in victim assistance to ensure that national policies and programmes are developed and implemented in an inclusive manner.

Two well-known figures in the disability rights and victim assistance worlds will provide us with an opportunity to further Reflect and Learn, by providing a critical look at the use of this tool. The Director of the Jesuit Refugee Service Cambodia Sister Denise Coghlan, who campaigned for the adoption of the Convention and the Co-Founder of the El Salvador Survivors Network Jesus Martinez, will discuss the pros and cons of such approach in the context of affected communities.

Elke Hottentot, Policy Lead for Armed Violence Reduction of the Fédération Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion will guide the session.

Assistive technology (AT)1 refers to tools, equipment, or products that can help persons with disabilities successfully complete activities, making this subset of rehabilitation one of the most sought by survivors. However, most affected States experience difficulties in providing AT, especially in rural and remote areas, either relying on external assistance or struggling to maintain the provision of services amid conflicting priorities and resource scarcity.

Expert presenters, including those who understand firsthand the challenges faced and organisations lending support in affected communities, will share best practices and recommendations to effectively deliver AT to communities in need.

To guide us in this space meant to Reflect and Learn is the WHO’s Team Lead for Access to Assistive Technology Kylie Shae. In this task, she will be joined by,

• Guinea-Bissau Physical Rehabilitation Centre Manager, John Kennedy

• Norwegian Labour and Welfare Service, Physiotherapist and Senior Advisor, Berit Stølen

• ICRC Physical Rehabilitation Programme Manager in Cambodia, Marc Zlot

• LifeLine Consultancy and Rehabilitation Director Kamel Saadi (Jordan)

• AT Scale, Policy, Ecosystem and Country Support Specialist, Rebecca Matter (via video)

• USAID Rehabilitation Technical Support Contract, Senior Technical Advisor, Kirsten (Kiki) Lentz

Successful victim assistance relies on accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive data on victims and their needs. Data gathering is usually carried out by National Mine Action Centres which primarily collect statistics on casualties. However, shortages in national capacity and/ or constraints in resources often impedes comprehensive data collection of all victims, preventing timely and regular dissemination of much needed information to relevant stakeholders.

Action 35 of the Oslo Action Plan (OAP) – which guides implementation efforts related to victim assistance under the Convention – requires States Parties to establish or strengthen central databases to include information on casualties and victims’ needs, and challenges to ensure a comprehensive response. Yet, assessing progress in this regard is unclear due to low reporting rates.

The session designed to make us Reflect and Inspire us to action, will be moderated by the Director of the VA Department at the Jordanian National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation, Adnan Telfah. In the task, he will be joined by the following panellists,

• Cambodia National Institute of Statistics, H.E. Sok Kosal

• Iraqi Directorate for Mine Action, VA Department Director, Alaa Fadhil Fahad (via video)

• Angola National Mine Action Authority, VA Expert, Nsimba Samuel Paxe

• Palestinian General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, Legal Advisor Nael Mousa

• Sri Lanka Mine Action Centre, Additional Secretary, Velauthapillai Premachanthiran

• Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor’s Research Team Leader, Loren Persi

After a nice cup of tea, the previous session’s moderators, Kylie Shae and Adnan Telfah, will meet on the stage of Ballroom 1 to share with all participants some key highlights of their respective sessions and provide some insight into how these two issues interact in practice.

To widen the conversation and include the rich experience of the audience, Victim Assistance Expert and ISU Officer Firoz Alizada will help explore areas of overlap and linkages between these topics.

Delegates will be invited to provide final thoughts and feedback to organisers with a view to not only evaluate the day but also to provide food for thought prior to continuing. Because ending the day in a good note is as important as a good start, a keynote speaker will remind participants of the relevance of the work.

et the light shine in thanks to the words of a motivational and empowering speaker. Kick-start a (second) day of learning and networking opportunities.

Effective programming for Mental Health and Psychological Support (MHPSS) is critical to reduce suffering and improve people’s mental health and psychosocial well-being. It improves people’s abilities to survive, recover, and rebuild their lives. It is easy to see why MHPSS is a pillar of victim assistance and why it has been included as a key Action (38) of the Oslo Action Plan. Action 38 calls on States Parties to ensure access to psychological and psychosocial support services including through peer-to-peer support programmes. Still, the importance of psychological/psychosocial support remain unacknowledged and/or underreported.

Victim assistance and MHPSS experts will converge in this session moderated by the VA Expert of the Colombian Mine Action Authority Jaidy Caro, seeking to steer Reflection, Learning, Empowerment, and Inspiration. Experts including from mine-affected regions and from those countries for whom MHPSS is a priority, will present and highlight survivor’s perspectives, the use of various approaches and means – including peer-to-peer support, self-help groups, sports, and leisure activities – as well as best practices in MHPSS in emergency and humanitarian settings. Joining Colombia are,

• Tadjikistan National Mine Action Centre VA Expert, Reykhan Muminova

• Iraqi Ministry of Health’s Rehabilitation Department Director, Naser kamel Ibrahim

• Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs MHPSS Expert, Renet van der Waals

• IFRC Co-Chair of the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Reference Group on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergency Settings, of the IFRC, Carmen Valle-Trabadelo

• Alex Munyambabazi

• UDAS Organization of Amputees Republike Srpske, Zoran Jesić (Bosnia and Herzegovina)

An Action Plan is a key instrument for States’ national policy makers and the practitioners and organisations supporting the efforts. At the Oslo Review Conference in 2019, the Convention adopted the ambitious five-year Oslo Action Plan to guide implementation (including) on victim assistance. The Plan has been innovative. Yet, it is important to ask ourselves what has worked and what could be improved if a new Plan were to be put forth for adoption at the Fifth Review Conference in 2024.

Adopting a Plan that is effective and can withstand the test of time is an important part of the work being led by the current and incoming Convention Presidencies. The Conference’s Co-Chairs, current Convention President H.E. Thomas Göbel of Germany and President-Designate H.E. Ly Thuch of Cambodia will provide details on the regional aspect of the consultations and expectations for the groups. The following questions will be key,

1. What aspects of Actions 33 to 41 of the Oslo Action Plan worked well and provided effective guidance?

2. What type of challenges were encountered when implementing Actions 33 to 41?

3. Considering the above, what should be re-considered for a next Action Plan?

Best practice in delivering physical rehabilitation in Cambodia

Cambodia’s best practices and lessons learnt on physical rehabilitation services. Hear about Cambodia’s inclusive skill training for survivors and families to enhance livelihood and well-being.

Implementing National Systems for Assistive Technology

What are WHO’s tools and resources to support countries to strengthen AT systems? Discover Norway’s national, uniform system for AT provision, built on the principle of individual rights.

Findings of the World's largest epidemiological Study of EO casualties

The study examined the direct health impacts of explosive ordinance of 100,000 casualties across 17 countries. This research provides an evidence-based to support advocacy, programme planning, resource allocation and targeted priority setting.

Data Driven VA Information System

Find out Armenia’s best practices and innovative approaches including those carried out with support of UNDP. Among them, enhanced awareness-raising campaigns, and ongoing efforts to establish a comprehensive Victim Information System, to support data-driven and evidence-based policy making in the VA sector.

Inclusive engagement of Mine Victims in Reporting, Monitoring, and Evaluation

This session aims to highlight the vital integration of mine survivors into all research and reporting phases in victim assistance and broader humanitarian efforts. The session will seek to emphasize the imperative of including mine victims in feedback and reporting.

Article 11 of the CRPD, establishes that “States Parties shall take […] all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk, including situations of armed conflict, humanitarian emergencies and the occurrence of natural disasters.” In mirroring the CRPD article, Action 40 of the Oslo Action Plan also calls on States Parties to the AP Mine Ban Convention to ensure the safety and protection of mine survivors in situations of risks and emergencies.

The CRPD Committee is currently in the process of developing a General Comment2 to serve as reference to help CRPD Parties to fulfil their obligation. Earlier this year, the Committee had agreed “to continue working collaboratively with the mine ban treaty community.” The Global Conference is therefore a perfect opportunity to provide recommendations from a VA perspective for consideration in the General Comment.

Senior Legal Adviser to the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Janet Lord will lead the conversation seeking to make us Reflect. The session will be enriched with the experience from representatives from mineaffected countries speaking on the challenges of protecting mine survivors in such emergencies. Panellists will include,

• Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Member, Saowalak Thongkuay

• Yemeni Mine Action Centre, Akram Al-Aqili

• Ukraine National Military Medical Centre, Chief Traumatologist Col. Yurii Yarmoliuk and Oleksandr Riabtsev Chief Specialist, National Mine Action Authority

• Iraqi National Council of Persons with Disabilities Deputy Chair, Ali Jaafar Mohammed AL-HILO

• National Federation of Associations of Mine- and EO-Survivors of Colombia, Red-Lat Member, Christian Melo

Before leaving, the audience will be invited to provide feedback on the day’s session and be inspired by the words of those who have found strength and purpose in creating or advocating for a more accessible world.

The Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority and its Senior Minister and First Vice President, H.E. Ly Thuch, who is also President Designate of the Siem Reap Review Conference on a Mine-Free World together with the Convention President H.E. Thomas Göbel, Ambassador of Germany to the Conference on Disarmament, are pleased to invite all conference participants to a reception featuring remarkable para-athletes. Attendees will also be treated to the exquisite Apsara Wishful Dance performed by the Metta Karuna Wheelchair Dancers from Siem Reap (traveling to Phnom Penh for the occasion).

To facilitate that all delegates – including those who travelled for days – can easily attend, the reception will be hosted on the grounds of the Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra.

Participation and inclusion are at the core of victim assistance. As stressed upon in the Oslo Action Plan, “States Parties remain committed to ensuring the full, equal and effective participation of mine victims in society, based on respect for human rights, gender equality, inclusion and non-discrimination.” From words on paper to the realities in the field, what lies behind Declarations and Action Plans?

Panellists who know firsthand the challenges, will share their views on whether progress is being made in translating the Convention into action, share their suggestions to do more and do better, and to ensure greater inclusion and participation of mine survivors and their representative organisations on an equal basis to others.

• Network of Women Mine Victims and Survivors of Angola, Natercia Margareth da Silva

• National Federation of Associations of Survivors of Mine and Explosive Ordnance of Colombia, Christian Melo (Member of RedLat)

• Iraqi Alliance of Disability Organizations, Moaffak Alkhafaji

• Federation of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities of Guinea-Bissau, Deputy Director Saido Embaló

• Advocate for Mine Victims and Survivors in Thailand, Wiboonrat Chanchoo

Casualties of anti-personnel (and other EO) decreased sharply after the Convention’s entry into force. Nearly two decades later, protracted, and new conflicts plus the rise of the use of anti-personnel mines of an improvised nature – mostly at the hands of armed non-state actors – have contributed to an increase in new casualties.

Often in affected, rural, or remote areas, public health services are scarce / difficult to access. Not having timely access to first aid and other pre-hospital care after an accident with anti-personnel mines or other EO drives up the rate of fatalities among casualties. Representative from various worlds from academia to relief organisations or mine action structures converge in this panel to draw attention to emergency health response and lifesaving tools and approaches to reduce fatalities after explosive accidents.

The session will be led by the South Sudan’s’ National Mine Action Authority’s Programme Director and VA Expert Teddy Akello. With her (and other speakers to be confirmed),

• Senegal National Mine Action Centre, Awa Badiane

• UNMAS Geneva Officer-in-Charge, Christelle Loupforest

• Swiss Red Cross Chief Technical Advisor in Lao PDR, Virasak Phetpasak

• University of Washington’s Program for Global and Rural Surgery, Hannah Wild

• ASOVIVIR, Mine Survivor Association of Colombia, Mileiny Ramirez

Action 39 of the Oslo Action Plan calls on States Parties to “ensure the social and economic inclusion of mine victims, such as access to education, capacity-building, employment referral services, microfinance institutions, business development services, rural development, and social protection programmes”. Given the significance of these initiatives, much remains to be done to empower survivors, affected families, and communities.

The following Experts guided in conversation by UNDP’s Keiko Tamura, will share their thoughts and let us in on their best practices in post-conflict and developing communities to do more and do better,

• Mozambique Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Affairs, Deputy Director, Eufemia Amela

• Thailand Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Department for Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, Nantanoot Suwannawut

• Uganda Ministry of Gender, Child, and Labour, VA Expert Agnes Nampeera

• Humanity & Inclusion’s Specialist on Economic Inclusion, Chinh Pham

• ICRC Disability Sport & Inclusion Specialist, Jess Markt

• Assistance Advocacy Access of Serbia, Dejan Ivanović

In general terms, States which seek to fulfil obligations related to victim assistance, have been making steady progress in putting national mechanisms in place to integrate victim assistance into broader national frameworks. Yet, maintaining such measures and national mechanisms over the long run is challenging for most of them.

The Implementation Support Unit exists to provide advice and support to States that seek to maintain such mechanisms in place including by coordinating with relevant partners and stakeholders. In this session, ISU Officer / VA Expert Firoz Alizada, has called on a handful of those implementation experts to collectively Reflect on how best to achieve robust and sustainable national planning, reporting and monitoring mechanisms. The following panellists will join the discussion,

• Albanian Ministry of Health and Social Affairs, Social Inclusion Policy Director, Irena Mitro

• Zimbabwe Ministry of Public Service, Labour, and Social Affairs Officer Raviro Chakaamba

• Colombia Mine Action Coordination Office, VA Expert, Jaidy Caro Figueroa

• Humanity & Inclusion’s Regional Armed Violence Reduction Specialist, Alexandra Letcher

• OHCHR Officer, Secretariat of the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Catherinne Pedreros

Action 47 of the Oslo Action Plan calls on States to “continuously explore opportunities for cooperation, including international, regional and bilateral, cooperation between affected States Parties or South-to-South, with a view to voluntary sharing of best practices and lessons learnt.”

What are good examples of innovative partnerships… and who is innovating? The Convention’s ISU Director seeks to shine light on these questions. Panellists will share their views on how to enhance cooperation and foster partnerships for victim assistance. And what happens when we leave survivor organisations behind? Joining on stage,

• Australian Embassy Division for Development Cooperation

• Delegation of the European Union, Deputy Head of Mission, Tihamér Czika

• UN Development Program Representative of Mine Action/Victims Donors Communities, Alissar Chaker

• ITF Enhancing Human Security’s Director, H.E. Tomaž Lovrenčič of Slovenia

• ASEAN’s Regional Mine Action Center Program Coordinator, Vannarith Tay

• Afghan Landmine Survivors Organization Representative, Hadi Amiri

• USAID’s Senior Technical Advisor Kirsten (Kiki) Lentz

As we say goodbye, we also look ahead. Delegates will be sent off to capitals and remote areas alike, with a view to new opportunities for Action and… some homework!

A distinguished group of Convention community members will join on stage to bid farewell these include,

• International Campaign to Ban Landmines Ambassador, Margaret Arach Orech of Uganda

• Special Envoy for Inclusion and Accessibility of the UN Secretary General, Maria Soledad Cisternas Reyes (video)

• President of the AP Mine Ban Convention, Ambassador of Germany to the Conference on Disarmament, H.E. Thomas Göbel

• European Union Ambassador-Designate to Cambodia and EU Special Envoy for Myanmar H.E. Igor Driesmans On behalf of Cambodia and the upcoming Presidency of the Convention and the Siem Reap Conference on a Mine-Free World

• Senior Minister, First Vice President of the CMAA, and Convention President-Designate, H.E. Dr Ly Thuch

• Acting Prime Minister of Cambodia, H.E Dr Neth Savoeun