March 2009 – New funding for the Democratic Republic of Congo

The Big Lottery Fund granted Handicap International UK £498,870 for an inclusive education project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The main objective of this 3-year project is to increase the number of disabled children accessing a quality primary education in 12 schools in Kinshasa. The project focuses around four main outcomes:

• increase the enrolment of disabled children in mainstream state primary schools
• train teachers in new teaching methods which are adapted to the needs of disabled children
• develop and submit three new educational policies on the rights of disabled children to education to the Ministry of Education
• carry out awareness-raising activities with parents of disabled children.   

1st March 2009 – Mine Ban Treaty 10th Anniversary

Ten years ago, the historic treaty banning antipersonnel mines became binding international law. Handicap International, co-founder of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), is calling for the horrific consequences of landmines not to be forgotten.

“The Mine Ban Treaty has made a major difference on the ground in dozens of mine-affected countries, but despite the successes to date, too many people’s lives remain impacted by uncleared minefields, too many mine survivors are denied decent living conditions, and too many mines are still stockpiled,” said Sylvie Brigot of the ICBL.

“We always knew that pursuing a mine-free world would be a long-term mission, but it can be done. States Parties need to recommit themselves to doing everything in their power to end the suffering caused by these weapons. This is ‘mission possible’.”

To date, 156 states have joined the treaty and only Burma and Russia – and a handful of non-state armed groups – recently used these weapons. 42 million antipersonnel mines have been destroyed from stockpiles since 1997; only 13 of the more than 50 countries that manufactured antipersonnel mines in the early ‘90s still have a production capacity; trade has virtually stopped; and large tracts of land have been cleared and returned to productive use.

However, the task of ensuring full compliance by Mine Ban Treaty members is an ongoing challenge. Fifteen States Parties, including the UK, asked for an extension of their 10-year deadline for clearance of mine-affected areas. Programs to address the lifelong needs of mine survivors – estimated at almost 500,000 people worldwide - are still grossly inadequate in the vast majority of affected countries.

Read more about Handicap International’s work on landmines