INTRODUCTION Traditionally, the impact of mine action has been measured and reported based on immediate results, such as the number of items removed, the number of square metres cleared, or the reduction of casualties. However, as an integral part of broader development initiatives, mine action plays a bigger role in the medium and long term, besides pursuing immediate humanitarian objectives in conflict, post- conflict and protracted crises. Monitoring the outcomes and the impact of mine action activities (instead of merely outputs) is essential to measuring mine action’s contribution to development, and to better align mine action with broader humanitarian and development planning efforts. Mine action responds to humanitarian imperatives and is conducted according to a rights-based approach, based on specific legal obligations, originating from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC), the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), Amended Protocol II and Protocol V of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW); as well as other relevant human rights treaties such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
Building upon the achievements and lessons learnt from the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), 2 in 2015 the United Nations Member States adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development as a new plan of action for the next 15 years. 3 The 2030 Agenda is universal, transformative and rights-based, under the premise that “no one will be left behind”. 4 It contains 17 integrated Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and 169 associated targets which are based on the three core elements of sustainable development – economic growth, social inclusion, and environmental protection – and calls for peace and partnership. There are five critical dimensions at the core of the 2030 Agenda, known as ´the 5 Ps´: People, Prosperity, Planet, Partnership, and Peace. 5 Implementation of these treaties and the 2030 Agenda can be mutually reinforcing. By fulfilling the treaty obligations, states are undoubtedly contributing to some specific goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda. On the other hand, the political momentum around the 2030 Agenda can help to accelerate progress towards the effective implementation of the treaty obligations and benefit the mobilisation of resources and partnerships to reach the legal commitments. These synergies and potential for mine action outcomes in terms of sustainable development have been acknowledged in the most recent review conference of the APMBC. At the time of writing, a similar acknowledgement is contained in the draft Lausanne Action Plan, which will be discussed by the CCM States Parties during the Second Review Conference.
Introduction
11
Powered by FlippingBook