Day of Persons with Disabilities draws attention to victims of landmines

December 3^rd is the International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The United Nations uses the day to promote a better understanding of disability issues with a focus on the rights of persons with disabilities. The Cluster Munition Coalition and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines are using the day to draw attention to those disabled by landmines and cluster bombs, most of whom are civilians.

Experts estimate that 10% to 40% of submunitions fail to explode on impact as intended - they remain on the ground and threaten civilians long after the end of hostilities.

Meanwhile, thousands of people are injured, and even killed, by landmines in countries now at peace – especially as poor farmers move into areas where minefields have not been cleared.

“It is the poorest of the poor who are hit, because it is in rural areas, often remote rural areas, where first aid and rehabilitation are rarely available if at all,” saysPaul Vermeulen is the director of the Swiss-based charity Handicap International.

Landmines were banned by the by the Ottawa treaty, which came into effect in 1999. Cluster munitions were banned when the Cluster Munitions Convention came into effect in 2010, but neither treaty has been signed by the world’s largest military powers, including the United States, Russia, China, and India.

But Mr. Vermeulen told Vatican Radio the treaties’ provisions on care of victims is still having an effect.

“Some progress has been made, and [the landmine treaty] has really triggered some understanding on the needs for victims of those weapons, but also for other people with disabilities,” he said.

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