Day of Persons with Disabilities draws attention to victims of landmines
December 3rd 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.