- Title: Chile aims to be free of anti-personnel mines by 2020
- Date: 28th November 2016
- Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (NOVEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF INAUGURATION CEREMONY VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS LISTENING TO INAUGURATION SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHILEAN CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT OF THE OTTAWA CONVENTION, HERALDO MUNOZ, SAYING: "Close to 110 million mines were planted in more than 70 countries, causing thousands of victims, the majority of which were women and children. In the last few years, anti-personnel mines have caused more deaths and injuries than any other weapon, including weapons of mass destruction." PARTICIPANTS OF THE CONVENTION LISTENING TO THE INAUGURATION SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) CHILEAN CHANCELLOR AND PRESIDENT OF THE 11TH OTTAWA CONVENTION, HERALDO MUNOZ, SAYING: "Unfortunately, since 2015 a rise has been recorded in the number of victims from these weapons, concentrated in the few countries with internal conflicts. Given this, the compliance of the member states and the universalisation of the Ottawa Convention, as well as humanitarian protection and assistance for victims, should be treated as priorities, following the prescript in the final document of the Maputo Declaration." VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS LISTENING TO SPEECH (SOUNDBITE) (English) EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA (CEPAL), ANTONIO PRADO, SAYING: "The international community has clearly stated that there can be no tolerance for weapons that kill and maim indiscriminately and that anti-personnel landmines have no place in a civilised world." VARIOUS OF PARTICIPANTS LISTENING TO SPEECH
- Embargoed: 13th December 2016 16:27
- Keywords: Chile mines landmines anti-personnel mines
- Location: SANTIAGO, CUBA
- City: SANTIAGO, CUBA
- Country: Chile
- Topics: Conflicts/War/Peace
- Reuters ID: LVA0015AD01FR
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Chile aims to be completely rid of anti-personnel mines by 2020, and the world as a whole by 2015, the strategies for which are to be discussed at the 15th meeting of the Ottawa Convention, underway in the capital, Santiago.
The conference is the 15th meeting between the member states of the Convention for the prohibition of the employment, storage, production and transferral of anti-personnel mines and about their destruction, also known as the Ottawa Convention, which has brought together some 400 people from 75 countries.
Chile assumed the presidency of the convention on January 1, 2016, and aims to precede the global target of freeing the world of mines by 2025.
Chilean Chancellor and president of the convention, Herald Munoz, said landmines are currently responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians.
"Close to 110 million mines were planted in more than 70 countries, causing thousands of victims, the majority of which were women and children. In the last few years, anti-personnel mines have caused more deaths and injuries than any other weapon, including weapons of mass destruction," said Munoz.
In total, Chile has removed and destroyed 146,460 mines which represent 70 percent of all those planted in Chilean soil, and covering 16 million square metres (52 million square feet) of terrain.
Munoz said this would allow Chile to meet its 2020 target, but warned more must be done on a global scale.
"Unfortunately, since 2015 a rise has been recorded in the number of victims from these weapons, concentrated in the few countries with internal conflicts. Given this, the compliance of the member states and the universalisation of the Ottawa Convention, as well as humanitarian protection and assistance for victims, should be treated as priorities, following the prescript in the final document of the Maputo Declaration," said Munoz.
The call was reiterated by Executive Secretary of The United Nations Economic Commission For Latin America (CEPAL), Antonio Prado.
"The international community has clearly stated that there can be no tolerance for weapons that kill and maim indiscriminately and that anti-personnel landmines have no place in a civilised world," said Prado. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2016. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
