third seminar of african francophone actors in mine and erw ... - gichd

INTRODUCTION
The Third Seminar of African Francophone Actors in Mine and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW)
Action was held from 27 to 30 September 2010 in Nouakchott – Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
This meeting, hosted this year by the State of Mauritania, was organised by the Geneva International
Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) with the cooperation of the PNDHD (National
Humanitarian Demining Programme for Development) and the financial support of the International
Organisation of La Francophonie (IOF), Switzerland and France.
Over four days, this seminar brought together more than fifty people, including the heads of 15
African Francophone States and members or associates of the IOF, resolutely committed to reducing
the impact of mines and ERW in their countries, as well as Francophone representatives of
international and regional organisations such as the UN, ECOWAS and the African Union (AU) or of
NGOs or specialised commercial companies.
Designed purposely as an experience exchange platform, this third meeting enabled all participants to
share information and to access expertise in French within the various components of mine action. It
was also an opportunity to highlight individual national or African expertise, especially during the
sessions devoted to national standards, land release and information management.
CONTEXT
The problems raised by mines and ERW directly affect populations, especially women and children;
they are barriers to the establishment of peace initiatives and to development activity, refugee returns
or the resettlement of displaced persons and the reconstruction of infrastructure, all of which are yet
indispensable elements for a return to a normal way of life.
The GICHD encourages the countries affected to develop their own capacities for action by
disseminating the knowledge and expertise it has acquired in the form of operational assistance or
training, or by helping to organise wider regional or international events.
The GICHD has created a structure dedicated to the development of its Francophone activities to
respond better to the recurrent requests for assistance from countries where French is spoken and to
promote their expertise on the international stage.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES
From a multi-year perspective, these seminars have four general objectives:
- to mobilise Francophone national actors for the efficient implementation of the different instruments
of international humanitarian law relating to mines and ERW (including cluster munitions) ;
- to bring together national actors and Francophone experts of international organisations and NGOs ;
- to increase the capacity of these actors to formulate and to implement effective and coherent mine
and ERW action programmes within the national structures and to integrate their activities into the
development policies of their country ;
- to stimulate exchange and cooperation between actors from the affected Francophone countries.
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