International Conference on War-Affected Childern

What is working?

· Ottawa Convention (122 have signed, 45 of which have ratified)

· Awareness

· De-mining operations

Using celebrities to draw attention to the issue

What isn't working?

· Major nations have yet to sign the Ottawa Convention, including the U.S., China, Russia, etc.

· Underdeveloped nations aren't implementing the treaty and neither are developed nations.

· The Ottawa Convention is not working at its fullest potential.

· The usage and production of landmines continues, especially in countries of war.

· Landmines are still sold and available at cheap prices.

Landmines are supposed to be manufactured with enough metal and brightly coloured materials so that they can be detected easily.

Recommendations

· Turn words into action.

· Peace negotiations should be encouraged.

· Put in place recommendations already made.

· Use portions of the military's budget and manpower for de-mining.

· Impose tariffs on the production and trading of landmines.

· Make countries and armed groups and all the parties that planted and manufactured the land mines pay for de-mining and medical expenses.

· Pressure the US to sign and ratify the Ottawa Convention.

· Create awareness in local communities on the harm and trauma of landmines.

· Governments need to know the price difference between buying landmines and the de-mining prices ($3:$300-1000).

· The UN should pass a resolution recommending the ban of landmines.

· Rehabilitation for landmine victims needs to be provided.

· Non-government organizations should be encouraged to apply political pressure to restrict the trade of landmines.

· Education should be provided in regions affected by landmines to educate youth how to avoid and recognise landmines.

Produce all landmines with enough metal and bright colours so they can be detected more easily.

What youth can do?

Landmines are being produced and planted at this very moment. We, the youth, may take action by creating awareness in the following areas:

· Pressuring the U.S. and all other non-signatories to sign and ratify the Ottawa treaty.

· Train youth to hold conferences and workshops in their own communities on the issue of land mines and their devastating effects.

· Write letters to manufacturers of landmines to encourage them to increase the metallic content of the land mines, making them easier to detect.

· Write letters to governments of countries where there are companies that produce landmines, encouraging the governments to impose a tariff on landmines to make them less appealing to warring nations.

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