Mines Action CanadaDecember, 2009

Action3

• December 3rd is an important anniversary in bringing humanity one step closer to peace and social justice by restoring the rights and dignity of affected individuals and communities

• Advocacy comes in threes this month with: - The International Day for People with Disabilities- The anniversary of the signing of the Ottawa Convention banning landmines (1997)- The Convention on Cluster Munitions (2008).

www.minesactioncanada.org

MAC: Advocacy Heavyweight!• For over 15 years, MAC has

been a leader in mobilizing international civil society to ban landmines and cluster bombs

• MAC does a lot of “heavy lifting” for both of these movements by providing grassroots capacity building programs and governance to the Cluster Munition Coalition and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines

www.minesactioncanada.org

The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

• Until the 2008 Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), there was no international convention to guarantee the rights of people with disabilities

• Prior to this, the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines was the only tool for affected states to attract international cooperation to assist people with disabilities

• The Ottawa Treaty established the global norm for assisting survivors and people with disabilities

www.minesactioncanada.org

The Convention on Cluster Munitions• The CCM has the strongest language to date

in terms of clear and specific obligations for states to provide aid to people with disabilities. Groundbreaking elements of the CCM include:

- A dedicated Article (5) on obligations to victims

- A broadened definition of “Victim” to include the family- States’ obligation to incorporate victim assistance into existing

human rights frameworks- A mandate to consult with victims and related organizations in discussing

victim assistance policies and programs

- A requirement to develop a national victim assistance action plan and report on it annually

www.minesactioncanada.org

A survivor is still a person with disabilities…

• The overlap and mutual reinforcement amongst the three treaties is particularly important for those most affected

• A person missing a leg due to a landmine explosion isn’t just a “landmine survivor”—they are also a person with a disability

www.minesactioncanada.org

How you can get into Action!• Help us reach our goal of generating 10,000

Canadian signatures for the People’s Treaty banning cluster bombs by signing the Treaty and encouraging your friends and family to sign!

• Organize a film festival fundraiser profiling films and documentaries related to landmines, cluster bombs and people with disabilities

• Donate a gift to MAC in the name of your friend or family member and they will receive a handmade gift card made by landmine survivors in Cambodia acknowledging your gift.

• Post the Your Signature Can Save Lives! YouTube video on your social networking sites and send the link to you network, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNFGBeIsS-I.

www.minesactioncanada.org