The First Decade of a New Sector in Humanitarian Aid
There are two important messages concerning
mine action that emerge from this paper. The
first is that after only a few years of
mobilisation, campaigning and project
initiation there are, in place, the forces and
legislation to effectively address the threat of
landmines in the coming years, rather than
decades or centuries. The second is that mine
action cannot be successful as an isolated,
specialised sub-sector of the aid world but
must be seen as a legitimate component of
emergency, rehabilitation and development
assistance.
This paper is specifically written for the aid
community outside the mine action sector
who may have had very little exposure to the
details of mine action and its dramatic growth
as a sector in the last 10 years. The paper is
also designed to present certain definitions,
premises and issues that have emerged within
the mine action sector in recent years. It may
also serve as a resource document as it
disassembles and identifies the issues and
main players in global mine action.