Diana's Co-op Blog

Convention on Cluster Munitions - 2MSP in Beirut, Lebanon, 12-16 September 2011

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 03:23:00 -0400

The Second Meeting of the States Parties (2MSP) of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (2MSP CCM) will take place in Beirut, following a programme of work concentrating on the key objectives of the Convention.

The GICHD will attend, providing technical input on a number of issues. These will include Land Release in the context of Cluster Munitions, guidance on reporting for the Convention using IMSMA and outlining the GICHD Cluster Munition Identification Tool, which is being developed to assist States identify which ammunition is included in the Convention.

Exciting huh?

QWIDS

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 09:03:48 -0400

These days, my task at the ISU relates to making use of the OECD DAC Database (http://stats.oecd.org/qwids/) to dig deeper as concerns a presentation that Kerry delivered at the Albanian Cooperation and Assistance Symposium on 31 May

From this database, I was able to obtain big numbers associated with the investments made by the OECD DAC Members which are States Parties that are responsible for helping other States Parties with significant numbers of survivors for five “detailed sector codes”: basic health care, basic health infrastructure, health personnel development, medical education and training, and medical services, from 2005 to 2009

What I have to do now is find out what exactly have States Parties that are OECD DAC Members invested in with respect to basic health care, basic health infrastructure, health personnel development, medical education and training, and, medical services in States that are responsible for a significant number of landmine survivors? Who has provided what, when, specifically for what through / to whom?

As a starting point I have use one detailed sector code for one affected State Party (perhaps starting with Cambodia, followed by Ethiopia, Mozambique and Uganda) and compiled an inventory of what each State Party that is an OECD DAC Member has done in 2005. The next step will be to do the same for 206-2009. With this Query Wizard I am able to get a table that represents everything that all of the donors in question have spent in the affected country in question for matters related to the detailed sector code in question in each year from 2005 to 2009. Each entry in the table should link to additional information regarding what the investment represents. This additional Information may be slim. However, it could be used as a starting point to pursue complementary information from the relevant aid agency’s web site.

Anyhow, this is what I will be doing for the next couple of weeks. I just thought it would be interesting to share what type of work I’m doing.

The benefits of being a GICHD JPO, 25 August 2011, Geneva |...

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 08:04:13 -0400

The benefits of being a GICHD JPO, 25 August 2011, Geneva | Picture taken by Sharmala Naidoo

What will happen at the 11MSP? The 11MSP will feature plenary...

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:49:22 -0400

What will happen at the 11MSP?

The 11MSP will feature plenary sessions from 09:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:00 each day from 28 November to 2 December. His Excellency Prak Sokhonn, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister and Vice-President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, has been designated President of 11MSP.

What is the 11MSP and why is it important? The 11MSP is a formal...

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:39:20 -0400

What is the 11MSP and why is it important?

The 11MSP is a formal meeting of the 156 States which have accepted the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. It is being held in accordance with Article 11 of the Convention and pursuant to the decisions of the 2009 Second Review Conference and the 2010 Tenth Meeting of the States Parties (10MSP).

The 11MSP is particularly significant because the Convention is returning to a place where it all started two decades ago. As such, the 11MSP is a chance for the international community to recall how far the world has come in pursuing a comprehensive end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines.

The 11MSP, taking place in what remains one of the most mine affected countries in the world, is also a chance to show the world that this very much is an issue we still live with today. The11MSP can be a springboard to further action and an opportunity to state that the commitment to this cause will not end until the task is complete.

From 3 August, His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Al Hussein...

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:38:27 -0400

From 3 August, His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Al Hussein of Jordan in his capacity of Special Envoy on the Universalization of the Convention, met with the Governor General of Tuvalu Sir Lakoba Taeia Italeli as well as with Tuvalu’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Global movement to eradicate landmines poised to be strengthened thanks to commitments made in the South Pacific

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:37:18 -0400

Suva, Fiji, 5 August 2011 – The global movement to eradicate anti-personnel landmines welcomes the news that the island nation of Tuvalu could join the international ban on these brutal and indiscriminate weapons in coming months. “I am pleased that the Government of Tuvalu is seriously considering joining the Mine Ban Convention,” said His Royal Highness Prince Mired Raad Al-Hussein of Jordan, who visited the country from 2 to 4 August.

Possible advances in the universalization of the landmark Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, or Ottawa Convention, were the main results of a high-level mission to the island nations of Tuvalu and Fiji by Prince Mired, who is currently serving as Special Envoy on the Universalization of the Convention.

“This Convention is about all States – big and small, rich and poor – raising their voices in support of an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines. Tuvalu would give the anti-landmines movement a real boost if it became the next State to join this noble effort.”
Prince Mired’s visit to Tuvalu included meetings with Governor General Sir Lakoba Taeia Italeli, Prime Minister Willy Telavi, and, Minister of Foreign Affairs Apisai Lelemia.

Tuvalu participated for the first time in the work of the Convention in June 2011 in Geneva as an observer. “The international community again looks forward to the participation of Tuvalu, this time as a member of the Convention, at the Eleventh Meeting of the States Parties (11MSP) to take place in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 28 November to 2 December 2011,” said Prince Mired.
During his mission to the South Pacific, Prince Mired also called upon the Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Secretariat, H.E. Tuiloma Neroni Slade, as well as representatives of several PIF Member States.

“I commend the Pacific Islands Forum for drafting a regional strategy to address the problems caused by unexploded ordnance in the region,” said Prince Mired following meetings at PIF headquarters in Suva, Fiji earlier today. “By drawing upon the experience of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, affected States in the Pacific can benefit greatly in overcoming the challenges posed by all explosive remnants of war.”

Several Member States of the Pacific Islands Forum are affected by unexploded ordnance and abandoned explosive ordnance from the Second World War, including Palau which has leveraged its participation in the Convention to acquire assistance in addressing related problems. To date, 12 of the 16 Member States of the Pacific Islands Forum have ratified or acceded to the Convention.

Presenting to the Northeastern University Dialogue!

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:15:13 -0400

Presenting to the Northeastern University Dialogue!

Photo

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:14:10 -0400

Working at the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining

Thu, 04 Aug 2011 10:11:33 -0400

My work at the GICHD is to work for the ISU (Implementation Support Unit) to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.

The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction is the cornerstone of the international effort to end the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel (AP) mines. The Convention was adopted on 18 September 1997 and it entered into force on 1 March 1999. As of 1 September 2008, 156 states had joined the Convention.

The Convention provides a framework for mine action, seeking both to end existing suffering and to prevent future suffering. The Convention bans the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines. In addition, states that accede to the Convention accept that they will destroy both stockpiled and emplaced anti-personnel mines and assist the victims of mines.

This was just a little background information on what the Convention is and what the work I am doing here is all about.

Hello Switzerland!

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 16:08:00 -0400

I arrived to Switzerland three days ago. I am glad I decided to be here at least four days before my Co-op starts.

Thankfully, I found a friend that picked me up at the airport and also found an affordable place for me. Geneva is definitely hard when it comes to housing. The best advice I can give is to go into www.glocals.com. Create a profile for yourself, and start looking! This is the best place to find classifieds and find out about people that live here, things to do, activities, anything!

It wasn’t that hard for me to come here on my own since I had been here before on a dialogue. However, I realized that I had forgotten a lot. I also realized that my French is not as good as I thought it was. I’m hoping that six months here will help me improve.
On another note. The first few days all I have done is get settled to make sure I have a comfortable living space as well as everything I need before I start.

1st–>find housing (make sure you’re comfy and I recommend living with someone else, even better if the person can help you with French)

2nd–> buy a prepaid cellphone that is not locked (these are phones you can use all over the world, you just get a chip and make sure that if you are in Switzerland, and probably Europe, you get Lyca Mobile, this is the best option for international distance calls) You are probably going for 50 francs for the phone and 20 for the first prepaid calling card.

3rd–> If you like to keep yourself active and normally exercise, I recommend joining a gym. There are plenty here in Geneva and I personally love Holmes Place, which I found on glocals.com. The gym is gorgeous and I recommend it to anyone who loves the gym!

4th–> Find out about the most affordable places where you can buy appliances and food. I found Ikea here, which was wonderful because I bought great quality towels for 20 francs. I also had to buy a blender, which I found for 20 francs as well in a place called Migros, by far the best place to buy food as well. If you need things like an umbrella or a bathroom cleaner, go to Comforama, things are a lot cheaper than in the most expensive stores like Globus or Manor.

5th–> Prepare for your co-op and make sure you do all the pre-internship readings. I am on that right now.

6th–> If the place where you live has no internet connection, I would recommend getting one through a USB drive. Most places have them, but some don’t. Mine doesn’t and I am debating on whether to buy one of those drives that give you internet wherever you are. This costs 50 francs for the drive and 5 francs for Internet everyday, which can become expensive if you use it everyday. This is the only option because you can’t get an internet connection that they hook up for you unless you get a one year contract. This was a bummer for me.

Anyhow, this is the beginning of my co-op experience in Geneva, Switzerland. I will be back with more!

Ciao!