::: Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies :::

LANDMINE BAN ADVOCACY FORUM

The Landmine Ban Advocacy Forum formed under the auspices of the Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies consists of representatives of UN agencies, local and international NGOs, the donor community, the Sri Lanka Army and mine action agencies. The objective of the Forum is to provide an opportunity for individuals/ organizations interested in advocating for a total ban on the use of anti-personnel landmines within Sri Lanka to meet, share information, brief each other on their individual advocacy initiatives, undertake joint activities and ensure that a cohesive and emphatic attempt is made to guarantee that anti-personnel landmines are never used within the territory of Sri Lanka.

The activities conducted by the Forum were as follows:

1. Press statements have been issued highlighting the major events taking place locally and globally to rid the world of landmines.

A press statement was issued on the 12 th of May 2005 on the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), which Sri Lanka signed on to last year, coming into effect in Sri Lanka. The statement commended the government on the step taken but urged that the Mine Ban Treaty be signed to ensure that Sri Lanka is permanently free of landmines.
A statement was issued on the 24 th of July 2005 applauding Sri Lanka's submission of a Voluntary report at the Ottawa Convention Intercessional. The submission was recognised as a positive action taken by the Government in the quest for a Sri Lanka free of Landmines.

2. A letter was sent to all Members of Parliament highlighting the impact landmines have on the life of civilians and urging them to join the effort of making Sri Lanka free of landmines.

3. A web page for the forum was created in order to further assist in the process of information sharing and awareness raising on the issue amongst participants of the forum as well as a wider audience. It can be accessed at: www.banlandmines.lk

4. A presentation on the importance of banning landmines and advocacy was made at the NSCMA (National Steering Committee for Mine Action) meeting in June 2005.

5. LBAF Stickers with the slogan ‘Ban Landmines, Act Now, A Sri Lanka Free of Landmines' was reprinted in all three languages with the LBAF website link on it.

6. Accreditation with the UN Ad Hoc Committee on Persons with Disabilities in August 2005.

7. A proposal to establish landmine ban advocacy networks in the districts to raise awareness on the problem of landmines and to inform the people about the CCW, the Ottawa treaty and the deed of commitment was written.

8. A directory incorporating all agencies involved in Mine Action was compiled and is available in soft copy.