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Michigan Division Adoption Date: April 20, 2002
To: The UNA-USA National Convention From: The Michigan Division UNA-USA Sponsors:
Topic: Antipersonnel Mines
The UNA-USA,
Heartened by the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty calling for the complete elimination of antipersonnel mines,
Supporting UN Resolutions calling for a commitment to eliminate antipersonnel mines, including 48/75K, 49/75D, 50/70O, and 51/45S, and the Secretary-General’s creation of UNMAS (UN Mine Action Service),
And further encouraged by the number of nations which have ratified the convention, more than 120 as of March 2002,
Committed to the US Campaign to Ban Landmines and the UNA-USA Adopt-a-Minefield program which promote grassroots action and education on the landmine problem,
Recognizing that while antipersonnel mines have been a Common Core objective of UNA-USA in years past, the proliferation of new mines continues,
Noting with regret that the demining of existing minefields is balanced by the continuing practice of new mine production, sales, and placement by many nations,
Discouraged that the United States, a non-signatory of the Mine Ban Treaty, cannot easily adopt a credible position in reducing the international production and sale of antipersonnel mines,
Convinced that broad public global awareness of the continuing dangers of antipersonnel mines here and abroad can act as a lever for policy change,
1. Recommits itself to the Adopt-a-Minefield program and the support of other NGO programs with similar purposes,
2. Reaffirms its position that the United States should sign and ratify the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty without delay,
3. Decides to publish and widely distribute a list of nations which have not signed the Treaty and a list of nations which continue to produce, sell, or otherwise contribute to the proliferation of antipersonnel mines, including the names, offices or agencies of persons responsible for policy-making in each nation, including the names of private industry contributing to the proliferation of mines.
4. Urges the BCUN to utilize its contacts and resources to encourage additional support for relief programs including, but not limited to, hospice, prosthetic devices, Project Smile, etc.
5. Encourages the joint affirmation of the UNA-USA, WFUNA, the US Campaign to Ban Landmines, and other NGOs that:
a. All landmine-producing nations ratify the Mine Ban Treaty by 2008, the Olympic Year; b. The United States set an example toward global ratification of the Treaty; c. Education programs modeled after the UNA-USA antipersonnel mine education programs be exported to other nations, concentrating on those nations which produce and distribute antipersonnel mines;
6. Promotes a global public advocacy campaign to meet the above goals.
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