International Information Programs


Washington File

09 March 2001

Fact Sheet: Office for Global Humanitarian Demining
Aims for Mine-Safe World by End of Decade

(The following fact sheet, which describes the organization and mission of the Office of the Special Representative of the President and Secretary of State for Global Humanitarian Demining, was issued by the State Department on March 9.)

Fact Sheet
Global Humanitarian Demining Toward 2010
March 9, 2001
Office of the Special Representative of the President and
Secretary of State for Global Humanitarian Demining
Washington, DC

Background

The Office of the Special Representative for Global Humanitarian Demining (GHD) was established in October 1997, following joint announcement of the "Demining 2010 Initiative" by the U.S. Departments of State and Defense.

GHD's personnel are drawn from both agencies and located at the U.S. Department of State. GHD coordinates and leads the implementation of the 2010 Initiative, aimed at creating a mine-safe world by the end of the decade. Ambassador Donald K. Steinberg, a Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, serves as the Special Representative.

Mission

The Office of the Special Representative seeks to create conditions that will eliminate the threat of landmines to innocent civilians around the world by the year 2010. To implement this initiative, the GHD supports efforts in the United States and abroad to accelerate landmine detection and clearance programs; promotes landmine awareness in affected nations; assists survivors of landmine accidents; enhances research and development of new demining technologies; and fosters public-private partnerships to support these programs.

Objectives

These goals are achieved through reinforcement of global humanitarian mine action and related assistance by a coalition of U.S. Government agencies, foreign governments, non-governmental organizations, corporations and international agencies, and the United Nations. They depend upon the availability of adequate and sustainable resources for the "Demining 2010 Initiative" through appropriated funds and private sector contributions. The ultimate intentions are to empower mine-affected countries to assume the leadership of their own mine-action programs and to speed the pace of humanitarian demining.

Public-Private Partnerships

Partnerships with the private sector are vital to eliminating the threat from landmines. Corporations, non-governmental organizations, philanthropic foundations, civic associations, educational institutions, churches, and other private groups are already bringing additional, valuable assets to mine action. More such public-private partnerships are needed to render the world mine-safe even sooner.


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