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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