*EPF504 10/06/00
Fact Sheet: State, Defense Departments Pursue Demining Initiative
(Goal is to eliminate threatening mines by 2010) (370)

The following fact sheet on the "Demining 2010 Initiative" was issued by the State Department on October 1.

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Office of the Special Representative of the President and
Secretary of State for Global Humanitarian Demining

Background

The Office of the Special Representative for Global Humanitarian Demining (GHD) was established in October 1997, following the announcement of the President's "Demining 2010 Initiative" by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and Secretary of Defense William Cohen. Within the U.S. government and the international community, the Special Representative coordinates and leads the implementation of the 2010 Initiative, aimed at creating a mine safe world by the year 2010. Ambassador Donald K. Steinberg serves as the Special Representative. The staff is drawn from the Departments of State and Defense.

Mission

The Office of the Special Representative seeks to create conditions that will eliminate the threat of landmines to civilians around the world by the year 2010. Under the 2010 Initiative, GHD supports efforts in the United States and abroad to accelerate landmine detection and clearance programs, promote landmine awareness in affected nations, assist survivors of landmine accidents, enhance research and development of new demining technologies, and foster 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 goals are to empower mine-affected countries to assume the leadership of their own mine action programs and to speed the pace of 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, 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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(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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