Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
The GICHD is an international expert organisation, legally based in Switzerland as a nonprofit foundation. It was established by Switzerland and several other countries in April 1998. In March 2003, the GICHD concluded a status agreement with the Swiss Government guaranteeing its independence and freedom of action. The Centre has over 40 staff members and is financially supported by more than 20 countries and international organisations. As long as there is armed conflict, there will be explosive remnants of war (ERW) which may affect civilians, and expertise will be required to develop solutions to this problem. Over 80 countries continue to be affected by landmines and other ERW. 1. MISSION The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) works for the elimination of anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions and explosive remnants of war. The Centre contributes to the social and economic well-being of people and communities in affected countries. The Centre respects the lead of the national mine action programmes and works closely with them, cooperates with other mine action organisations, and follows the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence. The GICHD provides advice and capacity building support, undertakes applied research, disseminates knowledge and best practices, and develops standards. The Centre aims to enhance performance and professionalism in mine action, and supports the implementation of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC), the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) and other relevant instruments of international law. 2. WHAT IS MINE ACTION? The Centre has developed expertise and is active in all pillars of mine action, as defined by the United Nations: > survey, mapping, marking and clearance of landmines and ERW > mine risk education > victim assistance, including rehabilitation and reintegration > stockpile destruction > advocacy in support of a total ban on anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions, and the development of, and compliance with, international legal instruments that address the problems of landmines and ERW. 1
The Centre s area of competence includes anti-personnel mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) in a broad sense of the term, including all forms of mines, booby traps, unexploded ordnance (UXO) including cluster munitions, and abandoned ordnance (AXO). The GICHD is responsive across the full spectrum of emergency response, peacekeeping, disarmament, reconstruction and development. It does so by respecting the primary responsibility of affected states for mine action, and by placing emphasis on local ownership and capacity building. The Centre s main partners are national governments, international and regional organisations, local and international non-governmental organisations, research centres and commercial companies working in the area of mine action and explosive remnants of war. 3. OPERATIONAL ASSISTANCE The Centre s work enables national and local authorities to effectively and efficiently plan, coordinate and implement safe mine action programmes, as well as to implement their obligations under international humanitarian law. The Centre s main operational assistance activities are: Strategic management The Centre supports national authorities to develop and implement their mine action strategies and plans, including priority-setting mechanisms, quality management, coordination activities, legislation, mine risk education, gender-sensitive programming and linking mine action and development. Special attention is paid to assist national authorities to comply with their obligations and commitments stemming from the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention and other relevant instruments of international law. Land release The Centre develops and implements safe and cost-effective land release methods for mine action, to be used by countries and programmes in the field. These are sound and technically valid land release concepts that are tailored towards individual countries and that address a requirement for national policy, as well as operational concepts. We also assist countries and organisations in the implementation of new and more efficient land release concepts. 2
Information management The Centre provides the mine action community with information management tools along with the required training, support and integration services. We develop and implement the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA), with priority given to requirements identified by users in the field. Technical methods The Centre provides mine action operators with technical advice and assistance, particularly in technical survey methodologies and the management and use of clearance assets such as manual demining, machines and dogs. 4. KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT AND DISSEMINATION The Centre makes available to the mine action sector the most up-to-date technical and conceptual solutions, best practices and lessons-learned generated by field research, socioeconomic studies and evaluations. The Centre s main knowledge management and dissemination activities are: Applied research The Centre conducts applied research in cooperation with research organisations and field actors, generating valid and credible findings through studies on how different mine action programmes have addressed common problems and, if appropriate, propose improved methods. Information exchange The Centre identifies current and emerging topics of importance and improves effective exchange of information in mine action. Opportunities are created for mine action field managers, researchers and other stakeholders to actively participate in both regular and ad hoc fora, including the annual meetings of the mine action programme directors and advisors, and virtual networks. We produce high quality publications, and, where appropriate, translate them into the local language of mine-affected countries. Evaluations The Centre undertakes evaluations to document the relevance, impact, effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability of mine action programmes, providing appropriate recommendations for performance improvements, and generating lessons-learned for future guidance. We maintain an evaluation and best practice data-base. 3
The GICHD at Work general thematic areas of activity some practical examples Strategic management In 2010, GICHD staff visited 71 countries to deliver training, conduct research, hold workshops or provide professional advice or expertise on mine action. One example of this was the international practitioners workshop, held in Cambodia, on Landmines and Land Rights in Conflict affected Contexts. This was followed by the publication of seven country case studies and a Policy Brief outlining practical guidance on mainstreaming land rights issues into MA operations. Land release Outreach activities in 2010 included over 20 workshops and meetings, intended to create a greater understanding of land release principles. The GICHD also presented a paper on land release approaches for improved clearance of submunitions at the first Meeting of States Parties of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. A Guide to Land Release: technical methods was published. Policy and operational level work was undertaken to support states and mine action organisations with issues related to land release and help develop national land release policies. Information management The Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA) is installed in more than 50 mine action programmes around the world, with ongoing operational support provided by the Centre for this system. The GICHD set up an implementing partners initiative for information management to certify experts from other organisations to support mine action programmes on behalf of the GICHD. Operations Technical advice to field operations continues on, among other topics, contracting in mine action and mechanical demining. Publications to support these advisory services include, for example, A Guide to Contracting in Mine Action, A Handbook of Mechanical Demining and A Guide to Cluster Munitions, now available in 6 languages. Applied research Research into new techniques and tools for mine action continues. In 2010, the GICHD with UNMAS, held an international conference on mine action technology, bringing together participants from 35 countries. The GICHD also provided technology-specific training to senior managers and operations staff of the mine action programmes in Northern Iraq. Information exchange The GICHD continues to emphasise the production of high quality publications, which are relevant to the mine action community s needs. Recent examples include those listed above and many others available through the GICHD website, www.gichd.org. Evaluations The Centre works within a broad definition of quality management, including development outcomes as well as safety and efficiency. We take into account whether a policy, programme or project is sustainable, relevant to local needs and effective in promoting reconstruction and development priorities. Recent evaluations include the Danish Demining Group s projects in South Sudan and Somalia, the Mines Advisory Group s programme in Northern Iraq and further work in Tajikistan and Lao PDR. Standards Development work on International Mine Action Standards is ongoing under a mandate from UNMAS currently 41 IMAS exist, following the merging of seven MRE IMAS into a single new IMAS 12.10. All IMAS have been reviewed to ensure the integration of issues in relation to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. National mine action standards are also being developed in conjunction with national mine action authorities. Instruments of International Law The Centre provides ongoing support for the work of the Implementation Support Unit of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, which it hosts. The GICHD has continued to support efforts to address the threat from cluster munitions and the work of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. This includes the publication of A Guide to Cluster Munitions in six languages, prepared in time for use at the First Meeting of the States Parties of the CCM held in November 2010. The Centre also has observer status at the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. These are just a few examples of GICHD activities within our key thematic areas. 4
5. STANDARDS In order to improve safety, quality and confidence in mine action, the Centre supports the development of relevant international and national standards. The Centre s main standards activities include: IMAS The Centre ensures that International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) are developed, reviewed, amended and disseminated on behalf of the United Nations. National standards The Centre assists national authorities in the process of developing, reviewing, maintaining and applying their own national mine action standards. Technical notes The Centre prepares and publishes technical information that offers advice on a technical subject or a solution to a specific problem, usually in the form of Technical Notes for Mine Action (TNMA). 6. INSTRUMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW The Centre supports the development and implementation of instruments of international humanitarian law that address landmines, cluster munitions and explosive remnants of war. The GICHD s activities in this area include: Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) The Centre executes the mandate given to the GICHD by the States Parties to the Antipersonnel Mine Ban Convention to host the Convention s Implementation Support Unit (ISU), and as an observer and expert organisation provides advice on technical issues related to the implementation of the Convention. Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) The centre supported the Oslo process leading to the adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and provides advice on technical issues related to the implementation of the Convention. Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) The centre provides technical support to CCW States Parties. 5
GICHD Governance and Organisation Strategic chart STATES PARTIES CCM CCM TREATY IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT Further information on GICHD s role and activities can be found on our website www.gichd.org Our publications are available free of charge to all who are interested as downloadable PDFs, CDs and print details of how to order these can be found on the website. November 2011
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining Centre International de Déminage Humanitaire Genève 7bis, av. de la Paix P.O. Box 1300 1211 Geneva 1 Switzerland t. + 41 (0)22 906 16 60 f. + 41 (0)22 906 16 90 info@gichd.org www.gichd.org