Cooperation and assistance in clearing mined areas - Priorities for Norway in resource allocation

Thank you mister co-chair

The clearance of all mined areas within set deadlines is the one of the key objectives for our efforts. The Convention provides us with an action-oriented co-operative framework to reach this objective, specifying clear obligations and responsibilities for States Parties. Norway is a major provider of support for all aspects of humanitarian mine action, including a broad range of mine clearance activities in affected states parties. In the spirit of cooperation that underpins the Convention, Norway structure its support for mine clearance as partnerships with other states parties, local and international civil society and humanitarian organisations and relevant United Nations organisations. The obligations and deadlines in the convention, such as full compliance with Article 5, guides Norwegian priorities for resource allocation to mine action.

Norway’s support for mine clearance is based on principles of humanitarianism, partnerships, national ownership, coherence in mine policies and operational effectiveness. Furthermore, Norway sees full implementation of the UN Security Council resolution 1325 on women, peace and security by each member states as a key point in rebuilding war-affected areas. This of course include mine clearance activities, from planning, priority setting and the actual clearance, and Norway would encourage other states parties to integrate implementation of this resolution with their overall mine action activities.

The humanitarian principle means that Norway, in the past and for the future, will support mine clearance in areas that is worst affected by mines, and where the mines constitute unacceptable threats to the lives and livelihoods of civilians and where they seriously hamper the return and resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons.

The partnership approach means that Norway give priority to work with relevant partners in the affected areas, both national authorities and NGOs, in ways that reinforce rather than undercut existing capacities. It is important for Norway that mine clearance capacities in affected states parties is integrated into a broader planning and implementation context, and do not operate in a vacuum as parallel structures. The exception is of course situations where the mine problem does not warrant long-term responses.

National ownership is a key principle. The convention clearly states that the responsibility rests with the affected states parties. For Norway this means that priority is given to work with states parties that demonstrate and mobilise the political will necessary to tackle their own problem, and then seek assistance from other states parties to support the implementation of their plans.

In a situation where we see that dedicated external funding for mine action is declining, priority need to be given to more effective use of existing resources as well mobilisation of new kinds of resources. For example, Norway will give priority to support mine clearance activities that are aimed at more efficient identification of mined areas in need of actual clearance, and for methods that can help to identify the actual size of the mine problem, such as area reduction and land cancellation. Furthermore, Norway, in its capacity as coordinator of the resource mobilisation contact group will continue to work with states parties with article 5 obligations to identify how they can meet these in an efficient manner, without compromising standards for safety and quality.

These are principles guiding Norway’s priorities. In reality we all know that each mine-affected country is a unique situation, representing us with specific needs and challenges. As supporters of mine action we recognise this and we will do our part, in dialogue with affected states parties and involved stakeholders to respond to the local situation in the most rational manner.

Thank you