LTTE women take part in mine ban conference

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 August 2004, 17:13 GMT]
Two senior female members of the Liberation Tigers are taking part in a conference organised by Geneva Call for former women combatants of Non State Actors to identify how they can contribute to the promotion of the landmine ban and other humanitarian norms. The conference began in Geneva Thursday.

Geneva Call is a Switzerland-based NGO that engages Non State Actors (NSAs) to ban anti-personnel landmines because of their humanitarian consequences.

The following is a press release issued by the Landmine Ban Advocacy Forum about the conference:

"The workshop will be the first of its kind to assemble women combatants in leadership positions in NSAs.

The Landmine Ban Advocacy Forum (LBAF) said it commends this initiative and welcomes the participation of two representatives of the LTTE at this event. Engaging Non State Actors in a complementary mine ban process is an essential component in solving the global landmine problem.

Geneva Call has introduced the Deed of Commitment for Adherence to a Total Ban on Antipersonnel Mines and for Cooperation in Mine Action as a document that NSAs could sign to show their commitment to refrain from the use of Antipersonnel Mines. As at present 26 NSAs have signed the Geneva Call Deed of Commitment.

The LBAF once again reiterates its appeal to the LTTE to sign Geneva Call's Deed of Commitment and the Government to sign the Ottawa Convention banning the use and stockpiling of anti-personnel landmines, an indiscriminateweapon of war.

The conference is being organized in collaboration with the Program for the Study of International Organisations (PSIO) of the Graduate Institute for International Studies, Geneva, and takes place from 26-29 August.