04^th April 2011.

Today, the entire world marks International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. Bosnia and Herzegovina is on the list of the most mine-affected countries in the world and many BH organizations will mark this day and remind of the fact that 920.000 of people are endangered by presence of minefields and even 155.000 of them are at the high risk.

During the last three years, Handicap International and Swiss agency for Development and Cooperation have implemented the mine action and development project in Stolac and Berkovići municipalities. This project contributed to the active involvement of the citizens into the development projects, together with the local authorities and NGO sector.
Read the story from the filed with testimonies of the people from Stolac and Berkovici.

January, 14^th 2011.

It is difficult to explain, or try to explain, and especially to find justification for the attitudes of the people who, consciously and of their own free will, venture into marked mine fields. What are the reasons that compel a grown up family man to put his life on the line and step into the mine field, disregarding the clearly visible and frightening warning sign?

Does the need to provide for his family take precedence over concern for his own life? Does every safe return from the mine field encourage him to do the same thing tomorrow? Is that the only choice he has?

11^th January 2011.

The 5th issue of the newsletter Development and Mine Action in Focus is available now.
The content of the Newsletter is the following:

Municipalities should integrate mine action into local development strategy
Author: Emmanuel Sauvage, Handicap International

Mine Action and Development Funding in Bosnia and Herzegovina - part I
Development Approach Complements Mine Action
Authors: Michael Carrier, Handicap International
Dr. John Powell, Community and Countryside Research Institute ....

December, 27^th 2010.

Members of the Coalition for Linking Mine Action and Development have recognized the importance and necessity for systematic integration of development priorities of Mine Affected Communities in Bosnia and Herzegovina into strategic planning at all levels (local, cantonal, entity, state). It is also important to improve legal framework in BiH and upgrade capacities of institutions in charge of managing Mine Action and development initiatives.

November, 9^th 2010

The First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions started today in the morning hours, local time, in the Laotian capital of Vientiane, following an opening ceremony. The conference is to last three days. This is the first conference of States Parties to the Convention since the Convention entered into force as binding international law on 1st August 2010. More than 110 states have sent delegations to the Meeting, among them Bosnia-Herzegovina.

Photo © Tracie Williams

September, 22^nd 2010.

On Monday, 20. September 2010, cleared land in Liporašće and Porebrice in Gradačac municipality was handed over. Before the handover process, the mayor, Mr Fadil Imširović, hosted a meeting with the representatives of the deminers' organisation BH Demining and the representatives of Handicap International.

September, 20^th 2010

According to the UN Journal, Bosnia-Herzegovina ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 7. September 2010. Bosnia-Herzegovina thus became the 40th member of the Convention which took effect as binding international law on 1. August 2010.

29.06.2010.

Center for Society Orientation - COD and Handicap International SEE has translated and published UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities - Easy reading on Serbian language.