De-mining and Disarmament.

Illicit firearms (including small arms and light weapons-SALW-), Anti-personnel Landmines –APL- and explosive remnants of war –ERW- (explosives, ammunition, failed ammunition and explosive projectiles…) represent an obstacle to the livelihood of populations, transition of states from crises towards post-conflict survival as well as towards sustainable development and sustained stability.

They perpetuate humanitarian crises, threaten peace processes, fuel crime and terrorism, put national and regional security at risk, undermine conflict prevention programmes, and adversely affect social and economic rehabilitation, post-conflict reconstruction and sustainable development.

The Physical, Psychological and Social impact on populations includes:

undermined livelihoods, maimed victims (youth);
dislocation of social cohesion and trust between communities;
erosion or collapse of social services.

The Institutional, Political and Economic impact on states involves:

rise in criminality, banditry, criminal violence and illegal weapons trafficking activities;
challenges to the stability of neighbouring states or from neighbouring states, through porous borders;
challenges to state, judicial systems and traditional authority by armed groups (including non-state actors);
overall decline in economic production and trade.

All factors hinder the delivery of humanitarian assistance and erode the impact of development assistance. They represent an unquestionable obstacle to a country’s development (rural, infrastructure, trade, tourism, etc.) as well as to human development (inequality, social exclusion, poverty) and good governance (weakens the state and its administration).

The degree of contamination by APL and ERW, both used (in the ground/water) and in stocks or caches, is well described in the yearly publications of the Land Mine Monitor. The magnitude of the threat posed by the availability of illegal firearms, notably SALW and its ammunition is available in specific publications (International Action Network on Small Arms ; Stockholm International Peace Research Institute). Specifically on SALW, the EU has adopted in 2005 a dedicated Strategy, complementing the EU Strategy on WMD.

Under ERW/Mine action, the European Commission has been particularly active in developing countries on: 1- Risk education; 2 - survey, assessment and marking of suspected areas; 3 - detection and clearance; 4 - Victim assistance; 5 - Stockpile management/destruction; 6 - Capacity building in all of these areas including training.

Under Firearms (including SALW) action, the European Commission the European Commission has been particularly active in developing countries on: 1 - Legislative, regulatory issues; 2 - Firearms Exports and trafficking/cross border SALW control initiatives; 3 - firearms collection and destruction; 4 - stockpile management; 5 - risk awareness/education; 6 - surveys; 7 - civil society involvement; 8 - management information and exchange of systems and protocols; 9 - Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration (DDR); 10 - victim assistance.

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