Description

In mine action sector, assisting women, men, boys and girls who are victims of Explosive Remnants of War – ERW (mine/unexploded ordnance – UXO) includes provision of medical care, rehabilitation, psychosocial support and access to education and economic inclusion. Those assistances require long-term commitment from the affected countries and overall stakeholders. For instance, five AMS, i.e. Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam, are confirmed as mine/ERW-affected countries. Data from Landmine Monitor report (October 2018) reveals the following reported casualties Cambodia: 64,855 (1979-2019), Lao PDR: 50,754 (1964-2017); Myanmar: 4,193 (1999-2017); Thailand: 3,865 (all known, as of 2017); and Vietnam: 105,078 (all known, 1975-2017). Meanwhile, total of 543 casualties of ERW are recorded found in Bangsamoro, Philippines (from 2012 to date).

Having considered the significant numbers of victims, as above, and the assistances required by these victims, ARMAC initiated the project which aims to enhance the assistance to the victims of ERW in ASEAN through the achievements of five objectives as follows:

• Objective 1: To promote the establishment of victim assistance network as a regional platform for various stakeholders among ASEAN
• Objective 2: To assist the ASEAN Member States (AMS) on the victim-assistance-related knowledge sharing, need/s and resource/s assessment and possibility of its mobilisation.
• Objective 3: To assess the needs of the victims of ERW (mine/UXO) in the affected AMS for further assistance
• Objective 4: To assist the ASEAN Member States (AMS) in providing psychosocial supports to the victims of ERW (mine/UXO)
• Objective 5: To conduct research regarding the “ERW (Mine/UXO) Victim Assistance Inclusive Services in Cambodia,” as well as “Community Perspectives of Humanitarian ERW (Mine/UXO) Action in Laos and Viet Nam”.

The project contributes to the achievement of:

• ASEAN’s goal of being a ‘united, inclusive and resilient community’ – as stipulated in ASEAN 2025: Forging Ahead Together;
• ASEAN Political-Security Community (APSC) Blueprint 2025 – highlighting ERW(mine/UXO)-action-related key element under the peaceful, secure and stable region characteristic: "Promote the ARMAC to study, document and share best practices to address humanitarian aspects of landmines and explosive remnants of war (II.B.4.5.i.)";
• ASEAN-Republic of Korea Plan of Action 2016-2020 – Security Cooperation: “Support efforts to address humanitarian aspects of landmines and explosive remnants of war in the region through ROK’s support in financial and technical assistance, and capacity building, and support the work of ARMAC in addressing this issue (1.2.8)”; and
• ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC)’s second mandate and function: Facilitate appropriate medical and rehabilitation assistance for the victims of ERW, upon request from the affected ASEAN Member States (AMS)