Les liaisons fructueuses - RUIG-GIAN

NSA deminers in South Sudan. Photo : Peter Mozynski
cooperating in mine action. It was led by the NGO
Geneva Call in partnership with the Program for the
Study of International Organization(s) (PSIO) of the
Graduate Institute of International Studies (HEI).
Other institutions contributing to the project were
the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS),
the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian
Demining (GICHD), the University of Geneva and
the International Law Section of HEI. In addition
to the GIAN (principal donor), other donors contributing
to the project were the Swedish Ministry
of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Italy through
UNMAS, and the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign
Affairs through its continued (non-earmarked)
support to Geneva Call.
This article discusses the challenges and advantages
of multi-party research projects. In fact, it is the story
about the birth, implementation and outcomes of
a GIAN project as relates to the partnership of the
project.
How the project came about
Geneva Call has been engaging NSAs in a mine ban
since 2000. It has acquired in-depth experience not
only in the engagement process, but also in working
with NSAs to ensure that mine action benefits
affected communities, and has gained the confidence
of many NSAs 3 . In order to best use this confidence
to alleviate the dangers of AP mines for the civilian
population and to further build trust with other
NSAs, Geneva Call saw a need to know more about
NSA mine use and mine action. This realisation was
shared by several humanitarian actors, including
Involvement of Armed Non-State Actors in the Landmine Problem and Recommendations for their Positive Contribution to a
Landmine Ban and Mine Action
Coordinator : Elisabeth Reusse-Decrey
3. Geneva Call’s core mandate is to convince NSAs to renounce the use of AP mines and to collaborate in mine action through the signing of the Deed of Commitment for Adherence to a
Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines and for Cooperation in Mine Action.
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