Home > Regional Workshops > Third Continental Conference of African Experts > 

Conference Programme

WEDNESDAY 9 SEPTEMBER

Opening Session (Chair: South Africa)

  • Statement by Mr Mxolisi Nkosi, Deputy Director-General, Africa Bilateral - Representative of the Government of the Republic of South Africa
  • Statement by Mr Rodney Kiwa, AU Panel of the Wise - Representative of the African Union’s Commissioner for Peace and Security PDF 85KB
  • Statement by Amb. Peter Tejler, Representative of the European Union Presidency PDF 82KB
  • Statement by Mr Andreas Strub, Co-ordinator, Office of the Personal Representative on Non-Proliferation – Council of the European Union High Representative PDF 194KB
  • Statement by Ms Margaret Arach Orech, Representative of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines PDF 61KB
  • Overview of the purpose and goals of the Continental Conference - South Africa
  • Election of the Bureau

Africa as an Anti-Personnel Mine-Free Zone: Progress and Challenges (Chair: Kenya)

  • The Importance of Africa as an Anti-Personnel Mine-Free Zone for the Common African Defence and Security Policy (CADSP): From Kempton Park to Pretoria via Addis Ababa – Mr Peter Otim, Representative of the African Union’s Commissioner for Peace and Security
  • The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction: Background and status – Mr Kerry Brinkert, Director of the AP Mine Ban Convention Implementation Support Unit PDF 706KB

Panel Session I: Mine clearance and related activities (Chair: Mozambique)

  • Working the ground: national demining programmes  – Zambia and Mozambique PDF 614KB
  • Mine action and development in Africa – Mr Reuben McCarthy, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) PDF 79KB
  • An overview of mine risk reduction in Africa – Mr Stephen Blight, United Nations Childrens’ Fund (UNICEF) PDF 54KB
  • An overview of the AP Mine Ban Convention’s Article 5 obligations and extensions and completion processes – Ms Sophie Delfolie, Implementation Support Specialist PDF 298KB

Panel Session II: Mine victim assistance (Chair: Uganda)

  • An overview of victim assistance activities in Africa – Mr Stan Brabant, Handicap International
  • Working the ground: national efforts to address the needs and guarantee the rights of landmine survivors – Mr Herbert Baryayebwa, Ugandan Commissioner for People with Disabilities PDF 165KB
  • Understanding victim assistance in the context of relevant international humanitarian legal frameworks – Mr Kerry Brinkert, Director of the AP Mine Ban Convention Implementation Support Unit PDF 463KB

Panel Session III: Stockpile destruction (Chair: Zambia)

  • An overview of stockpile destruction in Africa – Co-Chair of the AP Mine Ban Convention’s Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction (Zambia) PDF 195KB

THURSDAY 10 SEPTEMBER

Panel Session IV: Continental / international co-operation & assistance (Chair: South Africa)

  • The Challenge of intra-African co-operation in mine action – Mr Peter Otim, Representative of the African Union’s Commissioner for Peace and Security
  • International efforts to promote effective co-operation – Ms Ingunn Vatne, Co-ordinator of the Resource Mobilisation Contact Group (Norway) PDF 264KB

Panel Session V: Lesson Drawing and other matters essential for ensuring a mine-free Africa (Chair: Senegal)

  • National implementing legislation – Ms Sarah Swart, International Committee of the Red Cross PDF 449KB
  • Learning Lessons from Angola’s Mine Action experiences: progress and challenges
  • Assisting Victims: Lessons from Ethiopia

Toward the Second Review Conference of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Chair: Niger)

  • Objectives and expected outcomes of the Second Review Conference - Ambassador Susan Eckey of Norway, President-Designate of the Second Review Conference PDF 92KB
  • Status of preparations and the role of African States - Mr Daniel Avila, Representative of the Secretary-General of the Second Review Conference (Colombia) PDF 3.3MB
  • Expectations and views of the International Committee of the Red Cross - Mr Peter Herby PDF 272KB
  • Discussion, including the expectations and views of African and international civil society organisations

FRIDAY 11 SEPTEMBER

Closing Session (Chair: South Africa)

  • Consideration and adoption of the Common African Position PDF 235KB
  • Closing Remarks:
    • Government of South Africa
    • African Union