The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

A Note from the Interim Director

As evident in the articles published in this issue of The Journal, our community is not only resilient when presented with global conflict but stronger for working collaboratively.

UKRAINE: Coordinating the Response By Greg Crowther [ MAG (Mines Advisory Group) ]

The war in Ukraine has seen the use of ground and aerial weapons on a scale not seen in Europe for decades, causing immense devastation and human suffering.

The Recovery of Human Remains in Weapon-Contaminated Settings: Towards Guidance for the Mine Action Community By Lou Maresca, Chris Poole, and Jane Taylor, PhD [ International Committee of the Red Cross ]

Forensic specialists and other related experts are operational in the search for missing persons and the management of the dead by locating, recovering, and helping to identify human remains.

Integrating Humanitarian Mine Action and Humanitarian Forensic Action By Lauren Cobham et al.

When human remains are encountered, operators have responsibilities to ensure that they are dealt with appropriately.

Missed Opportunities: A Chance to Develop Synergy Between Humanitarian Mine Action and Humanitarian Forensic Action By Patrick Nowak [ American Military University ]

Because HMA and HFA are two separate disciplines with separately stated objectives, current efforts remain stove-piped within their respective disciplines, which can reduce the overall effectiveness of both.

Mine Action and the Reintegration of Former Combatants: Expanding the Debate By Laurie Druelle [ Independent ], Henrique Garbino [ Swedish Defence University ], and Eric Mellado Åhlin [ Independent ]

In the last decades, humanitarian mine action (HMA) and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR)² processes have increasingly been recognized as essential to paving the way for sustainable development.

Mine Action in Afghanistan and Tajikistan: Challenges and Opportunities By Markus Schindler [ Swiss Foundation for Mine Action ]

In the last decades, humanitarian mine action (HMA) and disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR)² processes have increasingly been recognized as essential to paving the way for sustainable development.

TNMAC’s Victim Assistance Activities: The Mental Health Aspect of Survivors and HMA Personnel By Reykhan Muminova, MD, PhD, and Muhabbat Ibrohimzoda, PhD [ Tajikistan National Mine Action Center ]

In accordance with Article 6.3 of the APMBC, Tajikistan is responsible for looking after its own landmine victims.

National Capacity Building for Humanitarian Mine Action Activities in Iraq By Mark Wilkinson, PhD [ United Nations Mine Action Service, Iraq ]

In the last two years, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Iraq has conducted detailed research into its management and delivery of improvised explosive device (IED) clearance activities.

New Conventional EOD and IEDD Competency Standards for Mine Action: Notes on T&EP 0930, 0931, and IMAS 0930 By Roly Evans [ Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining ] and Dan Perkins

In February 2022, the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) Review Board approved a fully revised Test and Evaluation Protocol (T&EP) 09.30 explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) Competency Standards.

Environmental Soil Sampling and Analysis: Application in Supporting Sustainable Land Use Practices in Areas Impacted by Explosive Ordnance By Bui Doan Bach, Kimberley McCosker [ Norwegian People’s Aid ], and Linsey Cottrell [ Conflict and Environment Observatory ]

The use of mechanical equipment such as flails, tillers, or rollers to clear land of explosive remnants can also adversely impact soils due to the loss of soil structure, erosion, and compaction.

Proof: How TIR Imaging Can Locate Buried Cluster Munitions in the Iraqi Desert By John Fardoulis [ Mobility Robotics ], Xavier Depreytere [ Humanity & Inclusion ], and Jonathon Guthrie [ Norwegian People’s Aid ]

We follow on from our previous work published in The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction that proved how buried thirty-year-old legacy AP and AT mines can be located using thermal infared sensors.