In the countless images of Diana, Princess of Wales, one in particular stands out as a stark statement that highlighted the urgent need for change.
The image is of Diana wearing a protective face guard and vest in central Angola. It shone a spotlight on the use of landmines and the fight to end the use of these deadly and cruelly indiscriminate weapons.
Diana's championing of this cause brought much of the world's attention to the issue of landmines. In the wake of Diana's death in August 1997, politicians from around the world gathered and signed the Ottawa Treaty—an international agreement to ban the use of landmines.
As Diana's family recently celebrated what would have been her 46th birthday, her legacy lives on. Much progress has been made to ban landmines. In May 2007, two countries with a violent past, Serbia and Montenegro, destroyed their stockpile of landmines, joining dozens of other countries that no longer include landmines in their arsenals.
However, the work continues as some countries still produce these deadly devices.
Landmines Explained
A landmine is an explosive device that is laid in or on the ground, particularly during times of conflict. A weapon that is designed to restrict the movement of enemy forces, self-contained mines explode when triggered by a vehicle, animal or person treading over them.
Landmines, which can remain active for decades, continue to maim or kill long after a conflict ends.
Civilians Often the Victims
Although landmines were designed for soldiers at war, 80 per cent of landmine victims are civilians. UNICEF reports that children account for one out of every five landmine victims. They often lose limbs and can suffer from burns and shrapnel wounds.
Still in Use
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines estimates more than 80 countries are affected in some way by landmines and other unexploded devices. Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Colombia and Iraq are among the worst affected countries.
Uncleared landmines deny access to schools, health facilities and other important community services.
World Vision's Landmine Work
Through the support of Canadians, World Vision has been providing assistance to landmine-affected communities in Africa and Asia for more than 10 years. Staff provide counseling, vocational training and assistance with prosthetic limbs for victims.
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