Central and East African Regional Victim Assistance Workshop, 13th and 14th of October 2010

Central and East Africa are regions heavily affected by mines, cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war (ERW), and as such count many related casualties. Given the call to develop national action plans on victim assistance as per the recently adopted Cartagena Action Plan, and the strong VA obligations laid out in the CCM, Handicap International has organized a workshop for government representatives, donors, civil society and service providers, including survivors and disability advocates on victim assistance.

Both Berihu and Aynalem, as Ban Advocates from Ethiopia, attended the workshop. They delivered excellent speeches. Download their speeches:

Berihu’s Speech in Nairobi

My name is Berihu Mesele and I come from Ethiopia. In June 1998, the Ayder School, close to my house in Mekele, was bombed. As a result of these bombings, 53 people died, among them 27 were children. I got seriously injured. But in a certain way, I was lucky, I survived. I will now give you a short presentation on the Victim Assistance obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and in particular what is new in comparison with other Conventions.

 We have an enlarged definition of the victim

In this Convention, the definition of victim does not only consider the individual
injured by cluster munitions, but also his family and community.
For instance, after my accident, my entire family has been affected. I now face many
limitations in comparison with what I was able to do before, and this has a very
important impact into my family given my status of head of the family.

It is clearly defined that the affected State has the responsibility to
develop an action plan, including budget, in a process that involves all
stake holders, including relevant ministries, civil society organizations
such as DPO’s and of course, survivors themselves.

I will just remember all of you this important sentence: “Nothing about us without
us”

The affected State also needs to define a focal point on Victim Assistance, to coordinate efforts.

What we have in this Convention is a good and comprehensive package

 Medical care

The affected State must set up an efficient medical care to bring support to individuals right away after a cluster munition accident. In my case, just after my accident, I was brought to the hospital in my town. In that sense, I was lucky too. You know, that many survivors from cluster munition accidents in Africa and elsewhere live far away from hospitals. Sometimes, it takes hours to bring them to the hospital. Many of them die on the way.

Rehabilitation

The cluster munition survivors must be rehabilitated.
At first, I thought I was a useless person, but after 3 months, when I was cured, I saw
many people using wheelchairs and other walking aids and I was lucky to receive a
wheelchair myself and became mobile. Still some survivors don't receive the
necessary physical rehabilitation.

Psychological support

I myself had the support of my family. Mostly psychological support has been given
by the family, friends or groups of survivors. Survivors shall receive more
psychological support from the State.

Social and economic inclusion

If we take the example of employment, States should create job opportunities for victims.
I, myself could continue my studies in management and I could even find a job in the financial sector of the government in my town in Mekele. Many survivors in Africa say that the economical situation worsened and that unemployment is so high that survivors or people with disabilities are the last to be chosen for a job.

It is also essential to respect a non discrimination and an inclusive development approach– there is no need to create a parallel set of services

Last important point is to take steps to mobilise national and international resources.

To conclude, the Convention on Cluster Munitions can be seen as the logical consequence of the work undertaken and lessons learned in implementing the victim assistance provision of the Mine Ban Treaty. The package in the Convention has itself become.

Aynalem's Speech in Nairobi

My name is Aynalem Zenebe. I am 18 years old. I come from Ethiopia, from the city of Mekelle. I am not only a cluster munition survivor but also an active Ban Advocate. The day of the accident, I do not remember exactly what happened to me, because at that time, I was a very young kid of 7 years old. When I got injured in 1998, during the border conflict, I just remember I was in my house in the afternoon.

I got injured in my two legs, and my right leg is now amputated and I am using an artificial leg. I spent several months into the Mekele hospital before being referred into a hospital in Addis Ababa. It took me again several months of medical rehabilitation in this hospital. Now, after several years I got injured, I believe that I can speak on behalf of many survivors in Ethiopia, as we face many similar challenges.

I am not a specialist on victim assistance, but I would like to help better defining what the basic needs of the victims are, from my own experience. For instance, this month I will be graduated from a vocational college in commercial studies. I know that I have developed enough strength to advocate for my own rights. For instance, I believe I should have the same opportunities as others to have an interesting job. I want all survivors to receive all support to ensure the same rights to each citizen.

Several years after my accident, I became involved into the Ban Advocate’s project. I have attended different regional and international conferences, together with the other Ban Advocates, from Africa and other regions in the world, to promote the Convention on Cluster Munitions. I personally do not want to see any more cluster munitions in this world. I believe this Convention, well implemented by responsible States, will prevent young people like me to face what I have experienced.

Thanks for your attention.

Aynalem