Vice Prime-Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Didier Reynders once again condemned the use of anti-personnel mines. He spoke during an event organised by NGO Handicap International, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the Ottawa Convention on banning anti-personnel mines.
The Foreign Affairs cabinet revealed the Ottawa Convention on banning anti-personnel mines is now 20 years old in a press release. “Belgium is a pioneer in the fight against the use of mines. It was the first country to adopt a national legislation banning anti-personnel mines in 1995. In June 1997, the Brussels declaration marked the end of a decisive step in the process of adopting and signing the Ottawa Convention”, which evetually happened on the 3rd and 4th of December 1997.
The Vice Prime-Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister once again condemned the use of anti-personnel mines. “I hope that the world will be rid of anti-personnel mines before 2025, so there will be no new victims”, he said. “With the support of the Convention’s special envoys, Princess Astrid and Prince Mired of Jordan, Belgium can continue its campaign to make the Convention universal. 162 states have joined the convention to date”. “Support for victims, their family and community remains a priority”, the Foreign Affairs cabinet said.
Didier Reynders and Princess Astrid, along with Handicap International, took part in an event to commemorate the Convention.
The NGO organised a fundraising dinner to celebrate 35 years of helping handicapped people. It’s also 20 years since it got the Nobel Peace prize for being a founding member of the campaign against anti-personnel mines. This led to the signing of the Ottawa Convention. On Saturday afternoon, it will organise an inclusive dance event called “Solidanza” in Wolowe-Saint-Pierre.
(Source: Belga)
