Mine action activities aim to reduce the risks and harms to civilians and humanitarian workers of explosive hazards.222
The five pillars of mine action are:
Victim assistance has the end goal of ensuring that persons with disabilities, including mine survivors, participate fully and effectively in society on an equal basis with others. This implies taking steps to achieve the highest attainable standards of health, rehabilitation, psychosocial support, inclusive education, social protection, work and employment, as well as full participation and inclusion in society and an adequate standard of living. It includes action to meet the needs of casualties, survivors, other persons with disabilities, the families of people injured and killed, and affected communities. Fields of action include medical care, rehabilitation, psychosocial support, social inclusion, inclusive education and economic inclusion, including social protection. Data collection on the needs of victims is also required, and laws and policies protecting and promoting the rights of victims need to be passed and applied.
Non-discrimination, the recognition of human rights, the role of gender, and recognition of development contexts are key principles. Article 5(2a) of the Convention on Cluster Munitions states that victim assistance programmes must not discriminate against or between cluster munition victims, persons with disabilities, and persons who have been injured or have acquired impairments through other causes.223
Mine action-related risks and impacts
The following guidance will support humanitarian actors working in mine action to identify and remove barriers faced by personswith disabilities, as well as their families, support persons and caregivers, when they try to access mine action programmesin humanitarian settings.