Handicap International is an independent international aid organisation working in situations of poverty and exclusion, conflict and disaster. Handicap International has gone on to work in over 60 countries worldwide. Our work has benefited several million people in that time.
Handicap International has played a leading role in the fight against cluster munitions, both on the ground through bomb clearance, risk education, data collection and victim assistance, as well at national and international level, through lobbying and advocacy.
Handicap International was a co-recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize as a founding member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines which led to the signing of the Mine Ban Treaty.
Faced with the devastation caused by antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions, Handicap International soon realised that providing medical care alone would not be enough. HI therefore made a commitment to work on all levels to help mine victims and their communities lead a normal life, as far as possible.
Victim assistance
- © Handicap International
In mine and cluster bomb contaminated countries, Handicap International is working to develop delivery of care in terms of rehabilitation, support and the social inclusion of individual victims HI helps survivors back into society through counselling, community activity, income generating activities and sport. The organisation also focuses on training of local technicians and physiotherapists to undertake the physical rehabilitation and fitting of orthopaedic appliances, and psychological and social support disabled people require.
Mine and Cluster Munition Risk Education
- © H.Laurenge/Handicap International
Handicap International also tries to prevent further accidents by carrying out bomb clearance and educating the local population about the dangers of landmines and cluster bombs. Mine and cluster bomb risk education programmes consist of education activities for the prevention of accidents caused by landmines, cluster munitions and other explosive devices. They are mainly aimed at populations living in or needing to cross contaminated regions.
Handicap International collects data on landmines, unexploded ordnance accidents and victims in order to define at-risk populations and devise appropriate prevention messages and educates local populations through various information and training campaigns.
International Advocacy
- © Handicap International
Handicap International will always provide support to survivors but experience has shown that banning these weapons is the only way forward. Over the years, Handicap International has become one of the reference organisations on landmine and cluster bomb issues. HI was created in Thailand in 1982 as a response to landmine injuries suffered by Cambodian refugees. However, soon it became clear that action needs to be taken at an international level to ban these horrific weapons.
Handicap International actively campaigns for a comprehensive international ban on their production, stockpiling, transfer and use of cluster munitions. It also Played and active role in the the process leading to the Ottawa Landmine Treaty. It has and will continue to play an active role in the Ottawa process as well as the Oslo process to ban cluster munitions.
Handicap International is a founding member of the Cluster Munition Coalition, and actively campaign in support of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which came into effect on 1st August 2010. Handicap International is also a founder and co-ordinating member of Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, which monitors these two international treaties and produces annual reports on their implementation.
Mine and Cluster Munition Clearance
- © Handicap International
Handicap International began clearance activities in Cambodia in the 1980s. As the organization’s work expanded into other countries and regions it brought Handicap International into contact with the devastating reality of cluster bombs. Today HI mine and cluster munition clearance operations are aimed at helping a population to rebuild a normal life. The priority is on areas that play an important role in the daily lives of local communities (e.g. paths near schools or wells). HI is also active within various international working groups dealing with future strategies and activities for action against landmines and cluster bombs.
