23 August, 2004

Media Statement
NZ Campaign Against Landmines (CALM)

Countdown Nairobi!

CONTENTS

A. Priorities for Action

B. Prepare for the Summit

C. To-do list

D. More actions you can take

A. PRIORITIES FOR ACTION

1. Ensure a high level, well-prepared delegation

2. Urge input in the Action Plan and other draft Summit documents

3. Attract media coverage

More priorities are given in Section D below and will be highlighted in forthcoming ACTION COUNTDOWNS!

B. PREPARE FOR THE SUMMIT

1. Ensure a high level and well-prepared delegation

• Please contact your government to encourage them to send the highest-possible representation to the Nairobi Summit. Ask whether your Head of State or Foreign Affairs Minister will be there. Aim high!

• If relevant, encourage your government to include landmine survivors in their delegation.

• Urge them to come to Nairobi ready to participate actively in this important event. They should come prepared to tell Summit participants what their country will do to implement the Convention at home and how they will help others in this regard.

MORE

• Confirmed so far: Foreign Ministers and Heads of State of Kenya, Thailand and Croatia, International Committee of the Red Cross President Jakob Kellenberger, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, Queen Noor of Jordan, a video link with Pope John Paul II.

• The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, sent a letter of invitation on 14 May 2004, urging participation by Heads of States.

• ICBL letters of 20 August 2004 have repeated this message.

• Why? The participation of world leaders brings weight and importance to the Summit and its conclusions, ensuring that the Action Plan will be implemented since it has been signed off at the highest level. Their involvement shows States Parties' commitment to the task of building a mine-free world. Also, their presence will attract media attention.

2. Ask your government to make inputs on draft documents

• Urge contributions to the Nairobi Summit documents at the final informal consultations in Geneva on 24 September.

• Three draft documents: the Review, Action Plan and Final Declaration, will be sent to states for review on the first week of September.

• The Action Plan must be concrete and action-oriented, and the Final Declaration inspiring and strong.

MORE: Call for Action: Action Plan for Nairobi Summit

3. Media efforts

• Encourageyour government to promote the Nairobi Summit in national and local media. One concrete action: ask them to distribute posters and broadcast the 30 second television advertisement produced for states. These can be downloaded for free: http://www.reviewconference.org/posters_video.htm

• Approach national and local media to put the Nairobi Summit in their news diary (or calendar). Adapt and send this blurb to news desks, editors, national wire services and media diary services :

"World leaders, landmine survivors, Nobel peace prize winners and other advocates for a global ban on antipersonnel landmines look forward to the momentous Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World: 29 November Ð 3 December 2004.

The Nairobi Summit is the first review conference of the convention which prohibits landmines and the biggest milepost since its birth in Ottawa in December 1997.

More than 500 delegates, including decision makers at the highest levels, are expected. President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya will open the event, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan may close it and Pope John Paul II and Jordan's Queen Noor are also expected to contribute. http://www.icbl.org/nairobisummit/media "

MORE

• Additional ideas on publicity to come in another ACTION COUNTDOWN !

• In the meantime, consider writing an opinion piece for a newspaper or website, write a letter to the editor of a newspaper/or call a radio or TV talk show, organise a photo call, ask a newspaper to publish a photo essay, pitch an interview with a newspaper, magazine, radio or TV channel.

• See how you can work with the national offices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) or United Nations agencies on media efforts for the Summit. All players, including the ICBL, ICRC, UN and States Parties are working to coordinate media efforts and maximize coverage.

C. TO-DO LIST

(Please stick this on your notice board or wall and tick off as you achieve the goals!)

1. YES I have contacted my government to call for a high level, well-prepared delegation to the Nairobi Summit.

2. YES I have urged them to be prepared to give input into the draft Action Plan and other Summit documents at the Final Informal Consultation in Geneva on 24 September.

3. YES I have discussed their efforts for media coverage ahead of the Summit including distribution of the posters and TV advertisement.

4. YES I have developed my/our own plans for media coverage of the Summit and in the preceding period.

5. YES/NOT RELEVANT AS NON-MINE AFFECTED I have pushed my government to develop a strong mine action plan and urged them to ask for its inclusion in the Summit Action Plan.

6. YES/ NOT RELEVANT AS NON-MINE AFFECTED I have called on the government to come to Nairobi prepared to report on plans for and implementation of comprehensive victim assistance programmes

7. YES I have encouraged my government to make a bold and specific commitment of assistance for the eradication of antipersonnel mines in our countries and others e.g. financial, personnel, technical assistance.

8. YES I have urged support for ICBL's view on joint operations, mines with sensitive fuzes and mines kept for training.

9. YES/NOT RELEVANT AS NO STOCKPILES I have urged that stockpile destruction is speeded up and that specific commitments are included in the Action Plan.

10. YES I have urged the adoption of national legislation by the Summit OR called for speedy adoption by other states where it is in process.

11. YES I have urged support for the treaty from non-member states and non-state actors

12. YES I have encouraged young people in my community to pledge their continued
support to rid the world of landmines by endorsing the Youth Declaration that will be presented to world leaders at the Nairobi Summit.

D. MORE ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE

1. Get strong mine action plans drafted and included in the Action Plan

2. Urge reports on plans for and implementation of comprehensive victim assistance programmes

3. Encourage bold commitments of assistance by all states

4. Push for support for ICBL's view on joint operations, mines with sensitive fuzes and mines kept for training

5. Urge states to speed up or complete stockpile destruction

6. Call for urgent adoption of national legislation where already in proces

7. Urge support for the treaty from non-member states and non-state actors

These will be highlighted in future ACTION COUNTDOWNS ! See how much you can tick off the To-Do List before the next one!

For more information: read ICBL goals for Nairobi and visit the Nairobi Summit official website