| Landmine
Victim Assistance Bill Gains Support in Congress
The "International Disability and Victims of Landmines, Civil Strife and Warfare Assistance Act of 2001" was introduced in the fall and is now gaining support in the House (House bill 3169 IH sponsored by Rep. Tom Lantos) and the Senate (Senate bill 1777.IS sponsored by Sen. Clinton). This legislation will expand authority at the USAID and the Department of Health and Human Services to provide increased assistance for: Medical and Rehabilitative Services; Research, Prevention and Public Awareness Campaigns; and Facilitation of Peer Support Networks for Individuals with Disabilities, including Victims of Landmines, and other Victims of Civil Strife and Warfare.
Her Majesty described the plight of landmine victims worldwide and made the case for the importance of increased support for victim assistance programs. Her Majesty spoke passionately about the situation landmine survivors face in the developing world with few medical supplies, little sanitation or clean water, and a scarcity of surgeons, physical therapists and psychologists. With 500,000 landmine victims in Afghanistan alone, their needs are great. Her Majesty was joined by Lincoln Bloomfield, Assistant Secretary of State for Political and Military Affairs and Special Representative for the President and Secretary of State for Mine Action, who provided an overview of the landmine situation in Afghanistan and the need for assistance programs for victims of landmines, civil strife and warfare. Representatives from the Agency for International Development and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were also on hand to detail their current and future programs in Afghanistan and to provide an overview of their partnerships with international relief organizations in the areas of victim assistance. USCBL Coordinator Gina Coplon-Newfield praised Her Majesty Queen Noor, Senator Clinton, and the other leaders present for their support of this very important victim assistance legislation. Look out for future action alerts on how to voice your support of these bills to your legislators.
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On
April 11, 2002, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan appeared as Guest
Speaker at a Senate Briefing titled "Landmines in Afghanistan: A
Case for Victim Assistance." The Senate Briefing was sponsored by
Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-New York), Patrick Leahy (D-
Vermont) and Arlen Specter (R- Pennsylvania). Landmine Survivors
Network Board Member, Ambassador Karl R. Inderfurth introduced the
panel and moderated the discussion. | FREE EMAIL CAMPAIGN UPDATES |
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Ban Treaty and countries that have ratified it, contact the International
Campaign to Ban Landmines www.icbl.org
US Campaign to Ban Landmines |