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Vienna Expert Conference on Victim Assistance |
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 Spindelegger: „Raise humanitarian standards for victim assistance worldwide"
Foreign Minister on Vienna Expert Conference on Victim Assistance
Vienna, 8 April 2010 - "With this international conference, Austria once
again underlines its strong humanitarian engagement and its consistent
commitment to the protection of civilians in armed conflicts“ said
Foreign Minister on the occasion of the „Vienna Expert Conference on
Victim Assistance - from Cartagena to Laos“ that will take place on 8
and 9 April in the Vienna National Defence Academy.
Austria consistently backs the highest possible and comprehensive
standards for victim assistance in international forums. This engagement
is also expressed in resolution 1894 on the protection of civilians in
armed conflicts, adopted by the UN Security Council under Austrian
presidency in November 2009: "This resolution is another proof of the
humanitarian focus of our foreign policy engagement. It offers specific
approaches for integrating the victim assistance concept into the
international community“, said the Foreign Minister.
This objective is also pursued by Austria in the preparation process for
the first meeting of states parties to the Convention on Cluster
Munitions in Laos in November 2010. "As a pioneer in the process for the
banning of mines and cluster munitions, Austria has a great interest in
the best possible preparation of this conference. It must be made sure
that the topic of victim assistance is adequately considered in the
negotiations. Therefore, we have invited state representatives and civil
society experts to Vienna for a comprehensive exchange of experiences
and strategies on the topic of victim assistance. The conference should
also examine to which extent UN Security Resolution 1894 can be best
implemented in this area.“
Austria played a leading role among the states which promoted the
signing of the 1997 Antipersonnel Mine Ban Convention and the 2008
Convention on Cluster Munitions. As part of the Austrian mine action
programme, Austria co-funded projects for mine clearance and victim
assistance with 8 million Euros in the last five years, especially in
the Balkans, in Africa, and in Afghanistan.
For more information, contact:
Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs
Press Department
Tel.: +43(0)501150-3262,4549,4550
Fax: +43(0)501159-213
abti3(at)bmeia.gv.at
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