ITF Enhancing Human Security Annual Report 2006

There is a significant public and political awareness of the mine problem in South East Europe (SEE) and the enormous impact that landmines have on safety, as well as on the humanitarian, economic and environmental development of the region. Slovenian Government has recognized its role in the SEE region 9 years ago by establishing the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF). With its contribution of more than 4,9 million USD, Slovenia has greatly contributed to the increased stability and safer environment in the region of SEE. Since the start ITF has grown into an internationally recognized organization, supported by donations by more than 27 governments around the world and many other organizations, companies and individuals. ITF is now firmly set on the path to its main goal – South East Europe free of mines. With full cooperation of the local authorities in all the countries of South East Europe, as well as international organizations and donors, ITF is optimistic that the maintenance of peace, reintegration of refugees/returnees and internally displaced persons, revitalization and economic development of SEE can become a reality. Extensive experience and practice in Mine Action that has been accumulating in ITF for the past 9 years on one hand and successful operations and progress in the countries of SEE on the other, carried to decision to expand its activities also into other mine affected countries and regions. Lessons learned from regional cooperation through South East Europe Mine Action Coordination Council (SEEMACC) are being presented also to the representatives from other mine affected regions in order to apply positive approaches and to contribute to effectiveness, transparency, better use of resources and finally to confidence building between neighbouring countries. Finally, 2006 was a good year for ITF, not only in terms of fundraising, where ITF succeeded to raise more than 30 million USD, but also on the national, regional and international level. Therefore, I would like to express my deepest gratitude for all the contributions and stakeholders’ cooperation with the ITF. And at the end,even though it probably goes without saying, allow me to express my gratitude to the arduous and enthusiastic ITF team for all their efforts. Only together the goals set can become a reality

ITF Enhancing Human Security Annual Report 1999

ITF Annual Report 199

ITF Enhancing Human Security Annual Report 2003

The year 2003 underlined the continuity in the valuable contribution of ITF to demining and victims assistance in South-East Europe. ITF received unanimous and deep appreciation by the entire donors\u27 community for its excellent performance record. In 2003, ITF facilitated the clearance of nearly 8 million square meters from mines and UXO in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro, always in close co-operation with international and local authorities. ITF has also succeeded in raising more than 23 million USD in new funds. Increased funding came from 13 governments, the EU (including EC Delegation in Croatia and the European Reconstruction Agency), Adopt-A-Minefield, UNDP BH, and 20 other companies, organisations, communities and individuals. This underlines the partnership effort between governments, NGOs, business and local communities in both donor and recipient countries in demining activities. Many of the activities relating to the mine victims assistance highlight the human dimension of work of ITF and the crucial importance of risk education projects. There is no doubt that, through increased awareness programmes, many of the accidents that continue to occur, especially among children, could be avoided

ITF Enhancing Human Security Annual Report 2010

Since 1998, ITF has grown into an internationally recognized organization, supported by donations from extensive number of governments, public and private organizations, companies and individuals that has already surpassed the figure of 330 million USD. ITF contribution to the global fight against landmines and especially to the one in South East Europe (SEE) can not and must not be measured solely by numbers and statistical data. The contribution must be viewed in terms of its input to the restoration of conditions for cultural, social and economic lives of individuals and communities living in or emerging from war-torn society. Stable conditions have been secured for faster socio – economic development of the region SEE although our work has not come to an end. We still need to secure long-term conditions for a sustainable development of the affected regions. Only then may we declare that our objective has been reached

ITF Enhancing Human Security Annual Report 1998

ITF Annual Report 199

ITF Enhancing Human Security Annual Report 2004

The International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF) is a humanitarian, nonprofit organization devoted to the eradication of landmines in the region of South-East Europe and the world. When first established by the Slovenian government in March 1998, ITF was to assist Bosnia and Herzegovina in solving its landmine problem, and help surviving landmine victims with physical and socio-economic rehabilitation. However, as BiH was not the only country in the region affected by landmines (see Mine-contamination in the countries of ITF operations), it made good sense for ITF to spread its operations to include all other mine-affected countries in SE Europe as well. Presently, ITF is working in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia and Montenegro. Some of the activities are also being carried out in Southern Caucasus and Cyprus. ITF seeks to attract public and private donors for Mine Action related activities in SE Europe including mine clearance, landmine victims assistance, mine risk education and training. While ITF has adopted a holistic approach to the landmine and UXO problem, we are however also striving to meet the needs of mine-affected communities on the ground level. ITF has been working very closely with the national governments and Mine Action Centers of the mine-affected countries so as to ensure that donated funds are spent on providing useful help to the local population

ITF Enhancing Human Security Annual Report 2019

ITF Enhancing Human Security (ITF) is a humanitarian, non-profit organization specializing in land mine clearance, eradication of explosive remnants of war and other impacts from conflict. Established by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia in March 1998, ITF’s initial purpose was to help Bosnia and Herzegovina in the implementation of the peace agreement and to provide assistance and support in post-conflict rehabilitation. Since its inception, ITF has been continuously developing and enhancing its mission by expanding the scope of its activities and geographic area. ITF’s mission is to address the problems of an ever-changing human security environment, the needs of beneficiary countries, and the priorities of the donor community. In order to increase the impact on wider human security, the European Commission granted ITF the title of European Union Member States’ Specialized Agency (MSSA), which opens up the possibilities to cooperate within humanitarian projects of the European Union. With this status, ITF joins 11 other MSSA agencies under the humanitarian activities of Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations

ITF Enhancing Human Security Annual Report 2008

Since 1998, ITF has grown into an internationally recognized organization, supported by donations from extensive number of governments, public and private organizations, companies and individuals that has already surpassed the figure of 330 million USD. ITF contribution to the global fight against landmines and especially to the one in South East Europe (SEE) can not and must not be measured solely by numbers and statistical data. The contribution must be viewed in terms of its input to the restoration of conditions for cultural, social and economic lives of individuals and communities living in or emerging from war-torn society. Stable conditions have been secured for faster socio – economic development of the region SEE although our work has not come to an end. We still need to secure long-term conditions for a sustainable development of the affected regions. Only then may we declare that our objective has been reached

ITF Enhancing Human Security Annual Report 2007

Since 1998, ITF has grown into an internationally recognized organization, supported by donations from extensive number of governments, public and private organizations, companies and individuals that has already surpassed the figure of 240 million USD. Invaluable experience that has been accumulated in the last 10 years of work of ITF in Mine Action related areas as well as the experience gathered in the operations in the crisis-hit areas in which the Republic of Slovenia has been successfully involved proves that the decision to expand humanitarian and peace keeping operations in and beyond our region is proving to be the right choice. These positive approaches have contributed to an effective, transparent and improved use of resources and have played a positive role in confidence building between neighbouring countries

ITF Enhancing Human Security Annual Report 2005

The journey towards SE Europe region free from the impact of mines unites various stakeholders – the mine affected communities and their mine action authorities, international and local donor communities, the implementing partners and agencies – in a harmonized cooperation towards a positive end. The mandate of raising and managing funds has been entrusted to the ITF, which proved to be a recognizable and trustworthy partner. In 2005, the ITF funded some 50% of the demining programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina, approximately 20% in Croatia, 75% in Albania and over 50% in Serbia and Montenegro (incl. Kosovo). The overall number of new mine victims is decreasing due to mine clearance and mine-risk education programmes. Those who survived are being reincorporated to normal life through physical rehabilitation and psycho-social and economic opportunity programmes supported by the ITF. Furthermore, 2005 was a successful year also due the 10.4% raise of funds implemented, representing USD 27.7 million. The ITF and its personnel are thus firmly and decisively dedicated to the cause of solving the mine problem in SEE region. However, donations received in 2005 decreased by 9% in comparison to 2004. I have to draw your attention to the fact that donors still play a vital role in mine action financing, contributing to the accomplishment of the aims set by mine affected countries of South-Eastern Europe. Since the establishment of the ITF in 1998, the comprehension of mine action has been changing along the way: the mobilization of international donor community, emerging and consolidation of mine action centres in mine affected countries in SEE, the linking up of the centres within the South-Eastern Europe Mine Action Coordination Council, focusing on new mine action approaches and priorities (such as integrated mine action projects) etc. Apart from the security and humanitarian aims, mine action became integrated in reconstruction, development and confidence building projects, these activities being equally important as the purpose itself. The ITF managed to find balance along these lines, giving priority to activities that are aimed at saving human lives. When looking at the past year, there is one event which has especially impressed me, namely the regional workshop in Tbilisi, Georgia, titled “Mine action as a confidence building measure”, organized by the ITF and hosted by the OSCE and Georgia. The workshop focused on the mine problem in the South Caucasus and Central Asian regions and contributed to the establishment of a proper environment for dialogue and cooperation among nations in these regions by gathering over 80 interested parties and the world’s leading mine-action authorities. The ITF thus added to the advancement of regional cooperation process in the field of mine action within the South Caucasus region, where distrust among nations is still present to a high degree and confidence building is rather neglected. Due to the expressed interests, the ITF plans to organize a similar workshop in Central Asia in 2006. The ITF is thus making small but important steps in contributing its share to addressing the mine problem in another mine affected region