ITF Enhancing Human Security
ITF Enhancing Human Security | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms
| |
 | |
| Headquarters | Ig, Slovenia |
| Type | Nonprofit, Humanitarian organization |
| Leaders | |
• Director |  Amb Tomaž Lovrenčič |
• Deputy Director | Sabina Beber Boštjančič |
• President of the ITF Managing Board | Amb Damjan Bergant |
• President of the ITF Advisory Board |  Amb Věra Zemanová |
| Establishment | |
• 1998-2011 | International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victim Assistance |
• 2011- | ITF Enhancing Human Security |
ITF Enhancing Human Security is a humanitarian, non-profit organisation founded by the Republic of Slovenia, which specializes in land mine clearance and post-conflict reconstruction. It was established on 12 March 1998 with the purpose of helping Bosnia and Herzegovina in its post-conflict rehabilitation, specifically with mine clearance and assistance to mine victims.[1]
Through the years, ITF’s mission has grown, and the scope and geographical area of its activities broadened. Today, the organization focuses on humanitarian demining, conventional weapons destruction, development, policy development, and other forms of post-conflict assistance.[2]
History
Background
ITF was established under the formal name ‘International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance’ on 12 March 1998.[3] Slovenia allocated 1.3 million US dollars to ITF to begin the processes of demining Bosnia and Herzegovina, in keeping with the implementation of the Ottawa Process.[4] In December 1998, ITF received a donation from the U.S. Congress in the sum of 28 million U.S. dollars, allowing operational activities in Bosnia and Herzegovina to commence.[3]
ITF soon expanded its activities to Croatia and other countries in the region of South East Europe. In 2002, ITF announced its intent to spread its operations beyond this region.[5]
In 2011, the name of the organisation was changed to ITF Enhancing Human Security in 2011.[2] This reflects the organization’s expanded mandate of not only demining and mine victims’ assistance, but also others areas of human security.
So far, ITF programmes and projects have covered seven regions around the world:
- Southeast Europe: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Kosovo*, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia;
- Eastern Europe: Belarus, Ukraine;
- Central Asia: Afghanistan, Kyrgyz Republic, Regional Activities;
- Middle East: Egypt, Gaza Strip, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, West Bank;
- South Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia;
- Africa: Cabo Verde, Libya, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS);
- Other Countries: Colombia, Cyprus, Lithuania.
Operational Structures
Strategic Pillars
Based on the guiding principles of a regional approach, partnerships, humanitarian focus, transparency and accountability, ITF devotes its purpose to principles of human security and human dignity.[6] For that purpose, ITF identifies two main pillars of its work.
The two strategic pillars illustrate ITF’s efforts and approach in terms of strengthening community resilience and addressing long-term impacts of mines, ERW, and surplus ammunition. They provide a vision for future development of communities impacted by mines and conflict:
- Strategic pillar I: reducing threats from mines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and other at-risk weapons and ammunition.
- Strategic pillar II: Facilitating safe, long-term development and building resilience of conflict-affected communities.
Intervention Areas
Clearance of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW)
Clearance of landmines and ERW includes removal of cluster munitions. In the sense of demining, mine and ERW clearance are just one part of the demining process.[7]
Risk Education
This intervention area addresses communities that are exposed to the risks posed by mines and ERW; by assuring and eventually enhancing the awareness of mines and ERW in communities.[5] Activities usually include workshops or lectures with the aim of not only reaching the participants, but their extended families as well.
Victim Assistance
Victim assistance is a process of aid, relief, and support provided to the victims, including their families.[7] Support is carried out by focusing on the health and psychosocial wellbeing of mine/ERW victims through medical rehabilitation and/or socio-economic reintegration. The purpose of victim assistance is reducing the immediate and long-term medical and psychological effects of their trauma and reintegrating the victims by helping them become active members of the society.
Capacity Building
Capacity building is a broad approach that is focused around individuals, groups, organizations, institutions and societies. ITF works on developing effective and strong national capacities at two levels: community and state. ITF encompasses and addresses all mine/ERW issues and post-conflict obstacles on both levels while paving the way to recovery and development.[5]
Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM)
Physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) is defined by the safe storage of weapons and ammunition. Safe and secure access, while simultaneously providing professional training on the best approaches and appropriate procedures, can result in the effective management of stockpiles.[6]
Destruction of Surplus Weapons and Ammunition
Surplus of weapons and ammunition, if inappropriately stored or obsolete, can present a constant and direct threat to human security.[2] They can also deteriorate to a state, where they present an environmental danger. In order to prevent accidental explosions at storage houses caused by obsolete or inappropriately stored weapons and munitions, it is key to destroy or alter weapons and ammunition into an inert state, disabling their further use.
Advocacy
Some examples of ITF advocacy include raising awareness about the impact of mines/ERW, the dangers of surplus and deteriorating stockpiles of munitions and advocating rights of persons with disabilities. Among other tools, ITF is actively advocating mine and other human security issues through community outreach, meetings, trainings and other activities.[8] [9]
Organizational Structure
The headquarters of ITF is located in Ig, Slovenia.[3] It is responsible for the coordination of all activities and the financial management of donations.[10] Main tasks of the ITF Headquarters include the management and awarding of contracts, project management, reporting and evaluation, implementation of different workshops, conferences and meetings.[5]
ITF also carries out its operations from the Representative Office in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Implementation Office in Croatia. Temporary Implementation Offices are also established in Libya, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Colombia.[10] The full organizational structure can be found on their website.
Funding
Funding of ITF is solely based on the solidarity and willingness of the donor community, which devotes its funds to the recovery and development of post-conflict affected countries. Since 1998, at least 430 donors have entrusted its funds to ITF for its activities.[11] The main source of donations are public donors, who represent around 95 percent of all donations.[5] They include the European Union, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Mine Action Service, OPEC Fund for International Development and other national authorities. In specific cases and if donors agree, ITF can provide a Funds Matching Mechanism, were funds of different donors are joined and used together for the same purpose.[5] ITF also receives funds from private donors such as non-governmental and humanitarian organizations, businesses, and individuals.
Besides providing funds, donors also actively engage in the sessions of the ITF Board of Advisors as its members. Donors can also identify countries of interest and where they would like the funds allocated.[11]
Donor Countries
See Also
Notes
*The designation Kosovo is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSC 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
References
- ↑ Juričič, Tamara; Šabič, Zlatko (2017). S Feliksom okoli sveta mednarodnih odnosov. Ljubljana: Self-publishing. p. 78. ISBN 978-961-283-928-4. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Maršič, Dorijan (2014). "ITF Enhancing Human Security Develops New Strategy Goals by Dorijan Maršič [ITF]". The Journal of ERW and Mine Action. Center for International Stabilization and Recovery. 18 (3): 1–3.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Kirn, Roman (2017). V službi diplomacije. Ljubljana: Modrijan založba. pp. 145–156. ISBN 978-961-287-074-4. Search this book on
- ↑ Sančanin, Gregor (2017). "Bosnia and Herzegovina: ITF Enhancing Human Security Perspective 20 Years After the Conflict". Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction. 21 (1): 24–28.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Buhin, Luka (2008). "10 years of the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF)" (PDF). UJMA: Revija za vprašanja varstva pred naravnimi in drugimi nesrečami. 22: 233–243.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 ITF Enhancing Human Security (2015). Strategy 2015-2020. Search this book on
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 International Mine Action Standards (2014). "Glossary of mine action terms, definitions and abbreviations".
- ↑ "ITF points to awareness-raising on Landmine Day". Slovenian Press Agency (STA). Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ↑ "4 April: International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action". Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Republic of Slovenia. 4 April 2016. Retrieved 31 May 2018.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 ITF Enhancing Human Security (2016). Annual Report 2016 (PDF). p. 13. Search this book on
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 ITF Enhancing Human Security (2017). Annual Report 2017 (PDF). pp. 17–20. Search this book on
External links
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