Human Rights Issue:  Landmines

Location:  Casamance, Senegal

International Human Rights Instruments: Mine Ban treaty – Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer or Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.

Partner: Rencontre Africaine Pour la Défense des Droits de l'Homme (RADDHO)

Background on the Issue:  The armed conflict between the Senegalese government and the separatist rebels, the MFDC, began in 1982. This long-standing conflict created an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Senegal, and has made the Casamance one of the most mined areas in West Africa. To date, landmines have killed approximately 1,000 people in the Casamance; seventy-five percent of the victims are civilians, mostly women and children.

Landmines constitute one of the greatest humanitarian crises in Africa.  In order to tackle the continued wide-scale use of landmines, an international treaty was established to ban the use of landmines worldwide. Article 6 (3) provides for the medical, socio-economic and psychological assistance to landmine victims. 

Advocacy Goal of Video:  "Against the Tide of History" advocates for the Senegalese government and the international community to provide assistance to landmine survivors.

Target Audience(s): "Against the Tide of History" is directed toward Senegalese policy makers, international organizations and civil society. 

Distribution Strategy or Action:  "Against the Tide of History" was screened before Senegalese government officials and civil society organizations in September 2004.  The screening garnered national media attention and the film was subsequently screened at the Forum on Peace, Truth and Reconciliation organized by RADDHO in Ziguinchor.  On November 30, 2004, "Against the Tide of History" was screened at the Nairobi Conference on a Mine Free World before the Senegalese government delegation to the conference, UN representatives and civil society organizations.  The film has also been accepted to Three Continents Film Festival and the United Nations Association Film Festival.

Advocacy Results:  Following the screening of "Against the Tide of History" at the Forum on Peace Truth and Reconciliation, the Minister of Women and Family Affairs pledged a grant for the assistance of women landmine survivors.  In January 2005, a grant of 5 million CFA (approximately $10,000) was provided to women landmine survivors through the Association of Landmine Victims in Senegal and will be used to create an income-generating development project.  This is the first time that a government entity in Senegal has provided assistance to landmine survivors.

Further, as a result of RADDHO’s advocacy efforts, including the use of "Against the Tide of History", prostheses are now freely available to landmine survivors in the Casamance. A prosthetics laboratory has been set up in the regional hospital of Ziguinchor.

In addition, the Belgium embassy in Dakar has provided 35 million CFA (approx. $60 thousand) for income-generating projects for landmine survivors. 

Today:  As of December 31, 2004, the Senegalese government and MFDC signed a peace deal to end 22 years of conflict.  RADDHO and WITNESS continue to use the video to call for further assistance to landmine victims and for the provision of such assistance to be systematic policy for future landmine survivors.