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What we do

MAC works with its coalition members, international partners and you – our active supporters - to achieve a mine-free world and to eliminate the disastrous consequences of landmines, cluster bombs and other explosive remnants of war on civilian communities.

We seek to prevent further civilian casualties due to victim-activated weapons and to ensure existing victims receive the help they need. We believe the human-made disaster caused by these weapons is solvable in our lifetime.

Our vision is to bring humanity one step closer to peace and social justice by eliminating the impacts of victim-activated weapons and restoring the rights and dignity of affected individuals and communities. Your support helps us implement programs domestically and internationally to bring us closer to this vision through further capacity building, advocacy, research and monitoring, youth development and public engagement.

Explore a brief description of MAC programs or delve deeper into our programs by linking directly to dedicated pages listed below.

CAPACITY BUILDING

Young Professionals International Mine Action Program (YPIMAP)

Since 2004, MAC has placed 52 Canadian Young Professionals (YPs) with under-staffed, under-resourced partner organisations around the world from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and the Cluster Munition Coaliton (CMC) to support mine action in the field for approximately five months.
YPs are involved in variety of tasks including mobilizing local young people in the movement for a mine-free world; developing advocacy and education materials; researching on landmine and cluster bomb-related topics; supporting mine clearance, victim assistance and mine risk education activities.
YPIMAP not only provides additional human capital to our partners, it builds mine action capacity in Canada’s cadre of young professionals at a pivotal point in their career development.
YPIMAP has been made possible in part through the support of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy through the International Youth Internship Program of the Canadian International Development Agency.

ADVOCACY

Disable Cluster Bombs...Not People Campaign

MAC was a founder of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) in 2003 and has since served on its leadership body, which is dedicated to the full universalization and implementation of the new Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM).
To do this, MAC participates actively in all relevant international meetings and conferences on cluster bombs and the CCM.
MAC also develops and disseminates campaign and education materials on cluster bombs; organizes forums for the public and decision makers with experts speaking on topics such as implementation of the new Convention on Cluster Munitions and stopping investments of Canadian funds in companies that produce cluster bombs or their components.
MAC actively engages and educates decision-makers on this issue through one-on-one meetings; providing regular updates on the international process to ban cluster bombs; and generating media attention on the issue of cluster munitions via press conferences, press releases and media opportunities.

A Mine-Free World Campaign

MAC is relied upon as a productive and effective contributor to the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and has served as a part of its leadership on the Management Committee since 2000.
To ensure full universalization and implementation of the Ottawa Convention banning landmines, MAC maintains a strong and active presence internationally by actively participating in international meetings and conferences on landmines and the Ottawa Convention.
ICBL partners, like MAC, are responsible for working together to plan and implement a annual strategy to engage countries that are not part of the Ottawa Convention in addition to engaging member countries with pending implementation mine action deadlines (e.g. clearance of all mined land, destruction of landmine stockpiles) through media events, educational campaigns, one on one advocacy meetings and research publications.
MAC also develops and disseminates campaign and education materials on landmines and the Ottawa Convention; organizes forums for the public with mine action experts including deminers, mine risk education providers and landmine survivors.

RESEARCH & MONITORING

Landmine Monitor

Landmine Monitor is the research and monitoring initiative of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and the de facto monitoring regime of the Ottawa Convention. The program also provides research and monitoring for the Cluster Munition Coalition and monitors the Convention on Clusters Munitions.
Before Landmine Monitor’s inception, there was no systematic monitoring and assessment of the international community’s response to the humanitarian problem caused by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW).
Landmine Monitor was created in 1998 to address the landmine and ERW information and reporting needs of the international community.
Landmine Monitor consists of a five member Editorial Board and a network of over 50 primarily in-country researchers.
Mines Action Canada has served as the lead agency for the coordination, editing and production of the report since 2005.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Youth Leadership, Education and Action Program (Youth LEAP)

MAC’s Youth Leadership, Education and Action Program contributes to reducing the humanitarian and development impact of landmines and cluster bombs by providing resources and training to mine action and development organizations and youth from around the world.
The resources and training are meant to build the capacity of the organizations to utilize young people in their work, and build the capacity of young people to be effective delivery agents of mine action, including advocacy, victim assistance and mine risk education.
By providing forums for mine action and development organizations to collaborate at the regional and international levels, the program aims to help mitigate the humanitarian and development impact of victim-activated weapons.
Youth LEAP conferences and workshops are opportunities for mutual information sharing between sectors, and capacity building for both on how to more effectively utilize a prime resource: youth. The youth participants will be cross-pollinators between sectors, integrating mine action objectives into development programs and vice-versa.
Youth LEAP takes place in the form of international youth symposia (IYS) organized alongside major international meetings on cluster bombs and landmines; regional campaigner workshops; regional youth leader training programs; and a small grants program.
MAC has produced a manual on the best practices of working with youth for a mine-free world, which is available in English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Russian. Click here to see.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

Canadian Landmine Action Week (CLAW: February 23-March 1, 2009)

Canadian Landmine Action Week is MAC’s annual national week aimed at raising awareness about the preventable suffering caused by victim-activated weapons like landmines and cluster bombs.
CLAW consists of a series of public and media events across the country including concerts, exhibits and demonstrations to highlight the diverse and extraordinary ways Canada and Canadians are working towards a mine-free world. There are typically over 100 events organized in over 20 cities.
The work of Canadians as well as civil society groups and supportive governments around the world resulted in the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines and the newly created Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM).
However, even with the significant achievement of these two treaties, mines and cluster bombs continue to menace communities and their presence makes simple everyday tasks like pursuing a livelihood or going to school extremely dangerous. The good news is we have the solution to both of these problems and we can solve them within our lifetimes – but only with the support and help of people like you.
Canadian Landmine Action Week is the opportunity to reinforce Canadian commitment to the human security of people everywhere through events educating our communities, mobilizing people to let their MPs know that this issue is important to us, and raising funds for mine action. Click here to find out how you can get involved!

The People’s Treaty

In 1997 during the lead up to the landmine treaty signing in Ottawa, MAC launched the People’s Treaty.
The People’s Treaty was initially designed as a way for Canadian citizens to show their support and personal commitment to the landmine ban.
In May 2008, MAC in collaboration with the Cluster Munition Coalition re-launched the People’s Treaty in support of a new treaty banning cluster bombs which prohibits the use, stockpiling, transfer, and production of cluster bombs and to work to ensure that governments commit and live up to their obligations.
This new treaty, the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) was opened for signature on December 3, 2008 in Oslo, Norway.
Although almost one hundred countries, including Canada have signed the CCM, we need 30 countries to ratify it which means passing national legislation criminalizing the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster bombs.
We still need People’s Treaty signatures to use to encourage states to ratify the CCM so that it can become international, binding law as soon as possible! Every signature counts!