Mine Ban Treaty Article 5 deadline: 1 March 2019
(Not on track to meet deadline)

Cluster Munition Convention Article 4 deadline: 1 March 2021
(On track to meet deadline)

Recommendations for action

• Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) should implement the recommendations of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) “Mine Action Governance and Management Assessment.”[1] In particular, BiH should continue reforming the governance and management structure of mine action, empowering the Demining Commission to provide political leadership, root out corruption, and begin consultations with a wide range of local and international stakeholders on a new mine action law.
• BiH should review, adopt, and operationalize new methods of land release.
• BiH should empower a high-level effort to seek new local, national, and international sources of funding. 

Contamination

BiH is heavily contaminated with mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), including cluster munition remnants, primarily as a result of the 1992–1995 conflict related to the break-up of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

The BiH Mine Action Center (BHMAC) reports that a general assessment in 2012 identified 538,500 people in 1,417 communities impacted by mines and unexploded ordinance (UXO). BHMAC estimates that 120,000 mines and items of UXO remain in contaminated areas.[2]

Mine contamination

Most of the minefields are in the zone of separation between BiH’s two political entities—the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and Republika Srpska (RS)—which is 1,100km long and up to 4km wide.

BHMAC reported total contamination of 1,176km² at the end of 2014, a reduction of about 3.5% on 2013. Contamination is across 9,185 hazardous areas of which 4,510 totaling 345km² have been included as tasks for technical survey and clearance on the national priority list, even though the presence of mines is not confirmed in all instances.[3] A 2015 UNDP evaluation reported that BHMAC is aware that not all of the suspected hazardous area (SHA) is actually mined, but “without more efficient non-technical survey and technical survey procedures the exact extent of the problem cannot be quantified.”[4]

Some of the affected territory is mountainous or heavily forested, but the fertile agricultural belt in the Posavina region, along with the Doboj region, has the most heavily contaminated areas.[5] According to BHMAC, most mine incidents now occur in forested areas.[6] 

The Balkan flood disaster of May 2014

BiH was severely affected by the Balkan flood disaster in May 2014. BiH authorities estimated that 36 municipalities encompassing 106 communities were affected by the floods and associated landslides. The total affected area was 831km², of which 49km² had previously been defined as suspected mined area.[7]

From 1 July 2014 to 28 February 2015, Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) teams operating under BHMAC coordination reassessed the mine situation in the flood- and landslide-affected areas, conducting non-technical survey over 434 SHAs totaling 56km². While earlier reports had suggested as much as 800km² (UN estimate) or 320km² (United States Department of State estimate) of SHA was affected by the floods,[8] the NPA/BHMAC assessment found that a total of only 37.8km² had been “flooded or under the influence of water.”[9] The NPA/BHMAC team found that “Migration of mines cannot be considered as massive and did not cause a significant increase of the mine problem” in BiH.[10]

At an ammunition depot in Orasje, some 250 tons of ammunition were reported as being under water on 25 May 2014. There was a mine explosion in Brčko on 21 May 2014, though no casualties were reported.[11] 

Cluster munition remnants 

BiH contamination by cluster munition remnants is primarily as a result of Yugoslav aircraft dropping BL-755 cluster bombs in the early stages of the 1992–1995 conflict related to the break-up off the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. There are indications that NATO forces also used them in Republika Srpska.[12] 

As of April 2015, 17 areas over a total of 0.78km² are confirmed to contain cluster munition remnants while a further four hundred areas over 8.76km² are suspected to contain cluster munition remnants (see table below).[13]

Contamination with cluster munition remnants in BiH as of April 2015

Program Management 

The Demining Commission, under the BiH Ministry of Civil Affairs and Communication, supervises the state-wide BHMAC, and represents BiH in its relations with the international community on mine action related issues. The Demining Commission’s three members, representing BiH’s three majority ethnic groups (Bosniaks, Croats, and Serbs),[14] propose the appointment of BHMAC senior staff for approval by the Council of Ministers, report to the council on mine action, approve accreditation of demining organizations, and facilitate cooperation between the FBiH and RS. Whereas the Minister for Civil Affairs “remains ultimately responsible for mine action, the Demining Commission represents the strategic body responsible to set the mine action policies.”[15]

BHMAC, established by a 2002 Decree of the Council of Ministers, is responsible for regulating mine action and implementing BiH’s demining plan, including accreditation of all mine action organizations.[16] BHMAC operates from its headquarters in Sarajevo and through two entity mine action offices—formerly autonomous entity mine action centers—and eight regional offices (Sarajevo, Pale, Travnik, Mostar, Banja Luka, Tuzla, Brčko, and Bihać). The two main offices in Banja Luka and Sarajevo coordinate the activities of regional offices in planning, survey, and quality control/assurance. Quality assurance inspectors are based in the regional offices.[17]

UNDP conducted an evaluation in 2015, and found that BHMAC was “doing a good job in operational management and in introducing new and more efficient procedures;” it is carrying out its core activities “effectively, despite not being fully funded.”[18] 

For more than three years, however, BiH mine action governance has received increasingly critical media attention. One investigative news report in 2014 asserted that “The problems that plague mine action are political and financial, rather than technical.”[19] In 2012, eight local companies and NGOs filed a criminal complaint with the State Prosecutor against the BHMAC director, Dušan Gavran, alleging irregularities in tendering demining contracts and sale of official vehicles. Reports about the investigation re-emerged in the BiH press in early 2014. The director was arrested by police in April 2014.[20] According to a spokesperson of the State Prosecutor’s office: “The suspect is under investigation for activities related to demining and over suspicions that he abused his official position and made illegal profits.”[21] The Director of BHMAC was conditionally released from custody on 9 May 2014.[22] As of May 2015, no indictment had been issued by prosecutorial authorities.

A BHMAC statement said, “The process of demining in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a large humanitarian undertaking, because it depends on donors and their grants and, due to that, we have to be completely transparent to the public…We hope that after this, negative media reports about BHMAC will end so that the process of humanitarian demining can be completed.”[23] From May 2014 the director was on sick leave, then in September 2014 he was suspended by the Demining Commission.[24] In October 2014, BHMAC Assistant Director, Milan Rezo, was appointed Acting Director.[25] In August 2014, the Demining Commission adopted new regulations on internal reporting of corruption and protection of whistle-blowers.[26] New policies limit the reallocation of funds internally and provide additional controls on tendering. A UNDP evaluation lauded these new policies and recommended BiH establish a more “effective and transparent…tendering mechanism” for mine action activities.[27]

The UNDP evaluation found that the Demining Commission has been “weak” and needed to take a more “proactive role” to ensure that mine action is “firmly” on the BiH “government agenda.” It called on the Council of Ministers to “provide improved governance, strategic management and funding for mine action,” particularly by “strengthening and supporting” the Minister of Civil Affairs and Demining Commission.[28] 

In early 2015, UNDP contracted a consultant to “assist in improving the mine action sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina by introducing structural and communication improvements into the practices of the local mine action authorities and partners.”[29]

Major donors tried to set up a regular donor group, to improve coordination, meeting in November 2014 and March 2015.[30] The UNDP evaluation found there has been “weak donor coordination” in “recent years” and recommended that donors take steps to improve coordination.”[31]

Strategic planning

The BiH Mine Action Strategy for 2009–2019 sets the target of becoming free of mines by 2019 and identifies seven strategic goals, including the elimination of the mine threat. BHMAC conducted the first of three planned revisions of the strategy in 2012 and 2013 (the other two are due in 2015 and 2017, respectively).[32] The 2012 revision asserted lack of funding as “one of the major reasons” for BiH’s slow progress to completion of its clearance goals.[33] However, the 2012 revision was never formally adopted by the Council of Ministers.[34]

The strategy does not mention cluster munition remnant clearance. The 2012 revision however, does refer to cluster munition remnants clearance.[35]

BHMAC reported that its second planned revision would be completed by the end of 2015. While the revision is ongoing, BHMAC stated that it could provisionally report that after six years, only half of the strategy’s “scope…has been implemented, primarily due to lack of funding for the conduct of humanitarian demining operations.”[36] A representative of UNDP stated that they will be facilitating “the provision of technical advice and assistance, linking the revision to the requirements of the Maputo Plan” in the 2015 revision process. She stated that the revision “will be based on a thorough analysis, engaging all the stakeholders and so should be more realistic.”[37]

Mine action prioritization and planning is based on the 2012 general assessment of socio-economic impact. However, the UNDP evaluation recommended that this “prioritisation system be reviewed to reflect” changing circumstances as well the specific impact of particularly dangerous mines like the PROM-1.[38] 

Legislation

Since 2008, efforts have been made to adopt new mine action legislation in BiH with a view to creating a stable platform for mine action funding by the government and local authorities.¹⁹ However, a draft law prepared by the Ministry of Civil Affairs with support from BHMAC and UNDP, first submitted to parliament in February 2010, failed to gain parliamentary approval in 2012. As of May 2015, the law had still not passed and BHMAC had “no new information on current status of the new Demining Law.[39] 

A BHMAC official acknowledged that the lack of a new legal framework has contributed to BiH’s repeated failure to meet its funding targets under its own mine action strategy.[40] Nevertheless, the UNDP evaluation stated that “Whilst it would be advantageous to establish a more robust legal framework for mine action in BiH, the current Demining Law is adequate to enable mine action activities to be implemented effectively.”[41]

Standards

In 2014, BHMAC developed new drafts of standing operating procedures (SOPs) in accordance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) for non-technical survey, technical survey, and land release, which were expected to accelerate cancelation of SHAs. An additional SOP was drafted for targeted search in technical survey with manual methods. Application of these new methods have started as part of an EU-funded “Land Release” pilot project, which aims to make the process of releasing SHAs more “effective and efficient.” Verification of the process was ongoing, but BHMAC estimates that the project will have released 29km².[42] A consultant involved in the SOP revision stated that the results of the pilot project “were very positive” and had the potential for “saving a lot of money.”[43] A UNDP evaluation recommended that BiH “support the adoption of efficient survey and clearance processes through approving new standards and SOPs for Land Release.”[44]

The EU and UNDP are supporting the development of new land release methods.[45] Whether these new SOPs will be applied throughout the country remained uncertain as of March 2015; a BHMAC official stated that it was “up to the Demining Commission to decide whether land release will be the concept for the future” of mine action in BiH.[46] Current obstacles to full adoption of the draft new SOPs include the liability question of which body would make the final declaration of release of a piece of land.[47]

Quality management

In 2014, quality assurance inspectors issued two decisions ordering demining to be repeated, one withdrawal of a certificate of land release and one stoppage of demining activities.[48] Tests of 1,055 metal detectors found that 43 (4%) were not working. Inspectors also tested 98 mine detection dog teams; 14 did not pass the test.[49] They also evaluated 32 machines and the equipment and assets of 21 organizations.[50]

BHMAC and the operator STOP Mines were involved in a legal dispute over a missed mines issue during technical survey in Cazin, in northwest Bosnia. STOP Mines stated that had it filed a suit against BHMAC in October 2014.[51] The UNDP evaluation found that “Quality assurance of demining activities functions well,” but warned that as new methods of land release are implemented, quality assurance teams would need to adapt to ensure the quality of the new procedures. The UNDP evaluation also recommended that BHMAC “develop effective quality management mechanisms for the whole organisation to make processes more efficient and transparent.”[52] 

Deminer safety 

BHMAC reported one demining accident in 2014, in which a deminer was killed.[53] 

Gender

Landmine Survivors Initiative raised concerns about the lack of gender mainstreaming in Bosnian mine action, calling attention to the few women in administrative or operational positions, as well as the lack of indicator for gender in the mine action strategy.[54] BHMAC stated that it includes gender considerations in its victim assistance and mine risk education plans but not in “the technical part” of survey and mine clearance. A BHMAC official stated “where we can put gender we put it,” but that “Bosnia does not have a problem with gender like some countries in Africa and the Middle East.”[55] 

Mines: operators and land release

Operators (mines)

National demining operators operational in 2014 included governmental actors (BiH Armed Forces, FBiH Civil Protection Agency, RS Civil Protection, Brčko District Civil Protection Agency); local NGOs (DOK-ING deminiranje, “Pazi mine Vitez,” Pro Vita, EKO DEM, MDDC, STOP Mines, Udruženje za eliminaciju mina, UEM); and commercial companies (Amphibia, Detektor, N&N IVSA, POINT, UEM D.O.O). There are three international demining operators in BiH: two NGOs (Demira and NPA) and one commercial company (UXB Balkans).

The governmental operators—Civil Protection teams and the BiH armed forces’ Demining Battalion—“constitute about 60% of the real available operational capacity in BiH, although their total output in terms of land released by clearance and technical survey is much less.”[56] They have suffered from “little real investment” and are slower than other operators “largely due to logistical reasons and equipment deficits.”[57] However, according to the UNDP evaluation, the “general consensus [sic] is that both BHAF [BiH armed forces] and CP [Civil Protection teams] are both good partners and have effective demining capacities.”[58] A UN needs assessment recommended exploring the possibility of Civil Protection teams conducting survey tasks.[59]

Since 2010, NPA has increasingly focused on building the capacity of the Demining Battalion. In 2014, NPA supported the battalion by monitoring and providing logistical support in the operation of mechanical assets loaned by NPA to the Ministry of Defense.[60] 

Handicap International (HI) withdrew from BiH in 2013 as part of an effort to focus on countries with lower human development indices. In 2014, however, following the floods, HI partnered with local organizations in Bratunac, Doboi, Kalesija, Maglai, Olovo, Zavidovici, Zepce, and Zvornik to conduct mine risk education and aid the process of “mapping contamination and marking or re-marking dangerous areas.”[61]

There are 23 accredited national demining organizations (both commercial and NGO), but only 12 conducted demining or survey operations in 2014. They are not independently funded; instead they compete for international tenders. The UNDP evaluation suggested that this left much capacity underused and recommended that “alternative contracting models which are appropriate for land release (either by having longer term contracts or being contracted for the clearance of larger areas) could be more attractive to the demining organisations in terms of security and could also make best use of capacity in the long run.”[62]

According to the UNDP evaluation, operators “lament the cessation of technical working group forums chaired by the BHMAC to discuss technical issues and would like to see that forum revived.”[63]

Land Release (mines)

BiH released a total of 42km² of mined area in 2014, 95% of the amount achieved in 2013 and less than 24% of the amount planned. Of the total, nearly three-quarters (30km²) was cancelled by non-technical survey. A further 10km² was released by technical survey, more than in 2013, while full clearance accounted for almost 1.9km², slightly less than the previous year (see table on Contamination with cluster munition remnants above), but only 17% of what had been planned. 

BHMAC’s next general assessment is planned for 2015. It will determine high-, medium-, and low-impact SHAs and will be conducted in collaboration with the State Agency for Statistics. As of March 2015, BHMAC was waiting on the release of census data to begin the assessment. BHMAC expects the assessment to be mainly statistical, though some data will be gathered from local communities, coordinated by the eight BHMAC regional offices.[64]

Survey in 2014 (mines)

BHMAC conducted general survey/non-technical survey over a total area of almost 55km² in 2014, about 45% of the target (123km²), releasing 30km², (see table on Survey in 2014 below).[65] BHMAC reported that 15 organizations carried out 191 technical survey tasks over a total area released of 10km² (see table on Mine clearance in 2014 below).[66] A total of 44 persons were employed in 22 survey teams in 2014.[67] In 2014, NPA noted that releasing large areas of land through non-technical survey is “becoming more and more difficult” and that applying other methods including targeted technical survey will make possible more efficient land release.[68]

NPA conducted non-technical survey through teams seconded to BHMAC regional offices. In addition, NPA conducted 12 technical survey tasks in 2014.[69]

A UNDP evaluation recommended better integration of survey and clearance activities so that operators “concurrently…find the mines and clear them in one operation.”[70] 

Survey in 2014[71]

Clearance in 2014 (mines)

Twenty-six organizations were accredited with BHMAC for mine action at the end of 2014 with a total staff of 1,460, of whom 1,110 were deminers.[72] Seventeen organizations participated in clearance operations in 2014. More than half engaged in small tasks, clearing a total of less than 100,000m² during the year.

Overall, operators cleared a total of 1.85km² in 2014 (see table below), well below the 2009–2019 mine action strategy target of 9.27km².[73] BHMAC attributed the shortfall to “lack of funding.”[74] It said it had planned mine action expenditure of BAM106.5 million (US$59.3 million), but actual spending had amounted to less than half that figure, reaching only BAM41.9 million ($23.4 million), of which BAM21.5 million ($11.98 million) (51%) came from national sources and the balance from international donors.[75] BHMAC did not anticipate any change in capacity or funding in 2015.[76]

Mine clearance in 2014[77]

Response to the Balkan flood disaster of May 2014 

On 23 May, BHMAC met with the directors of the mine action centers of Serbia and Croatia to coordinate their response to the threat of mines washed into areas previously considered safe. The centers pledged to share information, emphasize risk education in the flood-affected zones, engage in emergency marking once the floods receded, and raise awareness of the impact of the lack of funds for mine action.[78]

BHMAC conducted a “comprehensive media campaign” to “warn citizens and volunteers” of the mine/UXO hazards in flood-affected areas. BHMAC personnel engaged in “continuous operations” of resurveying, “preparation of micro-locations for emergency clearance,” emergency mine risk education, and emergency marking of hazardous areas. Emergency search and demining activities were conducted at 24 locations, with a “processed area” of more than half a square kilometer; 47 antipersonnel mines and 26 items of UXO were found and destroyed. Emergency EOD teams also gathered and destroyed 140 mines, 1,266 items of UXO, and 42,488 rounds of ammunition in four affected cities and 41 municipalities.[79] A subsequent European Union (EU) assessment determined that the emergency spot clearance efforts of Civil Protection and other mine action operators had been “extremely effective.”[80]

BHMAC collaborated with the mine action centers in Croatia and Serbia on the first phase of an aerial survey project, aiming to identify “landslides where the floods destructively impacted mine risk areas and minefields, as well as new areas which might contain potential mine risk.” BHMAC reported that two remotely controlled Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and a BiH Army Gazelle helicopter were used to take photographs of minefields along the banks of the River Sava, where landslides had breached SHAs. The two UAVs covered approximately 6km² and the helicopter covered another 86km².[81] 

In the immediate aftermath of the floods, NPA worked with local crisis coordination centers to provide landmine survey and mapping support to the emergency response in Brčko, Orasje, and Samac, and conducted risk education and emergency marking in Domaljecac-Samac.[82]

UNDP disseminated maps of the flooded mine areas through its Bosnia website.[83] UNDP supported for 25 days an emergency 13-member demining team to help in an effort to re-establish water supply to Sapna, in northeastern BiH.[84] They also supported a team of four surveyors conducting hazard assessment in the flood-affected region and coordinated a UN Mine Action Recovery Needs Assessment.[85] 

On 23 May 2014, the US Department of State ordered its Quick Reaction Force (QRF) to deploy three civilian experts to Sarajevo for 21 days to “provide technical assistance and support” to BHMAC and identify “needs in addressing initial emergency response.” The team “concluded that the BiH government responded quickly and effectively to the situation.”[86]

In local and international media, concern was raised that the floods, landslides, and increased water levels in rivers could lead to widespread redistribution of mines.[87] According to the NPA/BHMAC assessment, the borders of SHAs changed in 32 locations “resulting in minor increasing” of SHA for 0.3km² or 0.56% of the surveyed area.[88] In 37 other locations, mines had moved within the boundaries of the original SHA; in a further five locations, mines had migrated out of the original boundaries of mined areas due to the landslides or river streams. Nevertheless, the floods had changed the “operating conditions” in 363 SHAs, including “additional soil level, mud and other trash,” as well as changes to the landscape that will “require additional intensive non-technical survey and technical survey prior to the mine clearance operations.”[89] An EU assessment found while “it is apparent” that some mines moved during the floods, careful research “may counter the largely inaccurate assertion that landmines float after floods and indiscriminately contaminate new widespread areas previously considered low risk.”[90]

Shortly after the floods, the EU, including its peacekeeping force (EUFOR) in BiH, deployed experts “to assess the impact of floods and landslides on the location of mines.”[91] The EU’s 2014 Flood Recovery Needs Assessment for BiH found that while there is “minimal mine mitigation” needed “compared to that expected,” nevertheless “landmines and UXO remain a risk in human, economic and social terms and should be addressed as a priority.”[92] The EU needs assessment recommended that BHMAC consider the possibility that landslides may have buried landmines deeper than the 10 to 20cm currently investigated in clearance efforts.[93] The assessment identified key priorities and tasks for mine action to aid the recovery.[94] 

A UN needs assessment found that the “effective response mechanism on the ground and motivated personnel” during the mine action flood recovery meant that the “affected population is less vulnerable and the risks associated with the threat reduced.”[95] However, as UNDP said, “The floods in May 2014 reminded the international and local community of the urgency that still remains in Bosnia and Herzegovina for landmine clearance.” But nearly 20 years after the end of the conflicts, BiH is still the most heavily mined country in Europe and within the top 10 in the world. “The floods emphasised the need to push for a non-stagnated mine action sector.”[96]

Cluster munition remnants: operators and land release

Operators (cluster munition remnants) 

During 2014, three organizations were specifically accredited for cluster munition clearance and destruction: NPA, Civil Protection of the BiH Federation (CP FBIH), and the BiH armed forces.[97] 

Land Release (cluster munition remnants)

A total of more than 1.75 km² of area containing cluster munition remnants was released in 2014. A total of 0.41km² of area suspected to contain cluster munition remnants was cancelled by non-technical survey and 1.07km² was reduced by technical survey (see Survey table below), while 0.26km² of contaminated area was cleared (see Clearance table below).

Survey in 2014 (cluster munition remnants)

Non-technical survey teams seconded to BHMAC regional offices by NPA conducted survey of areas suspected to contain cluster munition remnants. In 2014, NPA demining teams also conducted seven technical survey and clearance tasks.[98]

Survey in 2014

Note: SHA = suspected hazardous area; CMR = cluster munition remnants.

Clearance in 2014 (cluster munition remnants) 

Three operators cleared a total of 0.26km² of area containing cluster munition remnants in 2014, destroying 581 submunitions (see table below).

Clearance of areas contaminated by cluster munitions remnants in 2014[99]

Note: UXO = unexploded ordinance

During 2014, NPA implemented a pilot project using special detection dogs (SDD) for technical survey and clearance of areas contaminated with cluster munition remnants, which it said would enable “identification of footprints of a cluster munition strike…without established evidence points through previous non-technical survey.”[100] From May 2015, the number of NPA teams engaged in technical survey and clearance of areas contaminated with cluster munition remnants was decreased from two to one.[101]

Mine Ban Treaty Article 5 Compliance

Under Article 5 of the Mine Ban Treaty (and in accordance with the 10-year extension request granted by States Parties in 2008), BiH is required to destroy all antipersonnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 March 2019. There is broad agreement in the BiH mine action community that BiH will not complete clearance by 2019.[102] Indeed a BHMAC representative stated that meeting the 2019 deadline was “not possible, though it is the official strategy.”[103]

Government, donor, and NGO officials raised concerns that political problems at state level were preventing the development of an enabling mine action policy framework.[104] In 2014, as in all the years since it received the extension to its initial Article 5 deadline, BiH fell far short of its land release targets. As a result, six years into its extension period, BiH had achieved only 34% of the land release planned for this period and less than a quarter of planned clearance. It is facing decades of work to fulfil its Article 5 obligations.

Mine clearance in 2010–2014

BHMAC reported that it would be able to provide a “more concrete estimation” of BiH’s ability to meet its Article 5 deadline after the 2015 Strategy revision is completed.[105] Nevertheless, a BHMAC representative suggested that if the new methods of land release were adopted and BiH were given an additional five year extension—to 2024—then completion “is very realistic.” He admitted however, that this would “depend on donor money, on external stakeholders” being provided in sufficient quantity.[106] The UNDP evaluation found that at the current pace of survey and clearance it would take more than 30 years to “fully release this land from the threat of mines and explosive remnants of war.”[107]

BHMAC recognized that donors would expect BiH to contribute to the financing of mine action, and stated that, following the 2014 elections, “we hope the new parliament and Council of Ministers will provide money but we don’t know.” In previous years, BHMAC had hoped further funds would be made available by municipalities, though this has not materialized in sufficient quantities to make a significant difference in overall clearance rates.[108] However, BHMAC called attention to the other ways municipalities supported mine action, by providing information on SHAs and in planning demining. A BHMAC official predicted that even closer coordination with local communities would be needed if the new land release SOPs go into effect as operators will require more information for survey: “we want to involve more and more people from the local community.”[109] 

A UNDP evaluation recommended that BiH develop a “mine action portfolio document for BiH to assist mobilise resources internationally” and place more emphasis on fundraising.[110] 

Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 4 Compliance

Under Article 4 of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, BiH is required to destroy all cluster munition remnants in areas under its jurisdiction or control as soon as possible, but not later than 1 March 2021. It is on track to meet this deadline

BHMAC has stated that they “do not expect any obstacles” in meeting their Article 4 deadline.[111] NPA believes that “considering the scope of the problem of cluster munition remnants contamination,” BiH could meet its clearance obligations under the Convention on Cluster Munitions before its deadline if it were to include “engagement of national organizations (Armed Force BiH and Civil Protection)” in the work.[112] The 2012 Mine Action Strategy Revision had expected that BiH would “completely eliminate” all areas contaminated by cluster munition remnants by 2015.[113]