Landmine Survivors Network

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The Landmine Survivors Network is an advocacy organization, founded in 1997 by American landmine survivors Jerry White and Ken Rutherford, PhD, to help the survivor community become an effective force in the campaign to eliminate anti-personnel landmines. LSN is dedicated to promoting the immediate, worldwide removal of landmines by empowering individuals, families, and communities affected by landmines, and by helping them recover from trauma, reclaim their lives, and ensure the human and civil rights of survivors are fulfilled.

According to LSN, some 80 million landmines are buried in over 80 countries in the developing world, 80% of people injured by landmines are civilians, and only 10% of all victims have access to medical care or rehabilitation.

1 Mine Ban Treaty Leadership helps land Nobel Prize
2 A sterling legacy
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Mine Ban Treaty Leadership helps land Nobel Prize

LSN has long played a lead role the International Campaign to Ban Landmines coalition (ICBL), which has over 1100 member organizations and whose goal is to abolish the production and use of anti-personnel landmines. LSN helped lead the coalition's efforts that secured the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, which in turn earned the coalition the Nobel Peace Prize. Prominent LSN supporters include Queen Noor of Jordan the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

[edit] A sterling legacy

In 1996, LSN established the first database designed to track the rehabilitation needs of mine victims and the resources available to help survivors, their families, and the communities affacted by anti-personnel mines.

In 1997, 122 countries signed the Mine Ban Treaty, earning LSN recognition from the Nobel Prize Committee for contributing to the ICBL's success in securing the Mine Ban Treaty. Also in 1997, Princess Diana visited Bosnia along with LSN. Her high-profile tour of the war torn country and strong support of LSN attracted global media attention.

After the death of Princess Diana, in 1998 LSN was named as the only American-based charity to receive support from the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. Also that year, Queen Noor stepped in to take a prominent role in promoting LSN's causes.

In 1999, along with Queen Noor and key members of the United States Congress, including Senator Patrick Leahy, LSN drew international attention to the refusal of the United States to sign the Mine Ban Treaty, while appealing to the US to revisit landmine policy.