Newsroom
Chan Neng and Song Kosal spoke about their life time experiences
On 30 May 2013, the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines hosted 45 members of the National Resilience Institute from Indonesia, who visited Metta Karuna Reflection Centre to discuss victim assistance and disarmament.

After being welcomed by Father Greg Priyadi, the visitors listened to the personal stories of landmine survivors Chan Neang and Song Kosal. Kosal, who is also a Youth Ambassador for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, spoke about her lifetime of advocacy experience - from her memories speaking at the United Nations as a young campaigner to her current role with the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines supporting the rights of survivors and people with disability. She emphasized the importance of Cambodia's law on the Rights of People with Disability, and highlighted why it needs to be more broadly understood, so that people with disability can fully realize their own rights. Finally, she put out a call for Cambodia and Indonesia to accede to and ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The continued contamination of cluster munitions, especially in northern Cambodia is a constant threat to civilians living in rural areas.

Devin Morrow of Mines Action Canada gave a brief presentation on the current state of disarmament in Cambodia, explaining the purpose and context of the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions in the country, noting that Indonesia and Cambodia are regional leaders in the fight against landmines. She also reminded the visitors that the Arms Trade Treaty was open for signature on 3 June 2013, and requested Indonesia sign it in order to limit and better regulate the transport of conventional weapons to conflict areas where they are expected to harm civilians or be used in violation of the Geneva Conventions.

Before their departure, the National Resilience Institute examined a display of landmines and cluster munitions to better understand the impact of these weapons on civilian populations.