Our Advocacy
Advocacy where it can save lives
In places where landmines are still being used, advocacy cannot stay at a distance. It must reach the people, communities and institutions whose decisions can prevent future harm.
Community Safety Partnership works with affected communities, local organisations, humanitarian partners, donors, decision-makers and, where appropriate, parties to conflict to reduce the use and impact of landmines and explosive ordnance.
Our advocacy is practical and humanitarian in purpose. We encourage restraint in the use of landmines, stronger protection of civilians, better recording of hazardous areas, marking of dangerous places and support for community-led risk reduction.
We believe that even when full clearance is not yet possible, lives can still be saved.
Why advocacy matters
Landmines are not only a technical problem. They are also a behavioural, political and humanitarian problem.
They are laid by people. They are avoided by communities. They are recorded – or forgotten – by those who know where they are. They are cleared only when conditions, resources and access allow.
Advocacy helps change what happens before, during and after contamination occurs. It can discourage use. It can preserve information. It can support marking. It can mobilise donors. It can strengthen local action. And it can help ensure that communities living with danger are not left to manage it alone.
Why mine action cannot wait for conflict to end
Traditional mine action often becomes possible only after conflict has reduced, access has improved and formal systems are in place. But in many places, communities face landmine risk long before those conditions exist.
Waiting for perfect conditions can mean accepting avoidable injuries, deaths, displacement and loss of livelihoods. Families still need to farm. Children still need to move. Displaced people still try to return. Humanitarian responders still need access.
CSP argues for a different starting point: what can be done safely and practically now?
That may include advocacy for reduced use, recording of hazardous areas, local risk information, marking, community reporting, survivor testimony, preparedness for non-technical survey and better engagement with those who can reduce harm.
Working with communities
Communities are often the first to understand where danger exists and how it affects daily life. They know which paths are avoided, which fields cannot be farmed, where accidents have happened and who is most exposed.
CSP begins by listening. Through local organisations, community leaders and trusted networks, we support advocacy that is grounded in lived experience rather than abstract assumptions.
Community knowledge is not a substitute for technical mine action, but it is essential to making future mine action more relevant, better targeted and more protective of civilians.
Working with conflict actors
Reducing landmine harm requires engagement with those who can influence behaviour, access and risk. In some contexts, this includes parties to conflict, armed actors, security stakeholders and local authorities.
CSP’s engagement with conflict actors is humanitarian in purpose. We do not provide military, tactical or weapons-related support. We engage only where there is a clear civilian protection objective: to discourage landmine use, improve understanding of humanitarian consequences, support recording and marking of hazardous areas, and reduce risks to affected communities.
This engagement must be careful, principled and discreet. It is not about legitimising any party. It is about reaching those who can prevent harm.
Promoting safer behaviour and reduced use
Advocacy can support changes in behaviour that have immediate and long-term effects on civilian safety.
CSP advocates for restraint in the use of landmines and victim-activated devices, greater consideration of civilian movement and livelihoods, better recording of where hazards are laid or encountered, and practical warning or marking systems where communities may be at risk.
Even modest changes can matter. A hazardous area recorded today can guide future clearance. A warning sign placed correctly can prevent an accident. A commander who understands the long-term impact of landmines may make different choices. A community that receives clear risk information may avoid the most dangerous routes.
Supporting practical risk reduction
Advocacy is most effective when linked to practical action.
CSP supports approaches that help communities better understand risks, identify hazardous areas and implement measures that reduce exposure to explosive threats. This can include community-led mapping, marking initiatives, risk education, safer information-sharing and preparedness for future survey.
The aim is not to replace formal mine action. The aim is to reduce harm now and help create the conditions for future survey, clearance and safe disposal when circumstances allow.
Our principles
Humanitarian purpose
CSP’s work is focused on protecting civilians and reducing harm. We do not take sides in conflict and we do not provide military support.
Community-centred action
Affected communities must be central to decisions about safety, risk reduction and future mine action.
Trust and discretion
In sensitive conflict settings, progress often depends on patient relationship-building, careful sequencing and trusted dialogue.
Practical realism
CSP focuses on what can be done now, while helping create conditions for more systematic mine action in the future.
Dignity and respect
Survivor testimony, community experience and field stories are handled with care, consent and respect.
Frequently asked questions
Is CSP a mine clearance organisation?
No. CSP is an advocacy initiative. We do not replace formal mine action operators. Our role is to reduce harm through advocacy, local partnership, field evidence, humanitarian dialogue and support for practical risk reduction measures such as recording, marking and preparedness for future survey and clearance.
Does CSP work with armed actors?
Where appropriate, CSP engages parties to conflict or security stakeholders for humanitarian purposes only. This engagement is focused on civilian protection, discouraging landmine use, improving recording and marking, and reducing harm to affected communities. CSP does not provide military, tactical or weapons-related support.
Why does CSP focus on advocacy?
Advocacy can prevent harm before clearance begins. It can influence behaviour, preserve information, support marking, mobilise donors, elevate community voices and help create the conditions for future mine action.
Why focus on Myanmar?
Myanmar is facing a severe landmine and explosive ordnance crisis, while formal mine action remains limited by conflict, access restrictions and political constraints. CSP’s work in Myanmar shows why practical advocacy is needed now.
Can communities be protected before clearance is possible?
Yes. Clearance remains essential, but practical steps such as recording hazardous areas, marking dangerous places, sharing safer information and supporting local leadership can reduce risk while longer-term solutions are pursued.
Advocacy can save lives before clearance begins
CSP works with partners who believe that communities should not be left waiting for perfect conditions. If you are a donor, humanitarian organisation, journalist or local partner interested in practical advocacy to reduce landmine harm, we would welcome a conversation.