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Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (WRA)

Logo: Office of Weapons Removal and AbatementThe Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) creates local, regional and international conditions conducive to peace, stability and prosperity by curbing the illicit proliferation of conventional weapons of war such as light automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenades, and removing and destroying others, such as persistent landmines and abandoned stocks of munitions, that remain and pose hazards after the cessation of armed conflict.

The Office develops, implements and monitors policy, programs and public engagement efforts that contribute to the prevention and mitigation of conflict, as well as post-conflict social and economic recovery. The focus is three-fold: to curb the illicit trafficking, availability and indiscriminate use of conventional weapons of war that fuel regional and internal instability; to pursue and help manage post-conflict cleanup of such weapons in areas needed for civilian use; and to engage civil society to broaden support for our efforts and enhance U.S. influence.

The Office furthers U.S. foreign policy goals through the development and implementation of comprehensive solutions to the security challenges and harmful humanitarian effects caused by the illicit proliferation of conventional weapons of war, and the existence of public hazards from such weapons following cessation of armed conflict. Conventional weapons and munitions addressed by the Office include but are not limited to landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), abandoned ordnance (AO), man portable air defense systems (MANPADS) and other small arms and light weapons (SA/LW). The office strives to limit the access of terrorist or criminal groups to such weapons and munitions. At the same time, by addressing acute humanitarian needs, this office demonstrates the United States commitment to a set of values that respects human life. The Office works closely with other U.S. Government agencies as well as non-governmental organizations, international organizations and private enterprises. Innovation, strategic vision, responsible stewardship and cooperative team effort are all qualities that are encouraged by this office.

The Office incorporates the functions and responsibilities of the Bureau's former Office of Humanitarian Demining Programs (PM/HDP), to include management of the multi-agency U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program, the former Office of Mine Action Initiatives and Partnerships (PM/MAIP), to include encouraging public-private partnerships to reinforce the gamut of threats addressed by the Office, and the small arms/light weapons and MANPADS duties of the Bureau's Office of Plans, Policy, and Analysis (PM/PPA).

For more information, please telephone (202) 663-0100.

  
Highlights

Ottawa Convention
Read about the sixth meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention Ban on Anti-Personnel Landmines.

Landmine Map
New Department of State-Newsweek wall map charts global landmine problem.

MANPADS
Fact sheet released on containing the threat from Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS).

Chicago Coalition for Landmine Action Conference
Chicago, the "city of big shoulders," was the site of a National Conference for Landmine Action that encouraged civil society to help combat
the global landmine problem. Read Secretary Rice's video-taped welcome remarks.

Destroying MANPADS
U.S. Ambassador George H. Walker III, on the left, and Hungary's Minister of Defense, Ferenc Juhász, to his right, shake hands during the formal signing of the agreement between the United States and Hungary to destroy 1,540 MANPADS that are no longer necessary for the defense of Hungary.The United States and Hungary have agreed
to cooperate in the destruction of 1,540 of Hungary's Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS).

Safe Passage Newsletter
Safe Passage NewsletterRead the September 2005 edition
of "Safe Passage," the newsletter for the Humanitarian Mine Action and Small Arms/Light Weapons Communities.

  
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