A PROPOSED international treaty to stop the use of anti personnel mines will be pushed forward during a four day conference in Brussels this week.
The conference is to help further the aims of the Ottawa Treaty, which is sponsored by the Canadian government and proposes the abolition of mines. As many as 74 states, including the Republic, could support the treaty.
The Brussels conference is being attended by anti mine governments and human rights groups from around the world.
The debates are intended to further highlight the threat to innocent civilians posed by the proliferation of anti personnel mines.
Two of the participating groups, the Red Cross and Pax Christi, yesterday issued statements pointing to the damage done by anti personnel mines across the globe.
They estimate that more than 100 million have been planted in the course of conflicts in some 64 areas of the world. Mines continue to kill and injure mainly civilian victims at a rate of 2,000 a month.
The Irish Red Cross Society said yesterday the Brussels conference offered hope "of an end to the humanitarian nightmare plaguing millions of people worldwide".
It pointed out that despite attempts to restrict landmines, the use of these indiscriminate weapons was proliferating. The society estimated that for every mine that is removed, 20 new ones are laid.
Ms Caroline Lynch of the IRCS said: "The landmine blast over the weekend which injured six Irish soldiers confirms the need for a global ban on these indiscriminate weapons.
"The nightmare of landmines - serial killers which prey on civilians for decades is haunting millions of people worldwide. These weapons mount a reign of terror long after conflicts have ended."
Ms Lynch added: "A global ban on landmines is long overdue and urgently needed if we are to spare future generations from the misery inflicted by landmines. We must also look to rehabilitating the victims of landmines and assisting communities struggling to cope with the effects of these weapons.
In a statement yesterday the Catholic peace movement, Pax Christi, welcomed the Brussels conference and congratulated the Canadian government on sponsoring the international treaty.
Mr Tony D'Costa, general secretary of Pax Christi, said: "As we approach the next century, the issue of landmines is a testing issue as to whether the governments will be open to listen to the cry of the suffering people and make our world a more humane and compassionate one.
"I would urge the civil society not to allow their governments to weaken or undermine this global effort. All nations should have the moral courage to support the treaty. It could be a small step for a nation but a major step for humanity."
A further conference on the abolition of mines is to take place in Oslo in September. The formal signing of the Ottawa Treaty is scheduled for December.