Law 7 March 2001, No.58

"Establishment of a fund for humanitarian demining"

(Official Gazette 20 March 2001, No.66)

Article 1

(Fund for humanitarian demining)

1. A fund called "Fund for humanitarian demining" is added to the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, beginning with fiscal year 2001. This fund is devoted to the implementation of integrated programs for humanitarian demining to be carried out on an equal basis in all the concerned areas with the following objectives,:

1. preventive education campaigns on mine-awareness and risk reduction;
2. identification, mapping, perimeter-marking and clearance of mined areas;
3. assistance to mine victims, including psychological and physical rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration;
4. reconstruction and development of the communities living in mined areas;
5. support to procurement and transfer of demining technologies;
6. training of local human resources able to carry out self-sustainable demining programs;
7. awareness campaigns against land mines and for the promotion of the universality of the total ban of mines.

Article 2

(Actions and reference framework)

1. The actions and reference framework of integrated programs for humanitarian demining, provided under Article 1, paragraph 1, shall be shaped on the following three main lines:

1. participation of the involved population in the identification and integration of different sectors and action steps;
2. integration of actions within reconstruction and development programs already in progress or to be implemented;
3. implementation of humanitarian projects in a spirit of solidarity, in order to foster self-reliance and avoid new dependence relationships.

Article 3

(Implementation Decree)

1. A Decree of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in agreement with the relevant parliamentary Commissions, has established:

1. priority programs
2. general criteria for resources allocation to individual programs and their management procedures;
3. procedures for a possible participation of international bodies to humanitarian demining programs;
4. guidance for monitoring, support, assistance and assessment of programs.

Article 4

(Fund financial framework and budgetary provisions)

1. The fund financial framework provided under Article 1 has been settled to 5 billion lire for the year 2001, 19 billion lire for the year 2002 and 5 million lire for the year 2003. The obligation under this Article is met by a corresponding reduction of the appropriation made available, for the 2001-2003 three-year budget, within the budgetary provisions for current expenditure "Special fund" of the year 2001 budget of the Ministry of Treasury, Budget and Economic Planning, making use in part of the reserve of the same Ministry.
2. The fund financial framework after the year 2003 shall be established in accordance with Article 11, paragraph 3 (d) of Law 5 August 1978, No. 468, as amended.
3. The fund benefits also from possible contributions and grants by private subjects, agencies and organizations, also international ones, which are paid in form of State Budget revenue specifically assigned to the aforementioned Fund.
4. The Minister of Treasury, Budget and Economic Planning is authorized to adopt, by his own Decree, the necessary budgetary amendments.

Article 5

(Emergency actions)

1. Within the Fund financial framework under Article 4, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for the years 2001 and 2002, shall provide for the co-ordination of emergency actions and integrated projects for mine clearance and destruction and for environmental decontamination in the areas involved in recent conflicts.

Article 6

(Annual report)