September 24th 2011: 5th Shoe Pyramid at Phillips Square in Montréal

Handicap International is organizing the 5th Shoe Pyramid in Montreal, along with more than thirty cities in Europe. It’s an opportunity for the association to rally citizens against landmines and cluster munitions. Use of these weapons persists, most recently in Lybia and Cambodia. This year, Handicap International will emphasize the disastrous impact they have on the development of nations that have been affected.

Landmines and cluster munitions in current events…
Although they are banned by the Ottawa and Oslo treaties, landmines and cluster munitions have been repeatedly deployed this year, endangering thousands of people. Landmines and cluster munitions were used in Libya this spring. Furthermore, Thailand acknowledged having made use of cluster munitions during confrontations with Cambodia last February.

Handicap International continues to fight against landmines and cluster munitions, devastating devices that do not distinguish between civilians and armed forces. The association strives for states to apply international human rights law, as landmines and cluster munitions claim a victim every two hours. 83 countries and territories are still polluted by these weapons, and 500,000 people wounded by landmines or explosive remnants of war are in dire need of assistance.

Since 1995, Shoe Pyramids have been Handicap International’s annual call for activism against these explosive devices. The association hopes to sensitize citizens to the dangers they present and to invite them to sign a petition calling on states to respect their international commitments. The Pyramid is an opportunity to place a pair of shoes, symbolizing a foot, a leg, or the lives of millions of innocent civilians following the detonation of a landmine or a cluster munition. This year, Quebec comedian Dorothy Rhau will serve as emcee of the 5th Shoe Pyramid. “STOP (it’s universal)! The production, sale and use of cluster munitions. STOP! The discrimination, shame and isolation of handicapped persons. STOP! I would especially like to encourage people to get involved with Handicap International in their fight against the use of landmines and cluster munitions”.