Mission
The Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement (PM/WRA) develops policy options, implements destruction and mitigation programs, and engages civil society in order to reduce the harmful worldwide effects generated by indiscriminately used, illicit, and abandoned conventional weapons of war.
PM/WRA's Public-Private Partnership Program supports this mission by engaging foundations, civic, and non-profit organizations, corporations, schools, and other groups to raise awareness and increase resources in support of humanitarian mine action and efforts to control or destroy illicit conventional arms.
Context
In support of its goal of reducing the global threat of landmines and illicit weapons, the U.S. has contributed over $1 billion since 1993 for humanitarian mine action and small arms/light weapons (SA/LW) abatement.
However, with countless millions of landmines emplaced in some 60 countries, as well as huge stocks of excess and black-market weapons around the globe, the U.S. and other governments cannot solve this problem alone. Achieving a world that is safe from the impact of persistent landmines and other remnants of war requires the assistance of private citizens and groups.
PM/WRA's Public-Private Partnership Program was created to facilitate the private sector's involvement in and support for this important cause. Our goal is to join with civil society and the private sector to apply new energy, ideas, and financial resources to help make the world safe from persistent landmines and illicit conventional weapons that fuel regional conflict and terrorist activity.
Performance Goals
The partnership program has four primary performance goals:
Partners
PM/WRA's partnership program has over 50 members, primarily non-governmental organizations, foundations, and civic, religious, and educational groups. PM/WRA collaborates with its partners on mine action and SA/LW projects, links together organizations active in the field, and makes available limited grant funding in support of program activities.
