As I mentioned yesterday, this year's Landmine Monitor Report has been published.

The report, which looks at the progress made since the signing of the Ottawa treaty five years ago, has some positive conclusions. Since the treaty took effect, use of the weapon around the world has fallen dramatically, global funding for mine action programs has increased more than 80%, more than 1,100 square kilometers of land has been cleared, and the number of new mine victims each year has decreased markedly.

Even so, many challenges remain -- to convince hold-out governments to come on board, to ensure effective implementation of and compliance with the treaty, to get mines out of the ground within the ten-year deadline, and to provide adequate assistance to landmine victims.

Landmine Monitor is the definitive study of the landmine problem worldwide. It'll form the basis for discussion at the Nairobi Summit On a Mine-Free World, which I'll be attending for the BBC in just over a week's time.