The Cambodian government’s cancellation of a beauty pageant featuring landmine victims has come as a surprise to many.
Authorities in the southeast Asian country declared that the competition was insulting to people disabled by landmines who are trying to rebuild their lives. The organiser of the event, Norwegian Morten Traavik, said he is saddened by the decision. He said he will now stage the competition online.
While Traavik hopes that the 20 women contestants will not be deterred from competing for the prize of a high-tech prosthetic limb, we believe that the Cambodian government was wrong to get involved. Indeed, it again calls into question its commitment, considering the slow progress in the clearing of the country's landmines, and the documented lack of support it offers to victims. How can Cambodia’s leaders explain the fact that hundreds of victims do not have access any kind of prostheses?
Contrary to the government's argument, we believe that Traavik’s innovative idea would have raised much needed awareness about the landmines problem, as well as empower landmine victims in the country.
The Miss Landmine concept has already been very successful in Angola, where Traavik first launched the competition two years ago. Creating international awareness about the hidden menace of landmines is necessary if Cambodia is to achieve greater support in clearing them. In light of this, Metro Éireann urges the Cambodian government to revise its decision and allow the pageant to continue.
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