Soka Gakkai International (SGI) celebrates the ratification of the Land Mines Treaty by 45 countries in record time, and looks forward to it becoming international law by March 1999 - a victory for grassroots action by people and civic groups around the world.

SGI, which has 12 million members in 128 countries, wishes the Phnom Penh International Forum on Demining and Victim Assistance every success and supports a

concerted effort by local communities, NGOs, governments and donors to prevent further injury and death by land mines.

Land mines are one of many threats which make life in rural areas dangerous and untenable for the poorest families in some of the world's poorest countries. An integrated and participatory approach is called for, involving support to victims and their families, the development of alternative, safe sources of livelihood, the clearing of mines and the resolution of conflict.

Soka Gakai International's activities for peace, culture and education are based on the long-standing traditions of Buddhist humanism.

For more information, contact SGI at 15-3 Samon-cho, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160 0017

Tel: 81 3 5360 9831

Fax: 81 3 5360 9885.

See the article on "The International Campaign to Ban Land Mines: Where to Now?" by Rae McGrath from the July 1998 issue of the SGI Quarterly on SGI's

website at www.sgi.org