Silent Killers: An ICBL Special Series Podcast
Silent Killers is a special series Podcast in collaboration between ICBL and David Peck, an activist, speaker, and filmmaker, who’s recent documentary Broken Courage highlights the lived experiences of landmine survivors in Cambodia. Through this collaboration, ICBL hopes to amplify the voices of survivors, advocates, and change makers, and to reignite a global movement rooted in justice, empathy, and the belief that no one should fear the ground beneath their feet.
Episode 1. Jody Williams: The Fight for a Mine Free World
Available on Monday 1 September at 9 AM CEST on ICBL YouTube Channel, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
Jody Williams is a lifelong activist, Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and founding coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). In 1997, under her leadership, the campaign united NGOs, landmine survivors, and supportive governments to achieve the historic Mine Ban Treaty, which earned Williams and the ICBL the Nobel Peace Prize. She continues to advocate for human rights, disarmament, and social justice, and is recognized globally for her fearless voice against weapons that indiscriminately harm civilians.
In this first episode of Silent Killers, Jody reflects on the struggle to ban landmines and the lessons for today’s activists. She shares how the ICBL began and brought together a diverse movement of survivors, NGOs, and governments; the strategies of the 1990s that proved decisive in swaying states; and how today’s geopolitical tensions challenge humanitarian disarmament.
We also discuss her advice for young campaigners on sustaining activism without burnout, her response to arguments for reintroducing landmines in the name of national security, and where she still finds hope in the global movement to protect civilians from these indiscriminate weapons.
Episode 2. The Mine Ban Treaty: Why the Renewed Interest?
Available on Monday 8 September at 9 AM CEST on ICBL YouTube Channel, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
In the second episode of Silent Killers, host David Peck engages with Alma Taslidzan, ICBL-CMC Board chair and Kasia Derlicka-Rosenbauer, ICBL-CMC Deputy Director, to discuss the pressing issues surrounding landmines and disarmament.
They share personal stories that led them to become advocates, the significance of the 1997 Treaty banning landmines, and the ongoing challenges faced in the fight against these weapons. The conversation highlights the human cost of landmines, the impact of funding cuts on advocacy efforts, and the importance of mobilizing citizens for change.
Episode 3. Focus on Uganda
Available on Monday 22 September at 9 AM CEST on ICBL YouTube Channel, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
In this episode of Silent Killers, host David Peck engages in a profound conversation with Alex Mouniam Babazi, a Ugandan doctor, advocate for disability rights and a longtime ICBL campaigner. Alex shares his harrowing personal journey from being a soldier who stepped on a landmine to becoming a leader in victim assistance and the founder of the Amputee Self-Help Network. The discussion explores themes of trauma, recovery, and the importance of sharing personal stories as a means of healing. Alex highlights the challenges faced by amputees in Uganda, including the lack of rehabilitation services and access to prosthetics, and emphasizes the need for advocacy and support for individuals living with disabilities. The episode concludes with a reflection on the intersection of disability, poverty, and healthcare, and the ongoing efforts to improve the lives of landmine survivors.
Recognized internationally, Alex has represented Ugandan amputees and landmine survivors at global forums, speaking out for justice, rehabilitation, and the eradication of landmines worldwide. His leadership embodies resilience, service, and an unwavering dedication to humanitarian action.
Episode 4. What The Camera Can't Forget
Available on Monday 29 September at 9 AM CEST on ICBL YouTube Channel, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
In this episode of Silent Killers, host David Peck engages with photographer and photojournalist Giovanni Diffidenti, who shares his profound journey into the world of photography and his commitment to documenting the impact of landmines and advocating for disarmament. Giovanni recounts his early experiences in London, his awakening to the plight of landmine survivors, and the personal stories that drive his work. The conversation explores the role of photography in advocacy, the ongoing challenges in landmine disarmament, and the resilience of survivors. Giovanni emphasizes the importance of storytelling in raising awareness and inspiring change, while also reflecting on the emotional toll of his work and the hope that continues to motivate him.
Giovanni Diffidenti is a photographer and visual storyteller based in Italy. Since 2012, their work has illuminated urgent social issues, from mental health and disability to post-conflict recovery and environmental resilience.
Episode 5. Erin Hunt, Small Wins & Seeds of Change
Available on Monday 6 October at 9 AM CEST on ICBL YouTube Channel, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
In this episode of Silent Killers, David Peck interviews Erin Hunt, the Executive Director of Mines Action Canada, discussing her journey into activism, the importance of public engagement, and the role of youth in disarmament efforts. They explore the Mind Action Fellows Program, which empowers young advocates to engage in international diplomacy and share survivor stories. The conversation highlights the challenges faced in the fight against landmines, the importance of celebrating small wins, and the hope for a future free of landmines through collective action and support from decision-makers.
Erin Hunt is the Executive Director of Mines Action Canada. She has been doing public education on the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines since 2003 and working in humanitarian disarmament in various capacities since 2006.
Episode 6. Lloyd Axworthy, Radical Hope & The Ottawa Legacy
Available on Monday 14 October at 9 AM CEST on ICBL YouTube Channel, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
In this episode, David Peck interviews Lloyd Axworthy, a prominent Canadian politician and human rights advocate, discussing his political journey, the significance of the Ottawa Treaty, and the ongoing challenges of landmines and human security. Axworthy emphasizes the importance of civic education and the role of civil society in promoting disarmament, while also reflecting on personal motivations and the need for radical hope in today's political climate.
Lloyd Axworthy is a Canadian politician, elder statesman and academic. He served as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien. In 2000, he retired from politics, returning to western Canada where he served as President of the University of Winnipeg for ten years. In December 2015 he was promoted to Companion of the Order of Canada. He now chairs the World Refugee and Migration Council and lives in Ottawa.
Episode 7. Loren Persi, ICBL-CMC Landmine Monitor Research Team Leader
Available on Monday 3 November at 9 AM CEST on ICBL YouTube Channel, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
In this episode of Silent Killers, David Peck engages with Loren Persi from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) to discuss the ongoing issues surrounding landmines, disarmament, and the impact on survivors. They explore Loren's journey into activism, the significance of the Landmine Monitor report, and the importance of independent reporting in holding states accountable. The conversation delves into data collection methods, trends in casualties, and the vital role of survivor networks in advocating for change. Ultimately, the episode emphasizes the need for continued awareness and action in addressing the humanitarian crisis caused by landmines.
Loren Persi is the Impact Research Team Leader with the ICBL-CMC Landmine Monitor research team. He has been conducting vital research with the Monitor for over 15 years and has worked specifically on victim assistance issues since 2004.
Episode 8: Peace in Progress with Izumi Nakamitsu
Available on Monday 17 November at 9 AM CEST on ICBL YouTube Channel, Spotify and Apple Podcasts
In this episode of Silent Killers, David Peck speaks with Izumi Nakamitsu, UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, who discusses the importance of hope and collaboration in addressing global challenges. She emphasizes the need for camaraderie and the belief that collective efforts can lead to meaningful change, even if it is incremental. Her optimism stems from witnessing real progress made by individuals and groups working together.
Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu assumed her position as Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs on 1 May 2017.
She has many years of experience within and outside the United Nations system, most recently as Special Adviser Ad Interim on Follow-up to the Summit on Addressing Large Movements of Refugees and Migrants between 2016 and 2017. She was previously Director of the Asia and the Middle East Division of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations between 2012 and 2014, and Director of the Department’s Division of Policy, Evaluation and Training, from 2008 to 2012.
Between 2005 and 2008, Ms. Nakamitsu was Professor of International Relations at Hitotsubashi University in Tokyo, where she also served as a member of the Foreign Exchange Council to Japan’s Foreign Minister, and as a visiting senior adviser on peacebuilding at the Japan International Cooperation Agency. Between 1998 and 2004, she was the Chef de Cabinet and Director of Planning and Coordination at the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Earlier in her career, Ms. Nakamitsu was a member of the United Nations Reform Team of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan. She also held positions with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), including within the office of Assistant High Commissioner for Policy and Operations Sergio Vieira de Mello, and in UNHCR field operations in the former Yugoslavia, Turkey and northern Iraq. Ms. Nakamitsu holds a Master of Science degree in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., and a Bachelor of Law degree from Waseda University in Tokyo.
She is married and has two daughters.