The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action - 4 April - this year fell on Easter Sunday, the most important of Christian festivals and celebrated by more than 1 billion people across the globe.
In his “Urbi et Orbi” Easter Message broadcast worldwide from Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Pope Francis described anti-personnel landmines as “insidious and horrible devices that kill or maim many innocent people each year” further exclaiming “how much better our world would be without these instruments of death.”
‘A world free of these destructive devices’
In a message to the Secretary-General shared in advance of Easter Sunday, the Pope urged all “leaders of nations and other international organizations to cooperate in taking the necessary decisions that will lead to a world free of these destructive devices”.
Pope Francis thanks UN personnel
He expressed his gratitude “to the United Nations personnel and to all engaged in the dangerous work of mine clearing and in assisting those who have experienced injury and death of loved ones from landmines”.
Still to come is the Open Debate at the Security Council on Thursday this week, and an event at the United States Congress on the 16 April.
Learn more about mine action
Visit the UN mine action exhibit, check the events page, read the Secretary-General’s statement, or listen to Global Advocate Daniel Craig.
