In June this year, the Secretary-General launched a six-month campaign to uphold humanitarian disarmament norms. The campaign calls for adherence to treaties, including the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APBMC), the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), and urges Member States to accelerate mine action and advance human rights and sustainable development.
The campaign was initiated following the decision of a few Member States to withdraw from international conventions (CCM, APMBC). This campaign brings into focus the importance of humanitarian disarmament norms.
Jointly led by the Department of Peace Operations (DPO), represented by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the United Nations Office of Disarmament Affairs (ODA), the campaign will culminate this December with the exhibition “Forward, NOT Fragmented” in the Visitor’s Lobby of the General Assembly in the United Nations Headquarters, New York City.
With the support and powerful statements from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and several other UN entities and member states, UNMAS has been working to promote this Secretary-General campaign globally, aiming to reach those who are departing from the treaty.
“The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated. The protection of innocent lives depends on our collective action and commitment,” states UN Secretary-General António Guterres on the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.
Together, we can move #ForwardNotFragmented toward a Mine-Free World.
