Mine Action Week starts 4 April

Monday 4 April is International Mine Awareness Day, which raises awareness and seeks assistance for mine action.

Together, twelve UN entities, coordinated by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), respond to the impact of landmines, improvised mines, explosive remnants of war, and unexploded ordnance in over 30 countries across the globe.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), which is one of the most successful civil society-led campaigns in history.

Despite its seemingly impossible objective – a total ban on the use of anti-personnel landmines - five years after the campaign was launched the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention was opened for signature.

Today, there are 164 States Parties. When civil society is harnessed, nothing is impossible.

In the week of 4 April, the UN Headquarters in New York and mine action programmes around the world will host events.

Mine Action Symposium

The first Mine Action Symposium will take place on 4 April (4pm and 6pm in the ECOSOC Chamber in New York). RSVP here.

Speakers include:

  • Special Envoy for the universalization of the Mine Ban Convention HRH Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein from Jordan

  • ICBL Ambassador Tun Channareth

  • ICBL Ambassador Margaret Arach Orech

  • storyteller and photographer Giles Duley, an IED survivor and protagonist of the series One-Armed Chef

  • Global Mine Action Advocate Daniel Craig

  • MAG Ambassador Rosamond Pike

  • Executive Director of Humanity & Inclusion Jeff Meer

  • and many more

Safe Ground, Safe Steps, Safe Home

Following the Mine Action Symposium, at 6pm, the exhibit Safe ground, Safe steps, Safe home will open in the General Assembly Lobby at UNHQ.

Thanks to the permanent missions of Poland and Switzerland, this “tabloid-Instagram” installation tells the 30-year mine action success story and shows how the needs of people living with conflict-related disabilities are being met.   

More Mine Action Week events

Throughout the week, events will highlight mine action in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. Issues, such as IEDs and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, will be discussed.

iSeek will bring attention to these events and more.

If you are in New York, please join us in person. If not, the Mine Action Symposium will be webcast on UN Web TV. RSVP to get the link.