Since 2015, 4 April has been the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
In the week leading up to it, the mine action community, led by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), will roll out activities across the globe to raise awareness and to seek assistance for mine action work.
In 2020, despite the pandemic:
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thousands of explosives were found and destroyed
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hundreds of thousands of square meters of land were made safe and put to productive use
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millions of people living in, or returning to, contaminated areas, were provided with explosive ordnance risk education, incorporating, in many cases, lifesaving World Health Organization COVID-19 prevention guidance
This year, the United Nations will promote mine action by highlighting how "Perseverance, Partnership, and Progress” have carried the sector through this challenging year.
A multi-media exhibition of the same name will open on 31 March on the UN Exhibits page, which will display the exceptional photography and videography until 15 May.
Last week, Beyond Square Meters Cleared: Mine Action and Development, a high-level Development Dialogue convened by UNDP, brought together world leaders in the field of mine action and development. If you missed it the video can be found here
On 8 April, the Security Council, under the Presidency of Viet Nam, will hold an open debate to consider Mine action and sustaining peace: Stronger partnerships for better delivery. The debate, which will include an intervention by the Secretary-General, will put the spotlight on mine action at the highest level.
On 16 April civil society organizations will address the United States Congressional Unexploded Ordnance/Demining Caucus. This event aims to update members of the U.S. Congress and their staff about the humanitarian dangers of unexploded ordnance and the successes of U.S. demining programmes around the world.
The United Nations Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards, Daniel Craig, will address the Caucus through a video message.
UN mine action programmes from Viet Nam to Afghanistan, Somalia to the Central African Republic, Libya to Colombia, will mark the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action in innovative ways.
A list of events will be available in the “Perseverance, Partnership, Progress” multi-media exhibition.
Check it out next week.
