United Nations Mine Action Service

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United Nations Mine Action Service
AbbreviationUNMAS
FormationOctober 1997;26 years ago (1997-10)
Legal statusActive
Headquarters United Nations Headquarters
New York, USA
Head
Director of UNMAS
Flag of the United States.svg Ilene Cohn
Parent organization
United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations
Website www.unmas.org/en
A coloured voting box.svg   Politicsportal
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (right) meets with former UNMAS Director Agnes Marcaillou (centre) and UN Global Advocate Daniel Craig (left) on 18 October 2017. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, UNMAS Director Agnes Marcaillou, and UN Global Advocate Daniel Craig.jpg
UN Secretary-General António Guterres (right) meets with former UNMAS Director Agnès Marcaillou (centre) and UN Global Advocate Daniel Craig (left) on 18 October 2017.

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is a service located within the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations that specializes in coordinating and implementing activities to limit the threat posed by mines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices.

Contents

The Service operates under United Nations legislative mandates of both the General Assembly and the Security Council, as well as by request of affected Member States, the United Nations Secretary-General or their designated official.

In 2015, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Ban Ki-moon designated actor Daniel Craig as the first United Nations Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards. [1]

They last released their annual report in 2021, highlighting how UNMAS programmes made progress in the removal and destruction of tens of thousands of items of explosive ordnance, improved the safety of millions of people, strengthened the national capacity of multiple governments and reduced the threat and impact of explosive ordnance attacks carried out against United Nations peace operations. [2]

History

Origins

The United Nations had been involved in mine action since it established the Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan in 1989. Additionally, in the early 1990s the organization was conducting various mine action activities in Cambodia, Angola, Bosnia and Mozambique as part of its Peacekeeping Operations. [3]

In 1992, Handicap International, Human Rights Watch, Medico International, Mines Advisory Group, Physicians for Human Rights, and the Vietnamese Veterans of America Foundation established the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Through this initial push, by 1993, scores of national campaigns formed and hundreds of organizations joined the ICBL. [4]

Following the success of ICBL, in 1994, member states of the United Nations took action. The Director of UNICEF Jim Grant, the Secretary-General of the United Nations Boutros Boutros-Ghali, called for the total ban on landmines and the Government of the Netherlands agreed to destroy its stockpile and support a total ban. [5]

In 1995, the Government of Belgium passed a law banning landmines. Pope John Paul II called for an end to the production and use of landmines. In the same year, the International Committee of the Red Cross launched a global petition pushing for a land on landmines. [6]

With pressure mounting, in 1997, 14 governments announced their support for a total ban on landmines. Canada hosted the Ottawa Treaty to build momentum for the cause. With the experience of Ottawa, the United Nations General Assembly drafted a resolution supporting the negotiation of a treaty to ban landmines, supported by 155 member states. [7]

In 1997, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines had gathered the support of more than 1000 organizations across 60 countries. Moreover, a total of 122 nations had signed the Ottawa Treaty to ban landmines. Jody Williams, the founding coordinator of ICBL, received the Nobel Peace Price "for their work for the banning and clearing of anti-personnel mines". [8]

United Nations Mine Action Service

UNMAS was not formally formed until 1997, when the Department of Peacekeeping Operation's Demining Unit and the Department of Humanitarian Affairs' Mine Clearance and Policy Unit were merged. It was created to act as the "UN focal point" regarding mine action and works to support the vision of a "world free of the threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance." [3] [9]

In 1998 the General Assembly welcomed the creation of the UNMAS Resolution 53/26, designating the Service as: "the focal point for mine action within the United Nations system, and its ongoing collaboration with and coordination of all mine-related activities of United Nations agencies, funds and programmes." [10]

In 1999, the first UNMAS field programme was established in Kosovo. Mine accidents had been building as a result of returning Kosovians working in the fields. 70% of mine victims among returnees were under the age of 24. [11]

In 2015, the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres designated actor Daniel Craig as the first United Nations Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards. [12]

In 2019, the Secretary-General of the United Nations António Guterres launched the five-year 'Safe Ground Campaign' (2019-2023), with the aim of raising awareness and resources for the victims and survivors of armed conflict through the promotion of sport and of the Sustainable Development Goals. Safe Ground establishes football fields out of mine-free areas. "Sport develops community, it brings people together, and Safe Ground aims to clear sport-oriented infrastructure, stadiums, sporting complexes, or spaces where sports can be played, so girls and boys, men and women, with or without a disability can play." [13]

UNMAS launched its 'Strategic Plan 2019-2023', identifying its mission with the Sustainable Development Goals in 2019: UNMAS Strategic Plan 2019-2023 [14]

As of 2022, UNMAS operates in 21 programmes internationally. These are: Abyei, Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Colombia, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, State of Palestine, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Western Sahara, and Yemen. [15]

Five pillars of mine action

The work of UNMAS is divided into 5 Pillars of Mine Action: [16]

  1. Clearance
  2. Mine Risk Education
  3. Victim Assistance
  4. Advocacy
  5. Stockpile Destruction

Clearance

UNMAS (escorted by MONUSCO) working near Bunia in the DRC in 2022 UNMAS and MONUSCO PHOTO DU JOUR DU LUNDI 24 JANVIER 2022.jpg
UNMAS (escorted by MONUSCO) working near Bunia in the DRC in 2022

In its broad sense, mine clearance includes surveys, mapping and minefield marking, as well as the actual clearance of mines from the ground. This range of activities is also sometimes referred to as demining.

Humanitarian mine clearance aims to clear land so that civilians can return to their homes and their everyday routines without the threat of landmines and unexploded remnants of war (ERW), which include unexploded ordnance and abandoned explosive ordnance. This means that all the mines and ERW affecting the places where ordinary people live must be cleared, and their safety in areas that have been cleared must be guaranteed. Mines are cleared and the areas are thoroughly verified so that they can say without a doubt that the land is now safe, and people can use it without worrying about the weapons. The aim of humanitarian demining is to restore peace and security at the community level.

Mine clearance methods:

Mine Risk Education (MRE)

A bomb disposal technician holds up a mortar shell during a demonstration held by the UNMAS in Mogadishu, Somalia. TBJ 4681 (8621592150).jpg
A bomb disposal technician holds up a mortar shell during a demonstration held by the UNMAS in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Risk education, or RE, refers to educational activities aimed at reducing the risk of injury from mines and unexploded ordnance by raising awareness and promoting behavioural change through public-information campaigns, education and training, and liaison with communities.

RE ensures that communities are aware of the risks from mines, unexploded ordnance and/or abandoned munitions and are encouraged to behave in ways that reduce the risk to people, property and the environment. Objectives are to reduce the risk to a level where people can live safely and to recreate an environment where economic and social development can occur free from the constraints imposed by landmine contamination.

RE, along with demining (which includes technical surveys, mapping, clearance of unexploded ordnance and mines, marking unsafe areas, and documenting areas that have been cleared), contributes to mine-risk reduction, or limiting the risk of physical injury from mines and unexploded ordnance that already contaminates the land. Advocacy and the destruction of landmine stockpiles focus on preventing future use of mines.

"Education and training" in MRE encompasses all educational and training activities that reduce the risk of injury from mines, unexploded ordnance and/or abandoned munitions by raising awareness of the threat to individuals and communities and promoting behavioural change. Education and training is a two-way process, which involves the imparting and acquiring of knowledge, changing attitudes and practices through teaching and learning.

Education and training activities may be conducted in formal and non-formal environments: teacher-to-child education in schools, information shared at home from parents to children or from children to their parents, child-to-child education, peer-to-peer education in work and recreational environments, landmine safety training for humanitarian aid workers and the incorporation of landmine safety messages in occupational health and safety practices. [17]

Victim Assistance

Building on the experience gained in this area since the entry into force of the Antipersonnel Mine Ban Treaty the negotiators of the Convention on Cluster Munitions agreed on a specific article on victim assistance (Article 5), which contains a number of obligations for States Parties with respect to cluster munition victims in areas under its jurisdiction and control. The Convention on Cluster Munitions also provides the following definition of cluster munition victims: " (...) all persons who have been killed or suffered physical or psychological injury, economic loss, social marginalisation or substantial impairment of the realisation of their rights caused by the use of cluster munitions. They include those persons directly impacted by cluster munitions as well as their affected families and communities."

Hundreds of thousands of mine and explosive remnants of war survivors exist in 78 countries. According to the 2008 Landmine Monitor Report, there are up to 60,000 survivors in Afghanistan alone and over 45,000 in Cambodia. In 2011, the Landmine Monitor identified 4,286 new injuries around the world by mines, explosive remnants of war and victim-detonated improvised explosive devices. [18] While the actual figure is unknown, it may well be far greater, since many incidents of mine and explosive ordnance accidents are never reported and are therefore not registered.

Within the UN system, the United Nation Mine Action Service works closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) and other UN entities, in particular UNICEF, that also support victim assistance activities. They all work closely with partner organisations outside the United Nations system, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross, Survivor Corps, World Rehabilitation Fund, Handicap International Belgium and Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation.

Advocacy

UNMAS coordinates overall UN advocacy in support of treaties and other international legal instruments related to landmines and explosive remnants of war, including cluster munitions, and in support of the rights of people affected by these devices.

Methods:

Community liaison services may begin far in advance of demining activities and help the development of local capacities to assess the risks, manage information and develop risk-reduction strategies.

Stockpile destruction

Stockpiled anti-personnel landmines (APM) far outnumber those actually laid in the ground. In accordance with Article 4 of the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty, State Parties must destroy their stockpiled mines within four years after their accession to the convention. Sixty-five countries have now destroyed their stockpiles of antipersonnel landmines, destroying a combined total of more than 37 million mines. Another 51 countries have officially declared not having a stockpile of antipersonnel mines and a further three countries are scheduled to destroy their stockpiles by the end of the year.

There are many options available to states in destroying their stockpiles. Stockpiles are usually destroyed by the military, but an industrial solution can also be employed. The techniques used vary depending on the make-up of the mines and the conditions in which they are found. The complete destruction cycle involves aspects such as transportation and storage, processing operations, equipment maintenance, staff training and accounting, as well as the actual physical destruction.

Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action

The Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action (IACG-MA) is a coalition of 12 United Nations offices, specialized agencies, funds and programmes that work to divide of labor within the United Nations regarding mine action. In order to achieve this, they created the Mine Action and Effective Coordination: the United Nations Inter-Agency Policy to effectively tackle the United Nation's mine action response. [19]

Members

Observers

Milestones

On 14 June 2011, the United Nations had declared Nepal to be landmine free. [20]

On 14 May 2015, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon designated Daniel Craig as the UN Global Advocate for the elimination of mines and explosive hazards. [21]

2017 marked the 20th anniversary of UNMAS.

In 2022, UNMAS presented the in-person and online exhibition 'Safe Ground. Safe Steps. Safe Home', one of many digital exhibits available on their website. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land mine</span> Explosive weapon, concealed under or on the ground

A land mine, or landmine, is an explosive weapon concealed under or camouflaged on the ground, and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets, ranging from combatants to vehicles and tanks, as they pass over or near it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Campaign to Ban Landmines</span> International organization

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) is a coalition of non-governmental organizations whose stated objective is a world free of anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions, where mine and cluster munitions survivors see their rights respected and can lead fulfilling lives.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HALO Trust</span> Non-government organisation founded 1988

The HALO Trust is a humanitarian non-government organisation which primarily works to clear landmines and other explosive devices left behind by conflicts. With over 10,000 staff worldwide, HALO has operations in 28 countries. Its largest operation is in Afghanistan, where the organization continues to operate under the Taliban regime that took power in August 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unexploded ordnance</span> Explosives that have not fully detonated

Unexploded ordnance, unexploded bombs (UXBs), and explosive remnants of war are explosive weapons that did not explode when they were employed and still pose a risk of detonation, sometimes many decades after they were used or discarded. When unwanted munitions are found, they are sometimes destroyed in controlled explosions, but accidental detonation of even very old explosives also occurs, sometimes with fatal results. A dud is an unexploded projectile fired in anger against an enemy, but which has failed to explode. A projectile not fired in anger but which has failed to explode is called a 'blind'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demining</span> Process of removing land mines

Demining or mine clearance is the process of removing land mines from an area. In military operations, the object is to rapidly clear a path through a minefield, and this is often done with devices such as mine plows and blast waves. By contrast, the goal of humanitarian demining is to remove all of the landmines to a given depth and make the land safe for human use. Specially trained dogs are also used to narrow down the search and verify that an area is cleared. Mechanical devices such as flails and excavators are sometimes used to clear mines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land mines in Cambodia</span> Landmines in Cambodia

Cambodia is a country located in Southeast Asia that has a major problem with landmines, especially in rural areas. This is the legacy of three decades of war which has taken a severe toll on the Cambodians; it has some 40,000 + amputees, which is one of the highest rates in the world. The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) estimates that there may be as many as four to six million mines and other pieces of unexploded ordnance in Cambodia. Some estimates, however, run as high as ten million mines.

FSD is a Swiss non-governmental organisation specialising in mine action. Since its creation in 1997, FSD has carried out operations in some 30 countries on four continents. Its programmes include the following four components: humanitarian demining, explosive ordnance risk education, victim assistance, and stockpile destruction and management. In 26 years, more than 1.4 million items of explosive ordnance have been neutralised by FSD.

A mine clearance organization, or demining organization, is an organization involved in the removal of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) for military, humanitarian, or commercial reasons. Demining includes mine clearance, as well as surveying, mapping and marking of hazardous areas.

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining is an international organisation working in mine action and explosive ordnance risk reduction, with a focus on landmines, cluster munitions and ammunition stockpiles. Based in the Maison de la paix in Geneva, it is legally a non-profit foundation in Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Land mines in Nagorno-Karabakh</span> First Nagorno-Karabakh War

The region of Nagorno-Karabakh and areas around it are considered to be some of the most heavily mined regions of the former Soviet Union. Mines were laid from early 1990s by both Azerbaijani and Armenian forces during and after the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. The worst-affected areas are along the fortified former contact line between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces, in particular in the districts of Aghdam, Fuzuli and Jabrayil. According to military experts from both Azerbaijan and Armenia, the ground in those areas is covered with "carpets of land mines." The region has the highest per capita rate in the world of accidents due to unexploded ordnance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aki Ra</span> Cambodian former child soldier, deminer, and museum curator (born c. 1970)

Aki Ra is a former Khmer Rouge conscripted child soldier who works as a deminer and museum curator in Siem Reap, Cambodia. He has devoted his life to removing landmines in Cambodia and to caring for young landmine victims. Aki Ra states that since 1992 he has personally removed and destroyed as many as 50,000 landmines, and is the founder of the Cambodian Landmine Museum.

Land mines in Latin America and the Caribbean are a by-product of the Cold War-era conflicts starting off in the 19th century. Contrary to the requirements of generally accepted international law, the minefields of Latin America and the Caribbean, were usually unmarked and unrecorded on maps. Once placed, mines remain active for decades, waiting the pressure of an unwary foot to detonate. As of 2023, within all of the Americas the only nations not to ratify the AP Mine Ban Convention are Cuba and the United States.

Mine action is a combination of humanitarian aid and development studies that aims to remove landmines and reduce the social, economic and environmental impact of them and the explosive remnants of war (ERW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mines Advisory Group</span>

The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) is a non-governmental organization that assists people affected by landmines, unexploded ordnance, and small arms and light weapons.

Golden West Humanitarian Foundation is an American Non-profit (501C3) organisation that develops technology to address the technical limitations of humanitarian mine clearance. The Golden West Humanitarian Foundation is based in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danish demining group</span>

Danish Demining Group (DDG) is the Human Security Unit under the Danish Refugee Council (DRC), specialised in clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance and reducing armed violence.

Gender mainstreaming in mine action is the application of gender mainstreaming to mine action. It is increasingly being adopted by international and state mine action organizations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ITF Enhancing Human Security</span> Non profit humanitarian organization

ITF Enhancing Human Security is a humanitarian, non-profit organization founded by the Republic of Slovenia., which specializes in land mine clearance and post-conflict reconstruction. It was established on 12 March 1998 with the purpose of helping Bosnia and Herzegovina in its post-conflict rehabilitation, specifically with mine clearance and assistance to mine victims.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Landmines in Ukraine</span>

Ukraine globally ranks as one of the states with the highest civilian casualties from landmines and unexploded ordnances, and the highest for anti-vehicle mine incidents. As of April 2023, it is estimated that approximately 174,000 square kilometers of Ukrainian territory are contaminated by landmines. Many types of landmines have been found in use in Ukraine, including novel variants. Though landmines have been in use since 2014 in Ukraine during the War in Donbas (2014–2022), their use was relatively sporadic until the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to Human Rights Watch, both Russian and Ukrainian government forces have utilized antipersonnel and anti-vehicle mines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Masam Project</span> Landmine clearance project in Yemen

Project Masam is a multilateral humanitarian land mine clearance project in Yemen launched by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in June 2018.

References

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  2. "UNMAS Annual Report 2021".
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  4. "Safe Ground. Safe Steps. Safe Home".
  5. "Safe Ground. Safe Steps. Safe Home".
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  7. "Google Drive: Sign-in".
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  13. "Together for mine action; a multilateral success story".
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  15. "UNMAS Annual Report 2021".
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  18. 2012 Landmine Monitor Report
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  21. "New global advocate Daniel Craig looks to boost UN's 'incredible work' on mine action". UN News Centre. 14 May 2017.
  22. "Digital Exhibits".