International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action

Last updated
International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
Observed byglobally
TypeInternational
Date 4 April
Next time4 April 2025 (2025-04-04)
Frequencyannual

The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action was designed in 2005 by the United Nations General Assembly to raise awareness and seek assistance for mine action is observed every year on April 4. This day aims to highlight the dangers of land mines and explosive remnants of war, as well as to promote efforts to clear contaminated areas and assist victims. It underscores the importance of mine action in saving lives, protecting civilians, and enabling development in affected areas. The day also serves as a reminder of the international community's commitment to addressing the threats posed by land mines and supporting mine action initiatives worldwide. [1] [2]

Contents

History

The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed the day on December 8, 2005. The decision was made to raise public attention towards mine action activities, the threats posed by land mines, and how to work towards their elimination. [3] The day was first observed on April 4, 2006. [4]

Over the past almost 20 years, the United Nations Mine Action Service’s (UNMAS) work has encouraged the needs of affected individuals and adapted to the threat of risks faced by humanitarians. The service calls for the continuation of certain initiatives that promote the expansion of national-mine action capacity in areas where mines and explosives pose a threat to civilians’ lives.

The day is significant as it marks the establishment of the UN’s accountability framework and the introduction to the UN's Theory of Change in mine action program. [5] The day also aids peacekeepers to carry out patrols, help humanitarians, raise awareness against mines among people living in dangerous atmospheres and educate them how to survive fearlessly and not worry about compromising their lives. [6]

The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action seeks to achieve a world free of land mines and explosive remnants of war. This is to help individuals and communities to survive in a safe environment where the victim's needs are taken care of. [7]

The threat of mines

Mines, explosive remnants of war, and improvised explosive devices (IED) continue to cause death and injury, especially in situations of armed conflict. On average, one person is killed or injured every hour. Many children are among the victims. The use of improvised explosive devices has expanded, terrorizing civilians and threatening humanitarian and peacekeeping missions and personnel. [8] [9]

Focus of 2024 Commemorations

The 2024 commemoration of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action focuses on disabled survivors of explosive hazards, and all people with disabilities living through conflicts. The United Nations has called for a greater responsiveness to the needs and rights of all people with disabilities in conflict and peacebuilding settings. [10]

The 2024 campaign will bring attention to the five-year anniversary of Security Council resolution 2475, which calls upon Member States, and specifically Security Council members, to consider and protect persons with disabilities; to ensure they have access to assistance, and to include them in conflict prevention and peacebuilding. [11]

Events and activities

Various events and activities are organized to mark this day. In 2024, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) opened a multi-media exhibition themed “Witnessing a Way Forward: Protecting Lives. Building Peace. The exhibition highlighted the need for the full implementation of Security Council resolution 2475 (2019), which calls on all Member States and Council members to take into account the needs of persons with disabilities in conflict situations. [12]

Towards a mine-free world: the path forward

The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action serves as a reminder of the ongoing threat posed by mines and other explosive remnants of war. It is a call to action for the international community to work together to eliminate these threats and to ensure the safety and well-being of all people, particularly those living in conflict-affected areas. [13]

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.

The Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF), established in 1980, now the Veterans for America (VFA), is a Washington, D.C.-based international humanitarian organization that addresses the consequences of war and conflict. The founder of VVAF is Bobby Muller, a former U.S. Marine lieutenant and Vietnam veteran.

<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">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.

A Mine Action Coordination Centre is an agency established in a region under the auspices of the United Nations to coordinate the clearing of the explosive remnants of war - including landmines and unexploded ordnance. The individual centres are commonly managed by the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) whereas global policy is in the remit of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).

Land mines in Chechnya refers to the mines planted by both Russian and Chechen fighters during the First and Second Chechen Wars. In 2004, Chechnya was the most land mine-affected region in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ken Rutherford (political scientist)</span> American political scientist

Kenneth R. Rutherford is the co-founder of the Survivor Corps, a group that helps the victims of war, and an American researcher in the field of political science. He is also a member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which was the recipient of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. Rutherford has served as the Director of the James Madison University Center for International Stabilization and Recovery, a Peace Corps Volunteer in Mauritania (1987-1989), a UNHCR Emergency Refugee Coordinator in Senegal (1989), and a humanitarian emergency relief officer in northern Kenya and Somalia (1993). In 2024, Rutherford taught at Hue University in Vietnam as a Fulbright Scholar Fellow.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">United Nations Mine Action Service</span> United Nations organization

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Explosive weapon</span> Explosive used as a weapon

An explosive weapon is a weapon that uses an explosive to project blast and/or fragmentation from a point of detonation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Center for International Stabilization and Recovery</span>

The Center for International Stabilization and Recovery (CISR), formerly the Mine Action Information Center (MAIC), is a public policy center at James Madison University that manages information, conducts training, holds conferences and workshops, and performs research relevant to humanitarian mine clearance, victim assistance, mine risk reduction and other explosive remnants of war (ERW).

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mine Action Agency (Azerbaijan)</span> State agency in Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) is a mine action agency and executive body under State Commission for Reconstruction and Rehabilitation of War-Affected Areas of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The agency is accountable for implementing all necessary procedures corresponding to Azerbaijan Mine Action Program in order to decontaminate mines within the territory of Azerbaijan. Donors of the agency are government of Azerbaijan ($2,400,000) and UNDP ($160,000).

<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">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

  1. ↑ Nations, United. "International Day for Mine Awareness & Assistance in Mine Action". United Nations. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  2. ↑ "The Secretary-General: Message for the International Day of Mine Awareness & Assistance in Mine Action". United Nations : Information Service Vienna. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  3. ↑ "International Day For Mine Awareness 2024: Theme, History and Significance". News18. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  4. ↑ "International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action". United Nations Peacekeeping. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  5. ↑ "International Day For Mine Awareness 2024: Theme, History and Significance". News18. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  6. ↑ Newsd (2024-04-01). "International Day for Landmine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2024: History, FAQs, Dates, Activities, and Facts About landmines". Newsd.in. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  7. ↑ "Protecting Lives. Building Peace. International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2024".
  8. ↑ "International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action".
  9. ↑ "International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2024". Jagranjosh.com. 2019-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  10. ↑ "International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action".
  11. ↑ "Mine action entails more than removing landmines from the ground".
  12. ↑ "International Day For Mine Awareness 2024: Theme, History and Significance". News18. 2024-04-04. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  13. ↑ "The Secretary-General: Message for the International Day of Mine Awareness & Assistance in Mine Action". United Nations : Information Service Vienna. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
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