Events in 21 countries raised awareness about challenges faced by survivors of accidents with landmines and explosive remnants of war
Twenty-one countries hosted special events to mark the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on or around April 4, resulting in press coverage in 34 countries and drawing attention to the plight of survivors and the gradual reduction in new casualties since the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty entered into force in 1999.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon said in a message for the Day that although nearly 6,000 people had fallen victim to landmines and explosive remnants of war in 2007, "these numbers are dramatically lower than they were only a few years ago." He added that "each year, mine action programmes around the world are clearing landmines from more than 100 square kilometres of land and teaching more than 7 million people how to avoid danger in infested areas. These efforts have helped reduce casualty rates. Still, the only acceptable casualty rate is zero."
"Without proper support, survivors of landmines and explosive remnants of war may face a lifetime of poverty and discrimination, lacking adequate health care or rehabilitation services," the Secretary-General said. "Member States, civil society and the United Nations must strive to foster the legislative, social and economic conditions that enable survivors to realize their rights and be productive members of society."
This Day was an opportunity to revitalize international support for mine action, said UN Mine Action Service Officer-in-Charge John Flanagan. "We've made a lot of progress toward eliminating landmines and explosive remnants of war. Public and donor support are vital to our continued success. The United Nations pledges to its support for mine action until affected countries have the capacities to address the problem on their own," Flanagan said.
Most of the events around the world were hosted jointly by governments of mine-affected countries and the United Nations agencies that support their mine action efforts and ranged from official events with statements by top governmental and United Nations officials, to mine risk education theatre performaces, concerts, fund-raisers and photographic exhibitions.
In New York, Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations Dmitry Titov opened an exhibition of photographs by Sean Sutton and Kike Arnal about the impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war on the people of Afghanistan, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon and Sudan. Also in New York, Catherine Bragg, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, led a press briefing to announce the global commemoration of the Day, and the Humanitarian Demining Training Center set up a display of landmines and explosive remnants of war in the visitors' area of the General Assembly building of the United Nations.
 | Photo by Kike Arnal of Lebanese child injured by an explosive remnant of war. |
 | Photo by Sean Sutton/Mines Advisory Group, of Angolan landmine survivor. |
 | Mine Risk Education in Mauritania |
 | Press Conference on Mine Awareness Day, Azerbaijan |
 | MINURSO staff attend photo exhibition in Laayoune |
The following is a list of events that helped raise awareness about landmines, explosive remnants of war, and the efforts to eliminate them are taking place around the world for the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action:
AFGHANISTAN
When: April 6, 2008, 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Kabul, Protocol Room of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
What: Video screening. Statements by senior Afghan Government officials, representatives from the European Commission, the governments of Canada, Japan and the United States, officials of nongovernmental organizations, Afghanistan's Department of Mine Clearance, and the United Nations Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan. Exhibition by nongovernmental organizations of gear, mine-detecting dogs. Performances by children's choir. Also, throughout the day: television and radio advertisements and programming.
Who: Government of Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Contact: Yukari Ota, United Nations Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan, Tel. +93 (0)799 431 473, e-mail: yukari@unmaca.org
AZERBAIJAN
When: April 4, 2008
Where: Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) in Baku and its regional offices, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Baku
What: Meeting of US Ambassador to Azerbaijan and ANAMA Director (media invited); celebration of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action that have been targeted for mine risk education, new billboards and mine-warning signs in mine-affected regions, commemoration of the day by regional ANAMA offices, meetings with mine victims, a press conference conducted by the UNDP-Azerbaijan
Who: ANAMA, UNDP
Contact: Sabina Jalilova, Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action, Tel: (+994 12) 497 38 51, Fax: (+994 12) 97 44 27, e-mail: sjalilova@anama.baku.az, web site: www.anama.baku.az
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA
When: April 4, 2008
Where: Sarajevo
What: Concert, fund-raiser, race entitled "1 Kilometre for Another Safer Step"
Who: UNICEF, Bosnia and Herzegovina Mine Action Centre
Contact: Mario Tokic, UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sarajevo, Tel. +387 33 723 355
BURUNDI
When: April 4, 2008, 8:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Where: Direction de l'Action Humanitaire contre les Mines et Engins Non Explosés (DAHMI), 29 Avenue de l'Université, Rohero 1, Bujumbura
What: An event that focuses on mine victims and Burundi's efforts to be free of mines and explosive remnants of war by September 2008. Event includes speeches, the presentation of tricycles to disabled children, and musical performances.
Who: Senior Burundian officials, including the Vice President of the Republic, senior officials of the United Nations Development Programme and representatives of nongovernmental organizations (DanChurchAid, Handicap International, Swiss Foundation for Mine Action, and the Union of Handicapped Persons of Burundi). Press conference at the United Nations Development Programme office in the afternoon.
Contact: Gerard Chagniot, UNDP Burundi, Tel. 79 977 268, e-mail: gerard.chagnot@undp.org
CAMBODIA
When: April 4, 2008, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Royal University of Agriculture, Battambang Campus, and Svay Pray Village
What: A senior Cambodian mine action official will give a lecture at the Royal University of Agriculture in Battambang, Cambodia's most heavily contaminated province, in the morning. In the afternoon, students will visit cleared minefields to learn about the issues firsthand from beneficiaries of the mine-clearance process. This is the second event in a series of lectures organized to raise student awareness of issues concerning landmines and explosive remnants of war in Cambodia.
Who: Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority, United Nations Development Programme, Royal University of Agriculture
Contact: Alexandra Hiniker, UNDP Cambodia, Mobile tel. +855 (0) 12-805-325; e-mail: Alex.Hiniker@undp.org
CYPRUS
When: April 3-4, 2008
Where: Nicosia
What: speeches by representatives from the European Union and the United Nations. A visit to a minefield to film or photograph deminers at work, removing mines to be destroyed the following day. Press visit to the buffer zone on the April 4 to view the destruction of the first Turkish Forces landmine removed from outside Nicosia area.
Who: United Nations, European Union
Contact: Michael Raine, United Nations Development Programme, Cyprus, e-mail: rainem@un.org
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO
When: April 4, 2008
Where: Hotel Memling, Kinshasa
What: Presentations by the Minister of the Interior Denis Kalume, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Ross Mountain, Director of the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre Harouna Ouedraogo
Contact: Sadio Kante, UN Mine Action Coordination Centre, Tel: +243 818906905/ ext: 6905, e-mail: kantes@un.org
ETHIOPIA
When: April 4, 2008, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Gihon Hotel, Addis Ababa; also Mekele, Jijiga, Dire Dawa
What: Photo exhibit, screening of short films on mine action and victim assistance, talks by high-level government and UN officials, reports on progress in assisting victims, destroying stockpiles and mine-clearance operations. Other events organized by civil society organizations and their partners in Mekele, Jijiga, Dire Dawa.
Who: Ethiopian Mine Action Office, UN Development Programme, Landmine Survivors Network, Rehabilitation and Development Organization, Handicap international-France, International Committee of the Red Cross, and Norwegian People's Aid.
Contact: Keita Sugimoto, UNDP Ethiopia, Mobile tel. +251 (0) 912-200345; e-mail: Keita.Sugimoto@undp.org
EGYPT
When: April 8, 2008
Where: United Nations Information Centre, Cairo
What: Public event
Contact: Dalia Farghal, United Nations Information Centre, Cairo, e-mail: df@unic-eg.org
FRANCE
When: April 4, 2008 (to be confirmed)
Where: Paris
What: Press conference by Mine Action Support Group (donors for mine action)
Who: Mine Action Support Group and the United Nations Mine Action Team
Contact: Richard Kollodge, UN Mine Action Service, New York, Tel. +1-212 963-5677, e-mail: kollodge@un.org
JORDAN
When: April 7, 2008
Where: Jordan's National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation
What: Ceremony to mark the occasion
Who: National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation, UN Development Programme
Contact: Amal Tartir, UNDP Jordan, Tel. (+962 6) 566 8171 ext. 207.
MAURITANIA
When: April 4, 2008, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Schools in mine-affected regions across the country, and Boulenoir
What: Mine-awareness meetings will be held at 10 a.m. in schools mine-affected areas across the country. At 11 a.m., a demining site will be visited in Boulenoir. At noon, anti-personnel mines will be destroyed.
Who: National and municipal authorities, civil society, ambassadors of donor countries and representatives of international organizations.
Contact: Mr. Alioune ould Mohamed El Hacen, National Humanitarian Demining Programme for Development (PNDHD), Ministère de la Décentralisation et l'Aménagement du Territoire, Nouakchott, Mauritania, Tel/Fax :2225252714, e-mail: ouldmennane@yahoo.fr
NEPAL
When: April 4, 2008
Where: Kathmandu
What: Public event (to be determined)
Who: UNICEF and the Mine Action Unit of the United Nations Mission in Nepal
Contact: Joanne Doucet, UNICEF Nepal, Kathmandu, Tel. +977-1-552-3200 (ext. 1131), Mobile +977-98510 77083, Fax +977-1-552-7280, e-mail: jdoucet@unicef.org
SPAIN
When: April 4, 2008, 7:30 p.m.
Where: Contemporary Cultural Center of Barcelona
What: Opening of exhibit of photos by Gervasio Sanchez: "Vidas Minadas" and conference on landmines and the Anti-Personnel Mine-Ban Treaty
Who: Direcció de Cooperació Internacional i Solidaritat, Barcelona
Contact: Jordi Cortes, Tel: + 34 934027867, e-mail: jcortes@bcn.cat
SRI LANKA
When: April 4, 2008
Where: Vavuniya and Jaffna
What: Vavuniya: cultural presentations and talks; Jaffna: newspaper advertisemens, mine risk education messages in local newspapers, radio program
Who: Community Trust Fund, in coordination with UNICEF and the District Mine Action Office, and nongovernmental organizations.
SUDAN
When: April 4, 2008
Where: Khartoum (Friendship Hall, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.), Juba (Buluk Freedom Square, 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.)
What: Speeches, presentations, film screenings, mine risk education
Who: National Mine Action Centre and the United Nations Mine Action Office
Contact: Hala Marzoog, United Nations Mine Action Office, halam@sudan-map.org
TAJIKISTAN
When: April 4, 2008, 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Tajikistan Mine Action Center in Dushanbe; Tajik Mine Detection Dog Center, Rudaki District
What: Public events, including statements by high-level officials of the Government, the United Nations, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, nongovernmental organizations and survivors; demonstrations of mine clearance with mine-detection dogs; displays of landmines, explosive remnants of war; mine action theatre performances; mine risk education demonstrations; film screening; presentation of awards.
Who: Ministries of defense and education, the Tajikistan Mine Action Centre, United Nations Development Programme, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Swiss Foundation for Mine Action. Commission on the Implementation of International Humanitarian Law
Contact: Nargis Shomahmadova (Ms.), United Nations Development Programme, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Tel: +992 47 441-06-70, 441-06-41 (Ext: 101), fax +992 47 441-06-46, e-mail: nargis.shomahmadova@undp.org, website:www.undp.tj/
UGANDA
When: April 4, 2008
Where: Pader
What: Village fair with equipment displays, mine risk education theatre, presentations; launch of a new public awareness strategy
Who: UN Development Programme, nongovernmental organizations, Government of Uganda
Contact: Stephen Pritchard, UNDP, Kampala, Uganda, stephen.pritchard@undp.org
USA
When: April 3, 2008, 11:15 a.m. to noon
Where: Room 226, United Nations Secretariat Building, New York
What: Press briefing by Catherine Bragg, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator, Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Who: UN Department of Public Information, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, United Nations Mine Action Team
Contact: Richard Kollodge, United Nations Mine Action Service, New York, Tel. +1-212 963-5677, e-mail: kollodge@un.org
When: April 3, 2008, 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: Church Center for the United Nations, 777 UN Plaza, E. 44th and 1st Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York
What: Assessing the Anti-Personnel Mine-Ban Treaty at its 10th Anniversary. Speakers: Gabriele Russo, Policy Coordination Officer, UN Mine Action Service; Lou Luff, Mine Action Portfolio Manager, UN Office Project Services; Mr. Zach Hudson, Director of Humanitarian Campaigns, UNA-USA. Open to the public.
Who: United Nations Association of the United States of America's Council of Organizations
Contact: Jessica Hartl, jhartl@unausa.org, Tel. +1-202-462-3446 ext. 12
When: April 3, 2008, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Viena Café, United Nations Secretariat Building, New York
What: Opening of exhibit of photos about the impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war on the people of Afghanistan, Angola, Cambodia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon and Sudan. By Sean Sutton of the Mines Advisory Group and Kike Arnal. Meet the photographer. Introduction by Dmity Titov, Assistant Secretary-General, Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions, United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations. Free. Open to missions, delegates, UN staff, media and escorted visitors.
Who: the United Nations Mine Action Team
Contact: Richard Kollodge, United Nations Mine Action Service in New York at +1-212 963-5677, e-mail: kollodge@un.org
When: April 4, 2008, all day
Where: United Nations headquarters, New York
What: Display of landmines and explosive remnants of war, open to the public
Who: Humanitarian Demining Training Center
Contact: Richard Kollodge, UN Mine Action Service, tel. +1-212 963-5677, e-mail: kollodge@un.org
VIETNAM
When: April 4, 2008
Where: Hanoi
What: Television news reports, public service announcements, press release
Who: UNICEF Vietnam
Contact: Nguyen Thi Thanh An, UNICEF Vietnam, Hanoi, Tel. +84-4 9425706, ext. 270, E-mail:nttan@unicef.org
WESTERN SAHARA
When: April 4, 2008
Where: Laayoune
What: Military parade, presentations, photo exhibition on mine action, video screenings, distribution of mine risk education materials
Who: United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO)
Contact: Tammy Hall, Senior Technical Advisor for Mine Action, MINURSO, Laayoune, e-mail: hall9@un.org. tel: +1-212-963-1952 ext. 5427
YEMEN
When: April 5, 2008, 9 a.m.
Where: Yemen Mine Action Centre
What: Poetry reading, mine awareness theatre, documentary film screening, speeches by senior official of the United Nations Development Programme and the National Mine Action Centre
Who: National Mine Action Centre of Yemen, United Nations Development Programme