International Mine Awareness Day 2026: Invest in Peace, Invest in Mine Action

To raise awareness, galvanise action and support those affected by Mines, ERW and IEDs, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) will be commemorating the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action through a mini film festival showcasing UN Mine Action in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Ukraine, and a digital exhibition on Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) – one of the five pillars of Mine Action - along with Clearance, Victim Assistance, Advocacy, and Stockpile destruction.

The theme of International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action in 2026 will be Invest in Peace; Invest in Mine Action. This theme draws out the foundational importance of lands being cleared from explosive threats and communities living in the absence of fear from these indiscriminate weapons for peace to be able to prosper.

Timing

The film festival will take place in New York in the early evening of Wednesday 1 April. The digital exhibition will go live at the same time.

Participation and Visibility

UNMAS are planning to commemorate the international day with the launch of the film festival/ digital exhibition, hosted by the Under Secretary General of Peace Operations, Mr Jean Pierre Lacroix. We aim to partner with Permanent Missions in New York, NGOs, Civil Society Organisations and the media.

Co hosts

For the high-level opening, UNMAS is seeking Permanent Missions to co-host and sponsor the event. Co-hosts will be offered the opportunity for their Permanent Representative or Deputy Permanent Representative to deliver brief remarks and will be acknowledged in event materials and media outputs

Contact Points and Next Steps

If your Mission may be interested in co-hosting the commemorations for the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, please contact, Mr. James Staples – Chief, Policy, Advocacy, Donor Relations and Outreach Section, UN Mine Action Service UNMAS, with Mr. Aaron Buckley in copy. (staples@un.org & buckleya@un.org)