United Nations (UN)’s International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is annually observed across the globe on April 4 to create awareness about landmines and work toward their eradication, as well as to educate people about the harmful effects of explosive mine action across the world
- 4th April 2023 marks the commemoration of the 18th International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
The theme for International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2023 is “Mine Action Cannot Wait”.
- The day is annually observed by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).
Background:
i. The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the resolution A/RES/60/97 on 8th December 2005 and proclaimed April 4 of every year as International Day for Mines Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
ii. The 1st ever International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action was observed on 4th April 2006.
Events 2023:
The UNMAS 2023 acknowledged under the campaign “Mine Action Cannot Wait”, which will draw attention to recent explosive ordnance contamination in Myanmar, Ukraine, and Yemen as well as decades of contamination in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Viet Nam.
i. Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General:
- It was attended by the leadership of UNMAS and other guests.
ii. Symposium “Mine Action Cannot Wait”:
- UNMAS hosted a Symposium to raise awareness and to seek assistance for Mine Action work.
iii. Opening of Multi-Media Exhibition:
UNMAS opened a multi-media exhibition on the same theme.
- The exhibit included photographs, graphics and film clips that illustrate the work that has been completed in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam, as well as what remains to be done.
- It also showed global explosive ordnance contamination, highlighted new contamination in Cambodia, Myanmar, Ukraine and Yemen, and showed how people across the world are affected.
About United Nations Mine Action Service:
i. The UNMAS leads, coordinates, and implements projects and programmes to mitigate the threats posed by explosive ordnance to the benefit of millions of people around the world.
ii. It assists in the development of policy, guidelines and standards relating to mine action within the broader UN system.
iii. Global Advocates of UNMAS:
- In 2015, British actor Daniel Craig, known for playing James Bond, was designated as the 1st UN Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards by Ban Ki-moon, then Secretary General of the UN.
- On 3rd December 2022 (on the occasion of International Day for People with Disabilities), Giles Duley was named the 1st United Nations Global Advocate for persons with disabilities in conflict and peacebuilding situations.
Director- Ilene Cohn
Headquarters- New York, United States of America (USA)
Establishment- 1997
