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INTERNATIONAL MINE AWARENESS DAY 2023 [1]
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Date: 2023-04
Tuesday 4 April is the International Day designated by the General Assembly to raise awareness and seek assistance for mine action.
In 2023 the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) will acknowledge the day under the campaign “Mine Action Cannot Wait”, highlighting decades of contamination in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Viet Nam, as well as draw attention to recent explosive ordnance contamination in Myanmar, Ukraine and Yemen.
Events at UNHQ
Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
Tuesday, 4 April 2023, 12.00 - 1:15 p.m.
The leadership of UNMAS and other guests will attend the Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
H.E. Mr. Krzysztof Maria Szczerski, Permanent Representative of Poland to the United Nations
Ms. Ilene Cohn, Director, UNMAS
Ms. Asako Okai, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director, UNDP Crisis Bureau
Major General Hoa, Director General, Vietnam National Mine Action Center
Symposium “Mine Action Cannot Wait”
Tuesday, 4 April 2023, 3:00 - 5:30 p.m. (Conference Room 4)
UNMAS will hold a Symposium to raise awareness and to seek assistance for mine action work.
Speakers will include:
Foreign Minister of Canada Mr. Lloyd Axworthy, who was instrumental in the creation of the Mine Ban Convention;
Former US Senator Mr. Patrick Leahy, a key player in funding mine action;
Major General Hoa, Director General of the VNMAC, Progress and Challenges, Viet Nam;
Mr. Anouparb Vongnorkeo, Permanent Representative of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic to the United Nations;
Ms. Sophea Eat, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Cambodia to the United Nations;
Ms. Melissa Fleming, Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications;
Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations;
Ms. Virgina Gamba, UN Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict;
Film director Richard Fitoussi;
Giles Duley, United Nations Global Advocate for persons with disabilities in conflict and peacebuilding situations;
International Crisis Group journalist Richard Gowan.
The symposium is open for UN HQ Grounds Pass holders.
The Symposium will be broadcasted on UN Web TV at this link:
https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1l/k1leron8sq
Opening of Multi-Media Exhibition
Tuesday, 4 April 2023, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. (Visitors' Lobby, General Assembly building)
UNMAS will open a multi-media exhibition on the same theme. The exhibit will include 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 will also show global explosive ordnance contamination, highlight new contamination in Cambodia, Myanmar, Ukraine and Yemen, and show how people across the world are affected.
Events Around the World
Abyei
UNMAS is preparing to host various community-based sporting events during the first week of April, including a 5km fun run, a cricket tournament, and a volleyball game. There will also be an exhibition of UNMAS material, including a demining costume and EORE materials, at the UNISFA HQ.
Afghanistan
UNMAS Afghanistan on 4 April will hold an event to recognise the achievements made in the mine action community over the past few years. The event will showcase a mini exhibit and display of state-of-the-art demining equipment and costumes, providing an up-close and personal look at the latest technology being used in the field, while an interactive VR experience will put guests right into role of a deminer. Speakers will include key players within Afghanistan's demining community and will provide interesting insights into their line of work. In special recognition of Ramadan, visitors will also be provided with a small Iftar at the event.
UNICEF Afghanistan will prepare special ceremonies throughout the country's Western Region (WR), which has been particularly affected by UXO/mine explosions. The ceremonies will take place in Herat, Shindand district; Farah, Pusht-e-Roud district; Badghis, Bala Murghab; and Ghor, Shahrak district. Community elders and some children will be given the chance to speak about their experiences, and EORE posters and leaflets will be distributed to the participants. It is hoped that this celebration will serve as an opportunity for the affected communities to come together and support efforts towards mine awareness and assistance in mine action.
Azerbaijan
UNICEF Azerbaijan is pleased to announce its celebration of UN Mine Action Day on the 4 April through various events that utilize the power of football. This commemoration is being held in partnership with ANAMA, ICRC, Azerbaijan Football Development Foundation (NGO), and professional football clubs situated in the conflict-affected districts.
EORE sessions have been planned for schoolchildren in the conflict-affected villages on 2 - 5 April. During these sessions, various types of IEC materials, including t-shirts and school bags with safe-behavior messages, will be distributed.
A grassroots football festival for approximately 100 children will be organized in Tovuz City on 4 April. The festival will comprise of various football exercises and fun games, such as dribbling, small-sided football, and relay races. Additionally, several players from Turan Tovuz football club are expected to join the children on the pitch.
Furthermore, a friendly football match will be played among the partners on 4 April, right after the children's festival. This event is an opportunity for partners to collaborate and celebrate UN Mine Action Day through sports.
Central African Republic
UNMAS in the Central African Republic will collaborate with its partners to host several events highlighting Mine Action Day in Bangui and Bouar.
In Bangui, the activities throughout the first week of April will include a thought-provoking presentation on mine action to senior students at Bangui University on 3 April, a roundtable discussion on Radio Ndekeluka on the impact of mine action on the Central African Republic on 4 April, and an event to celebrate Mine Action Day 2023 at the United Nations UCATEX Camp on 5 April.
On 6 April, there will be explosive ordnance risk education sessions at the UNICEF headquarters for the bloggers committee from the UReport platform.
In Bouar, there will also be several events throughout the first week of April, including the screening of a short documentary, an exhibit on MINUSCA and UNMAS equipment, and a roundtable discussion. There will also be a sporting event for children, including an EORE treasure hunt for children affected by explosive ordnance incidents and an EORE session.
Ethiopia
On 3 April, UNMAS Ethiopia is pleased to participate alongside other key UN entities in an engaging conference hosted by the African Union Peace and Security Council to commemorate the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. This year's theme, "Impact on Peace and Security in Africa," highlights the critical role of mine action in promoting sustainable peace and security on the continent. The conference will take place in the Plenary Hall of the Julius Nyerere Peace and Security Building, situated at the heart of the AU compound.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo
On 4 April, UNMAS will partner with the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Congolese Mine Action Coordination Center (CCLAM) to organise an event in Kinshasa, in recognition of mine action day. The event will bring together important people and organizations, including donors, embassies, national authorities, and others to raise awareness about the dangers of landmines and explosive remnants of war.
There will also be an official ceremony to mark the launch the KOICA 2022-2024 project implemented by UNMAS titled “Sustainable Mine Action in Support of Conflict Affected Refugees, Internally Displaced People and Communities in the DRC”, with guest speaker H.E. Cho Jaichel, the South Korean Ambassador in DRC.
Geneva
On 4 April, UNMAS Geneva Office will host an event in the Palais des Nations from 3 to 4.30 pm (Geneva time).
Ms. Christelle Loupforest, the Liaison Officer for UNMAS Geneva and Deputy Coordinator for the Mine Action Area of Responsibility, will deliver the welcome address. This will be followed by Mr. Bruno Donat, the Chief of UNMAS Geneva and Global Coordinator for the Mine Action Area of Responsibility, who will provide an introduction. Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, will share a message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations. The event will then feature several key speakers from Afghanistan, Germany, GICHD, Global Protection Cluster, Iraq, Lebanon, Somalia, and Ukraine.
Iraq
The Chief of Mine Action Programme in Iraq will participate in a Directorate for Mine Action (DMA) event on 4 April to recognize the importance of mine action within the region.
Nigeria
UNMAS in Nigeria will have several projects during the first week of April, including an informative event between UNMAS, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), the Mines Advisory Group (MAG), and the Center for Social Cohesion Peace and Empowerment (CENSCOPE) on 4 April. The event will include lively panels, poetry, songs and a drama presentation.
There will also be a radio show in Maiduguri town, and several in-person community-based projects in Yobe State, Borno State, and Adamawa State to promote the Day.
Mali
UNMAS in Mali will hold several events to recognize mine action day on 4 April, this will include an official ceremony in Bamako with the Permanent Secretariat to Counter the Illicit Proliferation of Small Arms and Light Weapons that will be attended by national authorities, partners as well as representatives from the mine action community and the inauguration of the third and final part of the Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM) project implemented by MINUSMA DDR/SSR, and awareness-raising activities in the regions such as a drawing contest, a video projection and recreational activities and sensitization sessions at camps for internally displaced persons.
Somalia
UNMAS in Somalia will host several events throughout the first week of April to raise awareness of mine action, this will include a visit to an Internally Displaced Person camp by Somali Explosives Management Authorities (SEMA) to attend an EORE session for local children.
On April 8, UNMAS Somalia will host a sporting event where they will be distributing some UNMAS merchandise.
South Sudan
South Sudan created several activities leading up to the Day which sees the connection of the arts with the healing process of trauma.
On March 27, there will be an interview on the Radio Miraya breakfast show with Mr. Nebay, a professional painter and mentor with Confident Children out of Conflict (CCC), and Fran O'Grady, Chief of Mine Action Programme in South Sudan; the uplifting song "Mine Action Cannot Wait", written and produced by Mr. Mambo Alex will be released. Click here to listen to the show.
Another Radio Miraya interview will air on 3 April with Fran O'Grady and Mr. Mambo, where he will perform his song "Mine Action Cannot Wait" live, and on 4 April, Mr. Nebay will showcase his painting on the same theme in an exhibit featuring his mentees artwork.
State of Palestine
On 7 March, UNMAS Palestine organized an event titled "Safe Behavior Gives Me a Safe Life." The event was conducted in collaboration with the Palestinian Mine Action Center (PMAC) at the Arab Evangelical Episcopal School, Ramallah, in the West Bank and was attended by students.
The event was inaugurated by Mr. Iyad AlRafidi, Principal of the school, Mr. Issa Alghnimat, Operations Manager of PMAC, and Mr. Charles Birch, Chief of Mine Action Programme in the State of Palestine, who delivered speeches. During the event, the students were entertained by a puppet show aimed at raising their awareness of the dangers of mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). The puppet show will also be performed in a mobile puppet theater at various schools, with a target audience of approximately 1,500 students.
On 21 March, UNMAS in the State of Palestine, in collaboration with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), held a commemoration in Gaza. The event witnessed enthusiastic participation from UNRWA students, who enjoyed various fun and educational activities, including dancing to the SafeSteps Song and Dabkeh, playing child-friendly games, and coloring boards containing explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) messages.
The event was attended by representatives from various UN and humanitarian partner organizations. The Director of UNRWA Affairs in Gaza, Mr. Thomas White, and the Chief of Mine Action Programme in Palestine, Mr. Charles Birch, delivered speeches, praising the close collaboration between UNMAS and UNRWA and highlighting the significance of educating children on how to avoid and report suspicious objects through child-friendly EORE provided by UNMAS.
Sudan
In Sudan, a high-profile event at the Friendship Hall in Khartoum will be attended by government officials, diplomats, and international organizations on 4 April and will provide an opportunity for mine action organizations within the country to showcase their achievements; there will also be impactful speeches, and music performances.
Syria
The UNMAS team in Syria has devised a multifaceted plan to commemorate the Day with a series of events. These events will encompass a field visit to a clearance site in Rural Damascus, providing UN country representatives with the opportunity to witness demining operations firsthand. Additionally, an open-door afternoon at the UNMAS office in Damascus will allow visitors to learn about the organization's demining operations in the country.
Furthermore, a joint initiative with UNICEF will be organized to promote mine awareness through mural painting in three schools located in Rural Damascus.
There will also be an SMS awareness campaign to all mobile phone subscribers in the country.
Washington DC
The Halo Trust will create an exhibit in Washington DC to showcase the impacts of mine action and to inform American citizens how they can be involved.
The Territory of Western Sahara
UNMAS in the Territory of Western Sahara is planning to celebrate the Day on 4 April at MINURSO HQ. SRSG, Alexander Ivanko, will attend the event to remark impactful work of mine action within the territory whilst the UNMAS team will organize recreational activities and competitions related to mine action.
Yemen
A national celebration ceremony will be held in Sana`a under the auspices and supervision of the prime minister, with the participation of high officials from the government, UN agencies, INGOs, NGOs, and YEMAC teams, totaling around 200 participants. The event will take place on 4 April from 4-6 PM and will include official speeches, traditional song, short play, and speeches from the survival association and persons with deaf disability.
Additionally, two days of awareness sessions for children will be conducted in Hodeidah governorate, which is significantly affected by explosive remnants of war (ERWs). Educational sessions will also be presented for children in one of the largest public gardens in Hodeidah City, with little gifts distributed to children who can solve quizzes. Around 500 children are expected to participate from 4-5 April between 10-12 PM.
Furthermore, telecommunication companies will send SMS messages to approximately 3.5 million individuals to promote awareness of the event.
[END]
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[1] Url:
https://www.unmas.org/en/international-mine-awareness-day-2023-0
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