PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Ban says UN working to check landmines
New York, US (PANA) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, on Wednesday highlighted the work of UN mine action personnel around the world in preventing landmines and unexploded ordnance from causing harm long after conflicts have ended, and transforming danger zones into productive land.
“Mine action programmes make an invaluable contribution to post-conflict recovery, humanitarian relief efforts, peace operations and development initiatives,” Ban said in his message to mark the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
He stated: "Mine action sets communities on course towards lasting stability".
He said that de-miners had been assisting in the management of stockpiles of landmines in Libya, Albania, Cote d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
"In Libya, thousands of explosive remnants of war have been secured or cleared from schools, roads or residential areas, and tens of thousands of people have received risk education.
"In the DRC, Albania and Côte d’Ivoire, mine action operators have been assisting in stockpile management over the past year," the UN chief noted.
Ban also commended the 159 States that have agreed to the Antipersonnel Mine Ban Convention, which bans the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines. States who are parties to the Convention also agree to destroy anti-personnel mines and assist landmine victims.
“I call for universal adherence to these important treaties and for increased support for mine awareness and mine action,” he said.
“Landmines and explosive remnants of war hamper development and endanger lives. Let’s eliminate them together for a safe sustainable world," he added.
In his message, President of the UN General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, also called on countries to adhere to international treaties on Mine ban.
Al-Nasser urged States to “provide assistance to countries affected by mines and explosive remnants of war".
He also stressed that, "the presence of these devices has serious humanitarian and economic consequences".
To mark the Day, a multimedia exhibition entitled: “UN Common Cause", opened at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, featuring works by New York-based photographer Marco Grob, who travelled to Afghanistan and Cambodia to photograph mine victims for the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Mine Action Team (UNMAT).
The exhibitor is Italian photojournalist Giovanni Diffidenti, who spent time documenting the work of the Joint Mine Action Team in Libya.
The exhibit will also display educational models of landmines, cluster munitions and other explosives, as well as videos providing a glimpse into the work of UNMAT.
UN missions around the world are also marking the Day.
The theme for this year’s Day asked people to “Lend your leg” in a show of support for landmine survivors, by rolling up their pant leg in a symbolic gesture of solidarity with landmine survivours across the globe that have lost limbs to landmines and unexploded ordnance.
The UN is currently working closely with governments and non-governmental organizations in more than 40 countries to implement mine risk education and assist victims with disabilities.
In December 2005, the UN General Assembly declared that 4 April of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
-0- PANA AA/VAO 4April2012
“Mine action programmes make an invaluable contribution to post-conflict recovery, humanitarian relief efforts, peace operations and development initiatives,” Ban said in his message to mark the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
He stated: "Mine action sets communities on course towards lasting stability".
He said that de-miners had been assisting in the management of stockpiles of landmines in Libya, Albania, Cote d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
"In Libya, thousands of explosive remnants of war have been secured or cleared from schools, roads or residential areas, and tens of thousands of people have received risk education.
"In the DRC, Albania and Côte d’Ivoire, mine action operators have been assisting in stockpile management over the past year," the UN chief noted.
Ban also commended the 159 States that have agreed to the Antipersonnel Mine Ban Convention, which bans the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines. States who are parties to the Convention also agree to destroy anti-personnel mines and assist landmine victims.
“I call for universal adherence to these important treaties and for increased support for mine awareness and mine action,” he said.
“Landmines and explosive remnants of war hamper development and endanger lives. Let’s eliminate them together for a safe sustainable world," he added.
In his message, President of the UN General Assembly, Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, also called on countries to adhere to international treaties on Mine ban.
Al-Nasser urged States to “provide assistance to countries affected by mines and explosive remnants of war".
He also stressed that, "the presence of these devices has serious humanitarian and economic consequences".
To mark the Day, a multimedia exhibition entitled: “UN Common Cause", opened at the UN headquarters in New York on Wednesday, featuring works by New York-based photographer Marco Grob, who travelled to Afghanistan and Cambodia to photograph mine victims for the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Mine Action Team (UNMAT).
The exhibitor is Italian photojournalist Giovanni Diffidenti, who spent time documenting the work of the Joint Mine Action Team in Libya.
The exhibit will also display educational models of landmines, cluster munitions and other explosives, as well as videos providing a glimpse into the work of UNMAT.
UN missions around the world are also marking the Day.
The theme for this year’s Day asked people to “Lend your leg” in a show of support for landmine survivors, by rolling up their pant leg in a symbolic gesture of solidarity with landmine survivours across the globe that have lost limbs to landmines and unexploded ordnance.
The UN is currently working closely with governments and non-governmental organizations in more than 40 countries to implement mine risk education and assist victims with disabilities.
In December 2005, the UN General Assembly declared that 4 April of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
-0- PANA AA/VAO 4April2012
