Participants of 3rd international conference on mine action adopt declaration

Politics 18:20 31.05.2024

The 3rd International Conference on "Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future" has ended in Baku.

According to Ednews, a declaration, adopted by results of the conference, was read out by UNDP's Senior Mine Action Consultant Steinar Essen.

The declaration reads:

"We, the participants of the 3rd International Conference on Mine Action held on 30-31 May 2024 in Zangilan and Baku, Azerbaijan, have convened and deliberated on mitigating environmental impact of landmines and resource mobilization for a safe and green future. In this regard,

We,

Expressing deep concern with the devastating and indiscriminate impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) that continue to kill, maim, and traumatize civilians, including children, women, and other non-combatants;

Acknowledging that landmine contamination exerts an impact on the environment, making it critical to prevent and mitigate possible adverse impacts of landmine contamination through appropriate environmentally responsible measures;

Recognizant that climate change adversely affects efforts to mitigate explosive ordnance threats;

Sharing the principles and values of the existing international legal instruments that regulate or ban the use of landmines, cluster munitions, and other ERW, while encouraging all to take steps towards formal adherence to these instruments, including the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of AntiPersonnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention" and the Convention on Cluster Munitions ("Osio Convention");

Recalling the resolution No 2365 (2017) of 30 June 2017 of the UN Security Council and all its previous resolutions on mine action;

Recalling also the resolution No 78/70 of 7 December 2023 of the UN General Assembly and all its previous resolutions on assistance in mine action,

Welcoming the UNESCO resolution titled "Impact of landmines on cultural property" adopted at the fifteenth meeting (2023) of the high contracting parties of the 1954 Hague Convention for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict;

Taking note of the UN Secretary-General's report titled "Assistance in Mine Action" No. A/78/259, issued on 31 July 2023, in which the exacerbating nexus between landmine contamination and climate change was recognized;

Taking note of the United Nations Mine Action Strategy and the United Nations Policy on Victim Assistance in Mine Action;
Mine Action";

Taking note of the International Mine Action Standard IMAS 07.13 "Environmental Management in

Commending the previous International Conferences on Mine Action held in Azerbaijan in 2022 and 2023 and their outcome documents;

Expressing concern over the serious and lasting social and economic consequences of landmines and explosive remnants of war on the civilian population;

Stressing that mine action continues to be a valuable confidence-building measure in the peace-building process;

1. Call for the integration of environmental aspects of humanitarian demining into mine action efforts;

2. Invite all States and other stakeholders in a position to do so to support mine action in all of its pillars, most notably in mine victim assistance, demining and risk education by allocating adequate and appropriate resources, including technical, financial, and material assistance, training, and by promoting research and development on mine action techniques and technologies;

3. Stress the urgent need for comprehensive measures to prevent further casualties from landmines and ERW, and provide robust support for mine victims, including medical care, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society, and urge states and relevant organizations to allocate resources and expertise to these efforts;

4. Call on the United Nations climate conferences to recognize and address the environmental impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war by including mine action in discussions and policies on climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience, ensuring the integration of mine clearance and sustainable use following land release in national and international environmental strategies, and allocating resources for that area;

5. Emphasize the importance of mainstreaming mine action into Agenda 2030 process and recommend consideration of this issue at the Summit of the Future to be held later this year;

6. Call on States and relevant stakeholders to enhance cooperation through the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and technology; in this regard, we welcome the statement of intent signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to establish a Center of Excellence on Mine Action Training;

7. Call upon Member States of the UN to comply with their respective international obligations related to mine action, including those related to the exchange of information on the location of landmines;

8. Call for the continuation of the efforts of States and relevant organizations to support the establishment and development of national mine action capacities in countries in which mines and ERW constitute a serious threat to the civilian population, and an impediment to environment, food security, and broader social and economic development;

9. Call on affected states and relevant United Nations agencies and regional organizations and institutions and NGOs involved in mine action to proactively mainstream the environmental aspect of mine action to mobilize efforts and solutions to mitigate adverse impacts of landmine contamination and clearance and encourage the sustainable and environmentally responsible land use following clearance:

10. Express gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Azerbaijan for the generous support and excellent hospitality in conduct of this conference. We also express our solidarity with Azerbaijan - as well as with all mine-affected countries - in addressing their immense mine problem and call on the international community to support Azerbaijan's humanitarian mine action efforts;

11. Extend our wishes for success to Azerbaijan in its presidency of the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29)."

IEPF issued a statement regarding Azerbaijani children at the UN Human Rights Council

News line

EU to provide Kyiv with €30.6B in support in 2025
16:40 27.06.2025
Simon Stiell calls for global cooperation in face of climate crisis
16:00 27.06.2025
IDF says fighter jets struck Hezbollah facility in southern Lebanon
15:40 27.06.2025
President Ilham Aliyev received credentials of incoming ambassador of Poland
15:05 27.06.2025
Masked Special Forces of Armenia's National Security Service enter territory of Garegin II’s residence
14:55 27.06.2025
Hungary blocks talks on Ukraine’s accession to EU
14:35 27.06.2025
Israel sums up operation against Iran: 11 scientists, about 300 IRGC members killed
14:05 27.06.2025
Trump says his duties bring US $88B in revenue
13:55 27.06.2025
Snow falls in world’s driest desert in Chile
13:25 27.06.2025
Release from the Press Service of the President
13:00 27.06.2025
Australia to prioritize 'national interest' over defense spending, says premier, resists US pressure
12:35 27.06.2025
Chairman of Committee: 'There are broad, strong ties of cooperation, solidarity among religious confessions in Azerbaijan'
12:25 27.06.2025
Price of Azerbaijani oil grows over 1%
12:05 27.06.2025
Over 60 foreigners evacuated from Iran through territory of Azerbaijan
11:45 27.06.2025
European Championship: Azerbaijani judokas win 6 medals on first day
11:25 27.06.2025
UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies’ 62nd session (SB62) concludes today
11:05 27.06.2025
Mukhtar Babayev: New NDCs can be a green light for green investments
10:55 27.06.2025
Former UN General Assembly president presents poem about Nizami Ganjavi at London Climate Action Week
10:35 27.06.2025
WHO delivers 1st medical shipment to Gaza since March 2, calls it 'drop in ocean'
10:20 27.06.2025
Polish lawmakers vote to withdraw from anti-landmine treaty
10:05 27.06.2025
At least 16 killed, 400 injured in Kenya protests: Amnesty International
09:55 27.06.2025
Elchin Amirbayov: South Caucasus faces both challenges, opportunities
09:35 27.06.2025
Senior clergyman under investigation for call for coup in Armenia
09:20 27.06.2025
Gen. Dan Caine: US strikes on Iran are 'culmination' of 15 years of planning
09:05 27.06.2025
Euronews: Baku is platform for global energy dialogue
21:35 26.06.2025
Turkish president believes Iran won't close Strait of Hormuz
21:05 26.06.2025
Boat sinking on Niger-Benin border kills 13
20:45 26.06.2025
Erdogan: Türkiye negotiating its return to F-35 program with partners
20:25 26.06.2025
Paris honors Azerbaijani heroes who fought in France's WWII resistance
20:05 26.06.2025
Global energy CO2 emissions hit new record in 2024
19:45 26.06.2025
UN special rapporteur calls planned election of Myanmar's military junta 'mirage'
19:35 26.06.2025
Iran's supreme leader threatens US
19:20 26.06.2025
Erdogan: Türkiye must create multi-layer air defense system
19:05 26.06.2025
Erdogan says Trump will join Ukraine peace talks in Türkiye if Putin attends
18:45 26.06.2025
Azerbaijan discusses wind energy projects with Chinese company
18:25 26.06.2025
Armenia arrests 15 people on charges of coup attempt
18:15 26.06.2025
EXPLAINER – War with Iran: Financial fallout for Israel, US
18:00 26.06.2025
Turkish president praises Trump for Iran-Israel ceasefire, urges similar push for Gaza, Ukraine conflicts
17:45 26.06.2025
Israeli attacks kill at least 21 people in Gaza, medics say
17:20 26.06.2025
Traditional meeting of EU leaders kicks off in Brussels
17:05 26.06.2025
Hamısı