On October 31, 2024, a side event titled "Demining for Development" was organized by the International Eurasia Press Fund (IEPF) at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) as part of the 2024 Social Forum. Over 40 representatives from international organizations and governments attended the event to discuss solutions to the global crisis caused by landmines and unexploded remnants of war (UXO), the initiative to recognize demining as the 18th Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), and the impact of mines on human rights and socio-economic life.
In his opening speech, IEPF President Umud Mirzayev welcomed the participants and spoke about the IEPF’s work and the severity of Azerbaijan's mine problem. Mirzayev called on world leaders, international organizations, and civil society to prioritize the resolution of the mine issue within the context of sustainable development, to support the "SDG 18" initiative, and to unite in saying “no” to landmines.
Following his address, attendees were shown a video presentation titled "Why is SDG 18 Important?" which highlighted various calls to support the mine campaign and emphasized the urgent statistics surrounding the mine problem. Ventzislav Sabev, Deputy Secretary General of the Geneva Center for Geostrategic Studies and the event moderator, then introduced the panelists working in mine action programs and opened the panel discussion.
First, Nariman Qasimov, Deputy Director of the International Relations Department of Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency (ANAMA), shared key notes on ANAMA’s intensified activities and provided statistics on Azerbaijan’s demining efforts. He particularly emphasized the high number of mine incidents and victims since November 2020. Following his speech, other panelists took the floor, including Nidal Salim, a board member of the Institute for International Law and Development (IRDG); Juan Carlos Ruan, Director of the Implementation Support Unit of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention; Kasia Derlicka, representative of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL); Hafiz Safikhanov, head of the campaign in Azerbaijan; Beatrice Presutti, Program Officer at the Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD); and Florian Eblenkamp, Partnerships Specialist for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). A representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and prominent public figure Shafak Pavey also attended the event.
During the proceedings, Hambardzum Minasyan, First Secretary of the Permanent Mission of Armenia to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, took the floor, accusing the speakers of sharing false information and propaganda. He claimed that Armenia was innocent in the mine issue and had provided mine maps to Azerbaijan in 2021. In response, IEPF President Umud Mirzayev emphasized that the discussions were based on facts and realities, providing a substantial rebuttal to the Armenian diplomat. Mirzayev displayed portraits of mine victims, highlighting that they were casualties of mines laid by Armenia and shared that his own home had been destroyed by the Armenian Armed Forces.
It should be noted that this side event was part of the project titled "Mine-Free World Initiative as the 18th Goal of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals," implemented by IEPF with the support of the Agency for State Support to Non-Governmental Organizations of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
