Together for mine action

    03-Apr-2020
Ranjan K Baruah
During war time or even in armed conflict areas, there is a question related to mines which are being used by different parties. In simple, a land mine is an explosive device concealed under or on the ground and designed to destroy or disable enemy targets, ranging from combatants to vehicles and tanks, as they pass over or near it.
 These mines are might be planted in border areas between countries or even in conflict zones to keep the other party in fear. Apart from the soldiers many civilians are also affected through land mines due to which there are global campaigns to end mines.
On 8 December 2005, the United Nations General Assembly declared that 4 April of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.  It called for continued efforts by States, with the assistance of the United Nations and relevant organizations, to foster the establishment and development of national mine-action capacities in countries where mines and explosive remnants of war constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the civilian population, or an impediment to social and economic development at the national and local levels.
When it comes mines our main responsibilities is to save lives,  to protect civilians, to support the voluntary return of the internally displaced and refugees, to enable humanitarian and recovery activities and to advocate for international humanitarian and human rights law. The problem is in many countries where we can see armed conflicts. In April 2015, the UN Secretary-General designated the renowned actor Daniel Craig as the first UN Global Advocate for the Elimination of Mines and Explosive Hazards.  The United Nations advocates for the universalization of existing legal frameworks and encourages Member States to expand those regimes and develop new international instruments to protect civilians from the scourges of landmines and explosive remnants of war.  Since the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, commonly known as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention opened for signature in 1997, 164 countries have ratified or acceded to it.
UNMAS: Established in 1997, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) works to eliminate the threat posed by mines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices by coordinating United Nations mine action, leading operational responses at the country level, and supporting the development of standards, policies and norms. As a specialized service of the United Nations located within the Department of Peace Operations, UNMAS operates under UN legislative mandates of both the General Assembly and the Security Council.
In 2018 UNMAS convened, coordinated and led the drafting of the United Nations Mine Action Strategy 2019-2023. Two of the most significant aspects of the Strategy are that it represents an accountability framework for the United Nations system and introduces a Theory of Change for the United Nations engagement in mine action. There is no doubt that the use of land mines is always controversial as they are indiscriminate weapons not only harming soldier but many civilians too.
They remain as a threat if not identified even after the conflicts gets over. It is not only threat to human being but animals and other living organism. It negatively impacts our environment and also bio diversity.
It impacts on lands which brings more problems even after decades. For safety and security of human being or other living organisms and our environment the uses of mines must come to an end.
4th April is International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
(With direct inputs from UN publication and feedback may be sent to [email protected])