Government Office for Slovenians Abroad of the Republic of Slovenia

10/17/2024 | Press release | Archived content

State Secretary Gabrič at Ukraine Mine Action Conference

The Ukraine Mine Action Conference UMAC2024 is taking place today and tomorrow in Lausanne under the auspices of the Swiss and Ukrainian governments. The event, opened by Swiss President Viola Amherd and Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, brings together high-level representatives from governments, international organisations and experts from around the world to strengthen cooperation in humanitarian mine action.

State Secretary Dr Melita Gabrič moderated the panel on People, which also included Ms Kate Fearon, Director of the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, Mr Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative to Ukraine, Mr Johan Berggren, State Secretary to the Minister for Civil Defence of Sweden, and Mr Andrey Stavnitser, founder of the Superhumans Rehabilitation Centre in Ukraine, who expressed his special gratitude to Slovenia for its support.

The discussion highlighted the critical importance of humanitarian mine action for social and economic recovery, with State Secretary Gabrič underlining Slovenia's commitment to ensuring the safety and protection of people. She also stressed that mine action and mine victim assistance programmes are key to the socio-economic reintegration. In this context, she underscored the work of the ITF - Enhancing Human Security, which provides expertise on the ground. She further elaborated that Slovenia's development and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine includes mine action projects focusing on risk education, advocacy, capacity building, conflict preparedness, protection and comprehensive victim assistance, including psychosocial support and rehabilitation for the most vulnerable groups.

State Secretary Gabrič also underlined that Slovenia, as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2024-2025 term, reaffirms its commitment to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine, with a focus on restoring its territorial integrity.

On the sidelines of the Conference, she also met separately with Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy of Ukraine.