Opening address by President Viola Amherd at the Ukraine Mine Action Conference UMAC2024

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Prime Minister,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is an honour to welcome you, Mr Prime Minister, to Lausanne today, and to open this conference with you.

The next two days will be dedicated to one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time: humanitarian demining.

Mines, cluster munitions and explosive remnants of war have a devastating impact: they claim thousands of lives every year, make land impassable, resources inaccessible and hamper economic development.

Every improvised explosive device that we defuse is a step towards security, progress and a better life - this is the conviction that lies at the heart of our efforts.

Today, humanitarian mine action is faced with major challenges.

The Ottawa Convention bans anti-personnel mines, because they kill and maim indiscriminately. While the initial success of the Convention inspired optimism, in recent years this has given way to a certain disillusionment.

Since 2014, the number of victims has started to rise again. Ongoing armed conflicts, such as Russia's military aggression in Ukraine, bring new contamination from mines and other weapons. The effects of urban warfare and the use of improvised explosive devices are particularly severe.

These developments reflect the global situation, which is marked by growing geopolitical tensions.

This makes it all the more important, especially in view of the rising number of victims, to continue our efforts to improve the protection of the civilian population from the dangers of mines and other remnants of war.

Humanitarian demining is not only a matter of safety, but also a precondition for recovery, in particular for the resumption of agricultural production and the education of children.

I call on all states to join the Ottawa Convention and the Convention on Cluster Munitions, and to support them to the best of their abilities.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Four months ago, the international community met on the Bürgenstock for the Summit on Peace in Ukraine. At the opening, I spoke of our goal to set in motion a process that will lead to a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.

The current conference follows on from this, because living in peace also means being free from the fear of mines and remnants of war.
Switzerland has been committed to humanitarian demining for over 30 years. We support projects in affected countries and deploy specialist military personnel.

We are also committed to the diplomatic, legal and practical implementation of the relevant conventions around the world.

We are determined to continue to do our part in Ukraine as well.

Almost a quarter of Ukraine's territory is contaminated with explosive ordnance.
Last year we decided to make one hundred million francs available for humanitarian mine action in Ukraine (from 2024 to 2027).

The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) and the Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD) are primarily responsible for implementing this programme.

Projects will be developed in close cooperation with Ukraine's civilian authorities. They will include mine and explosive ordnance clearance, the promotion of standards and quality in mine clearance, training, and operational and material support.

Last year, provided the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) with a remote-controlled demining machine from the Digger Foundation.

This year, we will deliver three more machines from Global Clearance Solutions and provide local training and support.

This will enable Ukraine to carry out effective and safe demining operations independently in the future.

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

For today's Ukraine Mine Action Conference here in Lausanne, we have set ourselves the following goals:

- We aim to raise awareness of the importance of humanitarian mine action in Ukraine and worldwide.
- Stimulate further support going forward, based on the Ukrainian Mine Action Strategy, which provides guidance for current and future partnerships.
- And showcase innovative solutions that will make mine clearance safer and more effective worldwide.

Three thematic areas were defined in the run-up to the Ukraine Mine Action Conference: people, partners and progress.

First, the people: In the face of the immense suffering and lasting damage caused by mines, cluster munitions and explosive remnants of war, we must act decisively.

Contamination in conflict areas also affects many countries not involved in the conflict. For example, food prices are rising in many countries because Ukrainian land cannot be used safely and productively.

Then, the partners: Our aim is for other countries that are also affected by mines or that are providing aid to share their experiences with Ukraine and its partners.
For mine action to be effective, governments, international organisations, NGOs, the private sector and the scientific community must work closely together - and they are all gathered here in Lausanne today.

And finally, progress: We must work continuously to make humanitarian mine action safer and more effective.

We need to find innovative solutions, for example by combining the use of artificial intelligence, powerful drones and robots.
The resources we use to clear mines in Ukraine today are also an investment to improve humanitarian demining globally in the future.

Excellences,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Humanitarian demining is part of Switzerland's humanitarian tradition. We want to help alleviate suffering and enable sustainable development.

That is also the aim of this conference, which we have organised together with Ukraine.

In closing, I would like to express my sincere thanks to all of you for your dedication and commitment.

Your presence here underscores the crucial support that is so urgently needed and that the people living in mine-affected countries deserve.

Thank you very much.