Landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) remain long after conflicts end, and threaten the lives and livelihoods of civilians, hinder the development of infrastructures and social and economic activities, and impede recovery and reconstruction. In order to effectively address the issue of landmines and UXO from the conflict phase through the reconstruction and development phase, it is crucial to strengthen national ownership of mine action and enhance national ownership and capacity for addressing mines and UXO.
Since 1998, JICA has supported the capacity building of the Cambodian Mine Action Centreer (CMAC) and has furthermore implemented south-south cooperation with CMAC since 2010 to support the countries with similar issues. Starting in 2023, JICA has collaborated with CMAC and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to support African countries with technical expertise and knowledge related to mine action, such as surveys, detection, and clearance, as well as institutional and organizational management.
Key Questions
The importance of addressing the problems caused by landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) from conflict, the early stages of the post-conflict through the reconstruction stage.
What can be learned from the Cambodia's experience?
What should be done to achieve “Mine-Free Africa”?
Objective
In order to implement sustainable and national-led mine action in African countries, this event, by engaging high-level officials of the AU member states, aims at raising awareness of the importance of mine action as a prerequisite and catalyst for peacebuilding and reconstruction in Africa and promoting efforts towards this objective.
To promote the mine-free world and build momentum, as Japan holds the presidency of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Landmines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Treaty) in 2025, together with Cambodia which held the presidency in 2024, and Zambia which will hold it in 2026.
To announce the establishment of an African mine action platform for countermeasures against landmines and UXO with Cambodia, African countries, UNMAS and other relevant organizations.
