Cambodia launches preparations for global landmines conference, calls for greater resolve to eradicate mines

Siem Reap, 4 April 2011: “The international community needs to show greater resolve to help landmine‐affected countries like Cambodia, to eradicate the deadly remnants of war that continue to hinder efforts to lift people out of poverty,” said Cambodian government officials on Monday 4 April, during the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Minister attached to the Prime Minister, led the call at a two‐day, 4‐5 April meeting to review the country’s achievements and strategy for clearing landmines and explosive remnants of war.

“As we speak, the threat of landmines still remains in more than 60 countries, including Cambodia. The world needs to respond resolutely to overcome the challenges by extending and expanding assistance to mine action in every possible way and available means,” said H.E. Prak Sokhonn, in his capacity as Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authorities (CMAA).

He spoke during the opening session of the workshop held in Siem Reap City to launch the 2010‐2019 National Mine Action Strategy. At the event, participants took stock of the achievements Cambodia has made in recent years to free land for productive use and to assist landmine survivors. The workshop also served to highlight collaborative preparations for the Eleventh Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti‐Personnel Mine Ban Convention (11MSP) that Cambodia will host and preside over from 28 November to 2 December 2011. H.E. Prak Sokhonn is the President‐Designate of the 11MSP.

The statement followed an appeal by the United Nations on 18 March calling for $498 million in 2011 to address the problems of landmines in 29 countries, including Cambodia, which will take presidency of the Convention on 28 November.

The Convention is the international community’s framework for ending the suffering and casualties caused by anti‐personnel mines through the pursuit of four core aims: ensuring universal adherence, clearing mined areas, destroying stockpiled mines and assisting the victims. Although 156 countries have acceded to the Convention, a number of States have yet to sign, including in the region. Additionally, several States Parties face challenges in implementing their obligations.

“I urge all States Parties to honor their commitments and all other States to join our common cause,” said H.E. Prak Sokhonn.

Cambodia is one of most mine‐affected nations in the world as result of 30 years of armed conflict. Financial support from development partners has helped it remove and destroy 902,913 landmines from 1992 until January 2011. It is estimated that some 650 million square meters of land are still contaminated by mines; one‐third of landmine survivors are children.

The National Mine Action Strategy launched at the workshop will serve as a single guide for development partners interested in supporting mine clearance. It also encourages directing financial resources to areas most affected by landmines and having an undue impact on poor and vulnerable Cambodians. The Strategy translates Cambodia’s vision for a mine free world into concrete actions for greater development and achievement of its obligations under the Convention.

Central to this strategy is the completion of a Baseline Survey to identify all remaining mined areas and the release of land for productive use. Up to now, some 43 districts have been surveyed and 645,239,037 square meters of affected land have been released. The strategy also vows to support the implementation of the National Plan of Action for People with Disabilities.

“All of our gains on the Millennium Development Goals will not last if they continue to be crippled by the threat and danger of landmines and explosive remnants of war. That is why the strategy we now have provides a testament of how fundamental mine action is to the country’s development plans and
strategies,” H.E. Prak Sokhonn said.

In his speech to the workshop, Mr. Douglas Broderick, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Cambodia, recalled Cambodia’s journey – from a heavily mine‐affected country to one which has sent its de‐mining experts to help other countries sharing similar experiences, such as Sudan and Lebanon.

The meeting of the State Parties planned for later this year will be “a major milestone in the history of mine action in Cambodia,” Broderick said.

Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Norway and the UN signed a Partnership Principles agreement at the April 4‐5 workshop, a symbolic document aimed at strengthening the collaboration between the Royal Government of Cambodia and development partners in addressing remaining threats caused by landmines.

“I would like to reiterate the UN’s commitment to assist mine‐affected countries in meeting their obligations to clear affected areas, assist victims, destroy stockpiled munitions, and educate women and men, girls and boys about the dangers of mines and explosive remnants of war,” stated Broderick.


For further information, please contact:
CMAA: H.E. Neth Sophal: 012 938 461, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
UNDP: Melissa Sabatier: 012 531 731, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it