Other Activities

Conference on “Ukraine’s Current Security, Humanitarian Demining and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) Challenges” Maison de la Paix, Geneva 28-29 April 2015

An expert conference dedicated to Ukraine’s security and mine action challenges took place in Geneva on 28th – 29th April. The event was organised by GICHD, DCAF, and the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine. The objectives of the conference were to design recommendations and a roadmap for developing national mine action institutions in the country. To this end, experts and representatives from ministries, state agencies, armed forces, parliament, and civil society have been invited to discuss long-standing questions related to security, humanitarian demining and ERW as well as new challenges of landmines, cluster munitions, and ammunition depots stemming from the current crisis. According to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, over 75,000 ammunition and explosive devices currently await clearance and neutralization as a result of recent hostilities.

The conference took place in the context of a long-term engagement in infrastructure and capacity development in Ukraine. For more than a decade, DCAF has worked with multiple stakeholders in Ukraine on a wide variety of security governance issues. Since 2011, the GICHD has been providing support in all aspects of mine action activities, including survey and clearance, stockpile destruction, information management, ammunition safety management and the disposal of underwater explosive devices. The OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Ukraine was established in 1999 to plan, implement, and monitor projects to enhance the country’s security and develop legislation, institutions and practices that are in line with democratic standards. Since 2006, it has been helping to enhance country’s capabilities for dealing with explosive hazards by providing equipment and training to emergency service personnel, and campaigning to inform civilians, especially children, of the risks related to explosive weapons.

Source: GICHD Press Release 24 April 2015.

For further information on this project and GICHD’s work please visit their website, here.