Peacebuilding Commission Ambassadorial-level Meeting on Mine Action
General Assembly
Date: 29 July 2026
Language: English
Transcript: https://transcripts.un.org/en/asset/k1l/k1ls9dbep2
Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations.

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Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [0:03]:

I open the meeting of the PVC. Excellencies, esteemed colleagues, the Ambassador level meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission is called to order. Welcome to this meeting on mine action as an enabler of peacebuilding, transitional justice, reconciliation and recovery, lessons from Colombia and Cambodia. Before proceeding further, I should like to submit for your consideration the adoption of the agenda as set out in the concept note circulated for today's meeting. I see no objection. I take it that the agenda is adopted. Today's meeting is an opportunity to highlight the broader peacebuilding value of mine action. and consider how it can be more systematically integrated internationally on peacebuilding, reconciliation, transitional justice, and recovery strategies. The brilliant experience of Colombia and Cambodia demonstrates how mine action can support peace processes, deliver tangible peace dividends, strengthen trust within affected communities, and contribute to long-term efforts to sustain peace. To that end, let me express my gratitude to the briefers, Mr. Alejandro Ramelli, President of Special Jurisdiction for Peace of Colombia, joining us remotely, His Excellency, Mr. Sean Sophia Young, Charg d'affaires and Deputy Permanent Representative of Cambodia to the United Nations who is with us today, and my dear brother, Ambassador Chea Kieu, Permanent Representative of Cambodia, is currently away from New York. Ms. Kazumi Ogawa, Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service, speaking on behalf of the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix. Her Excellency, Mr. Leonor Zalabata Torres, Ambassador Permanent Representative of Colombia to the United Nations, who will join us in a few minutes, having been detained by an urgent engagement at Security Council. Mr. Richard Ward, Deputy Director of PBSO, and Mr. Abubakar Abdullahi Sulaiman, Executive Director of the Center of Social Cohesion, Peace and Empowerment. Thank you again. I will now proceed to the first item on our agenda, which are my opening remarks. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, allow me at the outset to express my sincere gratitude to Colombia and to Cambodia for agreeing to share with PBC experiences that are in the trust since national achievements built over years and carried forward by their own institutions and their own people. Their willingness to place these experiences at the service of others reflects the spirit of solidarity that this commission was created to foster. The PBC has consistently affirmed a simple conviction, peace is not only signed, it is built. patiently, concretely, and on the ground. The conditions that allow peace to endure are practical ones, access to land and to livelihood, the safe return of displaced families, the reintegration of former combatants, and the confidence of communities in the institutions that serve them. My inaction speaks to each of these conditions. Long recognized as humanitarian and security imperative and consistently reflected by the Security Council in the mandates of peace operation, it deserves equal recognition as an enabler of peace building in its own right, one that delivers early, visible and measurable peace dividends at the very moment when populations are looking for evidence that peace will change their lives. In this regard, I will share three brief observations offered as an invitation to our exchange. First, mine action can serve as an early and tangible confidence building measures, CBMs. Colombia, whose final peace agreement marks its 10th anniversary this year, offers a compelling illustration. A joint demining initiative between the government and the FARC EP became one of the first practical demonstrations that cooperation between the parties was possible. Its value lie in the fact that it was joint, verifiable and visible, to the communities themselves. Second, mine action contribute meaningfully to reconciliation, reintegration, and restorative justice. In Cambodia, it has supported the safe return of displaced persons, land restitution, and rural recovery, and reintegration of former combatants. The special jurisdictions of peace has incorporated mine action into restorative sentences, linking accountability to concrete work in the territories for the benefit of the communities affected. This is an innovation of genuine interest to every context on our agenda, and we look forward to hearing Mr. Ramilli on this experience. Third, mine action succeeds when it is nationally owned and anchored in national development strategy. Cambodia's leadership in this field is widely recognized, and rightly so. Over three decades, Cambodia has achieved significant progress in clearing land and building national mine action capacities of great professionals. It chose moreover to integrate this work into its national development strategies, placing mine action where it belongs, within national planning and national institutions. as an enabler of sustainable development, human security, and stability. Furthermore, Cambodia has since become a generous partner to others, including Colombia, through the South-South and triangular cooperation. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, if this experience is converged on a single lesson, It is that mine action delivers its fullest value when it is approached as a strategy rather than as a sector. It sits at the intersection of political, humanitarian, development and security action. And bringing this strength together behind a single nationally owned effort is precisely the task of for which this commission exists. This is precisely where this commission's comparative advantage lies, in our capacity to bring political, humanitarian, development, and financing actors around the same table to align their support behind nationally owned strategies and to sustain attention over the long horizon on which peacebuilding results appear. To conclude, land that is cleared is land that is returned to the farmer, to the child on the way to school, to the families that decide to come home. Colombia and Cambodia remind us that this work, however demanding, advances and that the path runs through national leadership sustained by international solidarity. I thank you. Now we go to agenda item two. I will start with the charged affair and DPR of Cambodia as the Mr. Rameli is still trying to connect. once again from Colombia, Cambodia. So please you have the floor.


Cambodia · Chargé d'affaires and Deputy Permanent Representative · Chan Sophyeng Young [9:35]:

Thank you Ambassador Chair, Excellencies and ladies and gentlemen, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Excellency Ambassador Omar Hilal, Chair of the Peace Building Commission for allowing me to share Cambodia's lessons on mine action as an enabler of peace building, transitional justice, reconciliation and recovery at this important meeting. As a post-conflict country contaminated by mines, mine action is not merely a humanitarian and security issue, but an investment in building and sustaining for peace for Cambodia. I also take the opportunity to appreciate chairs for well articulating Cambodia achievement over the past decades. Thank you for that. Decades of conflicts left Cambodia among the countries most heavily contaminated by landmines, cluster munition, and other explosive remnants of war. Since 1979, more than 65,000 people have been killed or injured. Mine clearance is not simply about clearing land. It is about restoring hope. From 1992 to April 2026, Cambodia has released 3,598 square kilometers of land contaminated by explosive ordinance. including 2,586 square kilometers of anti-personnel mine contaminated land. Annual casualties have fallen dramatically. Most cleared land has been returned to productive agriculture, while other areas have facilitated the construction of homes, schools, hospitals, roads, and essential infrastructure. In this way, mine action has become an engine for rural development, poverty reduction, and economic recovery. Therefore, I wish to share lessons learned for Cambodia in mine actions as follows. First, mine action strengthen confidence between the different fighting parties and affected communities. When people witness the safe return of land and the restoration of basic services, confidence in national institutions grow, enforcing social cohesion and resilience. Second, mine action supports reconciliation by addressing one of the most enduring legacies of conflict, Removing the physical remnants of war helps communities move beyond fear and enables former conflicting parties to rebuild the affected areas together. Third, mine action contributes to transitional recovery by restoring access to land, livelihoods, and public services. It creates opportunities for displaced families to return, farmers to cultivate their land, children to attend school safely, and communities to pursue sustainable development. Since 2026, approximately 10,000 Cambodian peacekeeper, UN peacekeeper, including the mining specialists, have served in UN peacekeeping missions across Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. Their service reflects Cambodia's strong commitment to international peace, security and humanitarian action while demonstrating the value of expertise development through its National Mine Action Program. In April 2026, Cambodia adopted National Mine Action Policy 2026 to 2030. 35, which aims to release all unknown landmine contaminated areas by 2030 in line with Cambodia's third extension request. As a well recognized state party that strictly adheres to the Ottawa Convention norms, Cambodia has shared its experiences the mining expertise and lessons learned with a number of countries. Cambodia hosted the CMRF Angkor Summit on a mine-free world and served as a champion state in the Secretary-General's 2025 campaign. Mr. Chair, even though the outstanding achievements, challenges remain for Cambodia. Currently, there are approximately 1,697 square kilometers of land remain contaminated, affecting nearly one million people and limiting development opportunities, particularly in rural communities. In addition to this, the recent border conflict and the use of cluster munitions by the other side has posed long-term humanitarian impacts of these weapons. These would also further create pressure to survey removal and victim assistance efforts. However, I wish to reiterate Cambodia commitment to strengthening international cooperation with all donor governments, international organizations, humanitarian operators and development partners to address the above challenges in order to bring lasting peace and shared prosperity for the two people to live side by side. And I'm very glad to see a number of organizations at the podium who have been contributing to the development, especially in Mind Action in Cambodia. Thank you.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [16:22]:

I thank Mr. Chansouyong, DPR of Cambodia for his informative presentation. I have been informed that Mr. Ramelli is back, so we can give him the floor now. Mr. Alejandro Ramelli, the floor is yours.


Colombia · President, Special Jurisdiction for Peace · Alejandro Ramelli [16:45]:

Okay, good morning. Can you hear me?


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [16:52]:

Yes, we hear you. Good morning.


Colombia · President, Special Jurisdiction for Peace · Alejandro Ramelli [16:56]:

Allow me to extend my special greetings to His Excellency Mr. Omar J. Lall, Chair of the United Nations Peacebuilding Commission, His Excellency Mr. Chan Sophian, Deputy Permanent Representative of Cambodia to the United Nations, Ms. Kazumi Ogawa, Global Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service. Your Excellencies, distinguished ambassadors, representative of member states, the United Nations system, civil society, and all participants. Let me begin by expressing my sincere gratitude to the Peacebuilding Commission for this invitation. It is an honor to join this important discussion alongside those who across different regions of the world are working to transform societies affected by violence into opportunities for sustainable peace. I would also like to express my special appreciation to the United Nations Mine Action Service whose leadership has helped establish mine action as a fundamental component of recovery and peacebuilding efforts. I also wish to thank the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Colombia, particularly its Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Working Group for its commitment to organizing this event and for making it possible to share Colombian experience in this distinguished forum. Today, Many societies around the world face a common challenge, how to transform the end of armed conflict into sustainable peace. Achieving lasting peace requires more than ending violence. It demands rebuilding trust among former adversaries, building stronger institutions, and delivering tangible benefits to communities affected by conflict. Colombia's experience has shown that transitional justice can play a decisive role in meeting that challenge. It not only helps establish accountability for serious violations committed during the conflict, but also contributes to creating the conditions for reconciliation and for building a shared future. In this context, mine action can serve a far broader purpose than humanitarian response alone. When integrated into a restorative justice framework, it becomes a powerful instrument for enhancing security in conflict-affected areas, restoring safe access to communities, promoting local development, and delivering tangible benefits to those most affected by violence. These convictions underpins one of the principal innovation of Colombia's special jurisdiction for peace, the judicial component of the comprehensive system for peace established under 2000 final peace agreement. The agreement created a transitional justice model with a strong restorative orientation under which individuals appearing before the EJP are expressed to contribute to the truth while those found most responsible most actively participate in repairing the harm suffered by victims, communities, and affected territories. Through restorative actions, they translate that commitment into concrete measures with collective impact. To support this objective, the AJP has progressively developed a restorative system, comprising the principles, methodologies, processes, and tools required to design, implement, and accompany restorative projects. These projects are organized around several restorative lines of action, including the search for missing persons, the construction and rehabilitation of community infrastructure, environmental restoration and mine action. Today, I would like to focus on this last area because it offers a compelling example of the transformative potential of restorative justice. Integrating mine action into transitional justice processes requires learning from practice, engaging a dialogue with victims, communities and individuals appearing before the EGP. postering cooperation among national and international institutions and building up on lessons learned in the territories. The AJP's judicial investigations have demonstrated that the implement, the emplacement and use of anti-personnel mines constitute one of the principal which are actors inflicted lasting harm on communities. Mines restricted freedom of movement, denied safe access to land and deepened the humanitarian consequences of the conflict. Recognizes this reality led the AGP to understand that mine action should not be viewed solely as a response to one of the conflict's most enduring legacies. It also represents an opportunity for those acknowledging responsibility to contribute activity to repairing that harm while helping resolve security and recovery in affected communities. The first lessons, the safe horizons and opening pathways. One of the first experience was a project entitled Safe Horizons implemented by AGP in the municipality of Dabeiba, Mutata, Murindo, and Frontino in the department of Antioquia with the support of the United Nation Multi-Partner Trust Fund, the United Nation Development Program, and the Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines, a non-governmental organization accredited by Colombia's National Mine Action Authority, implemented between December 2018 23 in July 2024 the project brought together 30 victims and survivors 11 former members of the FARC and seven former members of the public force appearing before the AGP in one of the regions most heavily affected by anti-personnel mine contamination together They participated in restorative activities aimed at addressing the harm caused by explosive ordnance. Through its three components, mine risk education, comprehensive victim assistance, and information management, the project delivered 149 workshops, benefits more than 3,178 people, It also supported 30 socioeconomic inclusion initiatives for victims and survivors, focused on coffee and cocoa production, livestock farming, and community bakeries, and conducted 215 surveys to access the socioeconomic and cultural impact of explosive ordnance contamination. Implementation relied on close coordination with municipal authorities, rural schools, community leaders, community action boards, ethnic organizations, community radio stations, indigenous authorities, municipal victims focal points, and the AGP itself. This collaborative approach linked victims assistance, mine risk education, and information management, with the restorative activities carried out by individuals appearing before the AGP, helping victims rebuild their life while promoting safer behaviors within affected communities. Yet, the project's greatest contribution extended well beyond these achievements. It demonstrated that Mine Action could become a unique space for dialogue acknowledgment of responsibility and the rebuilding of trust among victims, those appearing before the AGP and affected communities. It also generated lessons that would prove essential for the subsequent development of the AGP's restorative model. Among them were the importance of adequately preparing individuals appearing before the jurisdiction to participate in restorative processes, the need to involve victims and communities from the earliest stage of project design, and the value of combining the AGPs judicial mandate with the technical expertise of specialized organization and international partners. Perhaps the most significant lesson was that restoration could move forward even when victims and those acknowledging responsibility were not connected through the same victim event, provided there was a genuine commitment to acknowledging harm, listening to those affected, and contributing to the restoration of communities and territories. This experience of the safe horizons demonstrated that MICE action could become a powerful vehicle for restoration. The next step was therefore to build on those lessons by engaging individuals appearing before the AGP in another core component of mine action, humanitarian demining, while bringing together mine actions technical requirements and the AGP's restorative model. This objective gave rise to the project opening pathways to reconciliation and peace. Opening pathways to reconciliation and peace. Implemented between December 2024 and July 2025, the municipalities of Apartado Antioquia, opening pathways to reconciliation and peace, was founded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and implemented by Humanisemos D.I.S. an organization accredited by Colombia's National Mine Action Authority to conduct humanitarian demining operations. The project marked the first time that individuals appearing before the EGP participated directly in activities related to humanitarian demining, carried out in accordance with the technical and regulatory standards established by the National Mine Action Authority. Six individuals participated in the project, three former members of the FARC and three former members of the Colombian security forces undertaking restorative activities previously agreed upon with the community's concern. Before any activities began, participants received training in non-technical survey, technical survey, clearance, and community listen. Through ongoing dialogue with communities leaders, local communities were informed about the project's goal, gain a clear understanding of the role of those appearing before the AGP, and formally endorse their participation. Communities also receive regular updates on the progress of the mining operations and the destruction of explosive hazards. This preparation help build trust and confidence in the restorative process, confirming that trust is essential for the success of the project like this. The project resulted in the clearance of 25,547 square meters of land, the completion of 11 non-technical survival tasks, the delivery of 70 miles reach education workshop, benefiting more than 550 residents and the implementation of six community initiative developed jointly with local communities across six villages in the San Jose de Apartado district. Perhaps the project's most significant contribution was demonstrating the restorative justice methodologies can be effectively integrated with the rigorous technical and safety standards that govern mine action achieving the required close coordination among the ADP, Humanizeemos, DH, the National Mine Action Authority, affected communities, and international partners. It also required the development of protocols that provided legal certainty for individuals appearing before the AGP while enable their participation in humanitarian demining activities. These advances help build the AGP's institutional capacity and lay the groundwork for the future implementation of the restorative sanction to be imposed by the Tribunal of Peace. From restorative projects to the first restorative sanctions. The experiences of Safe Horizons and Opening Pathways to Reconciliation and Peace extended well beyond the scope of two individual projects. The lessons they generated led to the consolidation of a restorative methodology that was incorporated into the AG Peace Restorative System and guided the design of the first restorative sanctions issued by the Tribunal of Peace. Within this framework, mine action came to be understood not only as a humanitarian response, but also a restorative justice tool that promotes acknowledgement of responsibility, rebuild trust, and contributes to peace building. This evolution was reflected in the judgment case number one, concerning hostage-taking and other severe deprivation of liberty committed by the former leaders of the FARC. In that judgment, the Peace Tribunal identified mine action as one of the principal restorative components of the sanction imposed on those found most responsible. As a result, the lessons developed through practical experience in the territories became as an integral part of the AGP's judicial decisions, recognizing that mines action provides a comprehensive response to the harm caused by the explosive ordinance by advancing humanitarian, restorative, is building territorial security and local development objective. The issuance of these first judgments also marked the beginning of a new phase. implementation, monitoring, and verification of restorative sanctions in the territories. In this context, international support plays essential role in building transparency, credibility, and public confidence in the restorative model. The recent establishment of the international component of the mechanism for monitoring and verifying restorative sanction with the participation of the Office of the United Nation High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Organization of American States mission to support the peace process in Colombia represents a significant step towards ensuring that these restorative processes are implemented with international accompaniment and safeguards expected by victims, communities, and society as a whole. Concluding remarks. The lesson I have shared today are not unique to Colombia. Every peace process is shaped by its own history, context, and realities. Yes, I am convinced that many of the challenges we face are shared, that the change of experiences can make a meaningful contribution to addressing them. For this reason, I look forward to learning from Cambodia's experience and to continue to expand dialogue among countries that have found in mine action an effective means of protecting communities, rebuilding trust, and advancing sustainable peace. International cooperation is not simple about mobilizing resources, it is equally about sharing knowledge. lesson learned and innovate approaches that enable us to respond more effectively to common challenges. The experience of the special jurisdiction for peace demonstrates that mine action and restorative justice can be successfully integrated to generate tangible benefits for victims, communities and affected territories. In this context, the comprehensive nature of the mine action has ascended its strictly technical dimension to become a platform for dialogue, acknowledgement of responsibility, and the rebuilding of the social fabric. Its diverse components have enabled former adversaries to meet, cooperate, and combine their respective capacities in pursuit of a shared objective, protecting life, restorative, restoring trust and transforming territories historically affected by violence. In doing so, each intervention contributes not only to reducing the risk associated with explosive ordnance contamination, but also to creating the condition for peaceful coexistence and meaningful reparation with a lasting collective impact. At the same time, The continued consolidation of this model depends on sustainable international support, technical assistance, the exchange of knowledge and the accompanying of specialized organization has been essential in the development and will remain indispensable to ensuring its long-term sustainability by continued expansion. Allow me to conclude by reaffirming my one conviction, lasting peace, cannot be secured by the decision of course of governments alone. It is a collective endeavor that requires strong institutions, committed communities, and an international community willing to accompany, support, and build national efforts. We hope that Colombia's experience will contribute to this global dialogue while we continue to learn from the experiences of other countries as well as we further refine our own restorative model. Thank you very much.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [38:11]:

I thank Mr. Alejandro Ramelli for his important and very detailed briefing and for sharing Colombia's experience in using Mine Action to support implementation of the final peace agreement. transitional and restorative justice, reconciliation and recovery. And we wish a lot of more success in your experience. Now, I invite Ms. Kazumi Ogawa, Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service, speaking on behalf of the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations to deliver her briefing. Madam.


UNMAS · Director · Kazumi Ogawa [38:55]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Your Excellency, Mr. Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission, Ambassador Young, Mr. Romelli, Excellencies, dear colleagues, on behalf of the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, I would like to thank the convening of today's meeting. I would like to thank our distinguished briefers who spoke before me, as well as the governments of Colombia and Cambodia for sharing their experiences. Today's meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission provides an important opportunity to reflect on the contribution of mine action to peacebuilding and to sustaining peace. While mine action has long been recognized as a humanitarian and having secure, excuse me, has long been recognized for having humanitarian and security value, the experiences of countries coming from these experiences demonstrate its broader strategic importance. Across the United Nations system, including through the work of the United Nations Mine Action Service, we have seen that when mine action is integrated into nationally owned peacebuilding efforts, it can help implement peace agreements, foster reconciliation, restore confidence in state institutions, and create the conditions for recovery and sustainable development. The experiences of Colombia and of Cambodia illustrate this particularly well. The contexts are different, But both demonstrate how mine action can move beyond risk reduction to become an enabler of peacebuilding, delivering tangible peace dividends for affected communities. They also deliver valuable lessons for how the international community, including the Peacebuilding Commission, can better support nationally owned peacebuilding efforts. In this regard, please allow me to highlight four points. First, The experiences we have heard today remind us that mine action should not only be considered after the conflict has ended. Rather, it should be integrated from the outset into peace processes, peace agreements, and nationally owned peacebuilding strategies. Doing so helps us translate political commitments into tangible dividends that communities can see and experience. By enabling displaced people to return home, By restoring livelihoods, rebuilding confidence in state institutions, and creating the conditions for recovery and development, mine action creates the political, social, and economic space in which peace can take root. Second, Colombia and Cambodia illustrate two complementary pathways through which mine action contributes to sustaining peace. Colombia demonstrates how mine action can support the implementation of a peace agreement, build confidence between former adversaries, and contribute to reintegration, restorative justice, and reconciliation. At the same time, Colombia reminds us that peacebuilding is not a linear process. The continued presence of armed groups and the emergence of new explosive threats demonstrate the importance of sustained investments in mine action and adapting responses to evolving realities on the ground in order to protect the gains made by peace. Cambodia demonstrates the long-term value of sustained national ownership. By placing mine action at the center of its recovery and development strategies, Cambodia has transformed it into an enduring investment in resilience, economic opportunity, and national capacity. Today, Cambodia is also sharing this expertise through South-South and triangular cooperation, while contributing specialized demining and explosive ordnance disposal capacities to the United Nations. Its experience demonstrates how countries emerging from conflict can themselves become providers of solutions and partners for peace. The two contexts are different, but both examples underscore the same lesson. Mine action delivers its greatest impact when it is embedded within nationally owned peacebuilding strategies rather than treated as a standalone technical activity. Third, these experiences demonstrate that mine action must be people-centered. Its success cannot be measured only in the amount of land cleared, but also in whether communities can return safely, regain access to their livelihoods and services, and participate in shaping their own recovery. Mine action can restore dignity. It can enable communities to reclaim their futures and create opportunities for survivors, women, young people, to allow them to contribute to reconciliation and recovery. These human dimensions are ultimately what turns technical progress into sustainable peace. Finally, the question before the Peacebuilding Commission is not whether mine action matters, but how we can better harness its peacebuilding potential. The Commission is uniquely placed to bring together political, development, humanitarian, and financial actors around nationally identified priorities. It can elevate successful national experiences and encourage mine action to be integrated from the outset into peace agreements, transitional processes, recovery strategies, and broader peacebuilding frameworks. The Commission can also play an important role in promoting South-South and triangular cooperation by facilitating the exchange of experiences and good practices amongst the countries. The experiences of Colombia and Cambodia demonstrate the value of peer learning and nationally owned solutions, but they're not unique. Across many conflict affected settings, countries have developed innovative approaches that can inform one another. The Peacebuilding Commission provides a unique platform to elevate these experiences, to foster mutual learning, and to strengthen partnerships amongst member states. As reaffirmed in the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review, prevention and peacebuilding are smart investments. Colombia and Cambodia remind us that mine action is not simply about removing the legacy of conflict, it's about creating the conditions for peace to endure by turning cleared land into opportunities for return, livelihoods, justice and reconciliation, Mine Action transforms the promise of peace into tangible improvements in people's daily lives. Investing in Mine Action ultimately is indeed an investment in sustaining peace. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [45:29]:

I thank Ms. Ogawa for her briefing and for setting out how Mine Action mandates support the protection of civilians, national capacity development, and the restoration of state authority in the city on our agenda. Now I invite Mr. Abubakar Abdullahi Suleiman, Executive Director, Center for Social Coherence, Peace, and Empowering Nigeria, who will brief us as representative for the civil society. Mr. Suleiman, you have the floor. Do you hear us? Okay.


Nigeria · Executive Director · Abubakar Abdullahi Suleiman [46:07]:

Okay.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [46:08]:

Yes, we hear you.

Please go ahead.


Nigeria · Executive Director · Abubakar Abdullahi Suleiman [46:10]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair, excellencies, and distinguished delegates. I am honored to address this ambassadorial level meeting on behalf of SenseCorp Nigeria, a national organization working at the frontline of mine action, protection, peacebuilding efforts in northeast Nigeria. For the past six years, has delivered mine action program in some of the most heavily contaminated communities in the Lake Chad region. We have worked alongside survivors, supported families, trained local respondents, and witnessed firsthand experience of explosive ordnance contamination on communities struggling to rebuild their lives. Nigeria welcomes this timely discussion on the role of Mine Action as a strategic catalyst for peacebuilding, recovery, reconciliation, transitional justice and sustainable development. We commend this Peace Commission for bringing this important initiative to the spotlight and appreciate the valuable experience by societies affected by conflict, which demonstrates that Mine Action deliver dividends far beyond the removal of explosive hazard, but also goes down to create safe access to communities, facilitating community engagement, reconciliation, and supporting recovery effort. Just as Nigeria, the experience of Colombia and Cambodia offers powerful lessons that calls for reflection and exchange. Nigeria today records one of the highest explosive ordinance casualty rates in the world. Roughly 54 people are killed every month by explosive ordinance, making Nigeria the third highest in the world. Most alarming, 91% of civilian casualties from January to September 2024 occurred in 11 of the 15 LGAs where communities are anticipated to return, relocate, and settle. Meaning that the communities to which peace is meant to deliver people home, at the very ground where the threat is concentrated. Between January and May 2025, 157 civilians, including 19 children, were affected by explosive ordnance across the Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe state, with IED accounting to 66% of the incidents. For Nigeria, mine action is not just a humanitarian action. It is a critical investment in sustaining peace. The clearance of explosive ordinance creates the condition required for recovery, reconciliation, social cohesion, and restoration of trust between communities affected by conflict and the state institutions. It enables farmers to return to their lands, displaced population to safely return to their ancestral homes, children to attend schools unharm, markets to function well and communities to gain their livelihoods with confidence. The experience from Nigeria and Borno state demonstrates that mine action contributes directly to the objective of Nigeria's stabilization and recovery effort, as well as the broader peacebuilding priorities outlined in frameworks like the National Peace Policy, the Borno Model for Peace, Reconciliation and Development, the Strategy for Durable Solution, and the 25 Years Development Plan and 10 Years Strategic Framework of the Borno State Government. By facilitating safe humanitarian access and supporting the return of internally displaced persons, mine action has become an indispensable component of humanitarian interventions, early recovery, durable solution and peace efforts in reconciliation and transitional justice. Nigeria recognizes and appreciates significant support of the United Nation Mine Action Services on mass and the generous support of the UK government, the Japan government and the European Union in supporting capacity building efforts, explosive ordnance risk education, victim assistance and coordination support. UNMAS and other Mine Action partners help in reducing civilian casualties, improving humanitarian access, and strengthening safety for communities, humanitarian workers, security personnel across affected areas of the northeast Nigeria. The lessons from Colombia and Cambodia resonate strongly with Nigeria's experience. is most effective when integrated into nationally owned recovery and peacebuilding strategies, when it strengthens institutions and the capacity of national actors, and when it is linked to broader efforts aimed at reconciliation, community resilience, and social recovery. Your Excellencies, distinguished delegates, in this regard, Nigeria encourages the Peacebuilding Commission to continue promoting greater recognition of mine action as a strategic enabler to peacebuilding and sustainable peace. Such initiatives can play an important role in fostering cohesion among humanitarian development peacebuilding actors. security actors, mobilizing resources, share good practices, and supporting nationally led approaches for sustainable action. Let me conclude, Your Excellencies, by thanking UNMAS Nigeria and all partners for supporting this effort. I look forward to a continued collaboration in advancing peace, security, and sustainable development for all affected communities and people in Nigeria. Thank you, Your Excellency.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [52:11]:

I thank you, Mr. Abdulkadir Abdullahi Suleiman, who briefed us from Nigeria and who exposed to us the experience that Nigeria is implementing to solve the problem of mine thanks to the international cooperation and to the Mine Action. With this presentation by our colleague or friend from Nigeria, we have heard three experiences from three different continents and three different countries with different dynamics, different difficulties, different perception, but same objective, saving lives, consolidating peace, and integrating the mine action not as have been said by our colleague Kazumi Ogawa as technical aspect, but as an element, central element in their respective strategies. That's the key to the success of such kind of main action. Now we go to agenda item to listen to the speeches. I will start with the vice-chairs of the PBC. The first is the PR of Brazil, Mr. Sergio, dear friend, you have the floor.


Brazil · Permanent Representative; Vice-Chair · Mr. Sergio [53:53]:

Thank you, Mr. President. Brazil thanks and commends the Chair for convening this timely meeting and Colombia, Cambodia, the UN Mine Action Service, and the representative of the Civil Society of Nigeria, Mr. Suleiman, for sharing their expertise and lessons learned in such important challenge as demining. Mr. President, mine action is not merely a technical security activity. It is an essential condition for protecting civilians, restoring livelihoods, enabling the safe return of displaced persons, rebuilding infrastructure and renewing confidence in institutions and peace processes. When integrated into nationally owned peacebuilding strategies, it can also support reconciliation, reparations, the implementation of peace agreements, and the revival of economic activities in areas affected by mining. The experiences of Colombia and Cambodia show that mine action can generate concrete peace dividends. Affected communities, particularly survivors, women and young people, must participate meaningfully in defining priorities and monitoring results. Mr. President, Brazil has accumulated significant expertise in humanitarian demining and mine action cooperation. As a state party to the Ottawa Convention, Brazil remains committed to its full implementation, universalization, victim assistance and international cooperation. Since 1993, Brazilian military personnel have contributed to initiatives in Central America and South America, as well as in Angola. Their work has encompassed instruction, supervision, monitoring, and quality assurance in accordance with international standards. Colombia has been a particularly important partner. Through multilateral and bilateral arrangements, Brazilian Army and Navy personnel have supported Colombian institutions with technical advice, training, certification, operational monitoring, and support to demining procedures. This cooperation helps strengthen national capacities so communities can safely return to their lands. Brazil also possesses training capacity that can benefit other countries. And this is what the PBC is all about. The Brazilian Peace Operations Joint Training Center and the Army's Engineering Instruction Center prepare Brazilian and foreign personnel for mine action and explosive hazard management, among others. The latter can support training in humanitarian demining and explosive ordnance disposal. South-South and triangular cooperation are especially valuable in this field. They enable countries facing comparable challenges to exchange practical solutions, build durable local expertise, and adapt assistance to national priorities. Triangular partnerships can complement this exchange with resources and specialized support from the United Nations, regional organizations, and other partners, while preserving national ownership. The Peacebuilding Commission can help place mine action more systematically within peacebuilding strategies, mobilize political attention, partnerships and financing, and connect political, humanitarian, development, and security actors. Integrating mine action into broader peacebuilding approaches also enables us to advocate for PBF financing for mine action initiatives. Through mine action and other initiatives, Brazil stands ready to continue promoting the value of peacebuilding and sharing its experience in support of peacebuilding and sustainable peace. Thank you, Mr. President.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [57:50]:

I thank the Vice Chair, Ambassador Permanent Representative of Brazil. And now I give the floor to the other Vice Chair, good friend, Ambassador Charida Faerkouash.


Croatia · Chargé d'affaires; Vice-Chair · Charida Faerkouash [58:14]:

Mr. Chair, thank you for organizing this meeting and we also thank the briefers for their insightful presentations and some numbers that we've heard there were truly shocking. We're all very well aware that mine action is essential because it protects lives, restores safety and enables communities to rebuild after conflict. Landmines and explosive remnants of war trap people in long-term insecurity and poverty as they cannot return home and build a foundation for recovery, peace building, and long-term development. Croatia's own post-war experience has demonstrated that mine action is not only a humanitarian and security issue, but also a prerequisite for recovery, development, and the safe return of displaced populations. After almost three decades of systemic mine action efforts, Croatia successfully completed the clearance of its mine contaminated territory and became completely mine free on March 1st this year. This achievement represents a significant milestone and provides Croatia with particularly relevant firsthand experience in addressing the full life cycle of mine action. From the identification and clearance of contaminated areas, to the integration of mine action into broader recovery and development efforts. In this regard, allow me to share a few lessons learned. Effective mine action requires sustained political commitment, predictable financing, strong coordination and development of national capacities, and should be approached as a long-term investment in security, recovery and development. Mine action should not be viewed in isolation, but as an integral part of recovery and reconstruction efforts. It also needs to reflect the principles of the triple nexus linking humanitarian assistance with development, peace and security, together with development of inclusive institutions within which humanitarian demining and broader mine action takes place. Croatia's support to Ukraine represents one of the most significant dimensions of our recent development and humanitarian engagement. More than 13 million euros has been directed to mine action alone, including the procurement of heavy robotic demining machines, the establishment of three regional coordination offices with UNDP, and four EU-facilitated capacity building workshops for Ukrainian mine action operators. Croatia is also supporting the participation of women in mine action and security through a multi-annual program implemented by UN Women. The initiative aims to expand employment opportunities for Ukrainian women and strengthen the gender responsive and inclusive character of Ukraine's recovery. And let me conclude by saying that Croatia has developed expertise, technologies and products, including advanced unmanned demining vehicles, and is currently preparing a new strategic framework for international development, cooperation and humanitarian assistance, and stands ready to share its knowledge and expertise with international community, regions and countries who have found themselves in similar situations. Thank you, Mr. Chair.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:01:30]:

I thank the Charg d'affaires, Ambassador of Croatia. And now I give the floor to the other Vice Chair, representative of Germany, Johannes Wurstner.


Germany · Representative; Vice-Chair · Johannes Wurstner [1:01:49]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Excellencies, colleagues, I would like to thank the briefers for their valuable insights. Germany welcomes today's discussion, which rightly places mine action in the context of peacebuilding, reconciliation and recovery. Allow me to highlight four points, which to some extent echo and support the points made by Ms. Ogawa for DPO. First, mine action is a precondition for peacebuilding and sustainable development, not a mere add-on. It delivers immediate and visible peace dividends, and should be integrated from the earliest stages of peace processes. Germany, as the second largest bilateral donor to mine action, therefore supports a nexus approach, linking mine action with peace building and development efforts. Cambodia's long-term national mine action policy, as well as the integration of mine action into Colombia's total peace agenda, are excellent examples of the value of this approach. Both show how national ownership and long-term planning can link mine clearance directly to the return of displaced persons, reconstruction and local development. Second, mine action can serve as an important confidence-building measure. Germany has supported demining programmes in Colombia in which the involvement of former combatants has contributed to reconciliation and trust. Likewise, the joint coordinating task force established by Cambodia and Thailand last year illustrates how mine action can maintain practical cooperation even when broader political challenges persist. Germany is pleased to make a concrete contribution to these confidence building measures through the HALO Trust. Third, mine action should be people centered. including the full, equal and meaningful participation of women, youth and affected communities. Victim assistance is a cornerstone of Germany's Mine Action engagement. It should enable survivors' full and equal participation in society and be integrated into national health and social protection systems. We commend Cambodia for adopting the world's first National Mine Action Standard on Gender and Diversity. We also commend the Colombian civilian operators for reporting some of the highest rates of women's participation in mine action worldwide. Fourth, national ownership and sustainable capacity building remain essential. Germany hence supports the empowerment of national authorities and genuine partnerships with local actors. The examples of Colombia and Cambodia underline the importance of strong national institutions quality management, effective information systems and regional cooperation. At the same time, national ownership requires reliable multi-year financing to sustain national capacities. Mr. Chair, in closing, allow me to underline that the PBC can play an important role in promoting early inclusion of mine action in peacebuilding and recovery efforts. It should also pay particular attention to the transition and residual risk phase of mine action, when sustained national capacities and financing remain essential for sustainable peace. Thank you, Mr. Chair.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:05:25]:

I thank the representative of Germany. I now give floor to the permanent representative of El Salvador, which will be followed by South Africa and Kenya.


El Salvador · Permanent Representative [1:05:40]:

Thank you very much, Chair. We are grateful for the convening of this meeting and we are grateful also for the valuable shared experiences from Cambodia and Colombia that show that this action transcends the humanitarian aspects. Facilitating the return of communities and recovering lifestyles also contributes to generating trust and repairing the social fabric and offering the concrete peace dividend. Our country knows first hand about the prolonged consequences that armed conflicts can have. While the conflict in El Salvador ended in 1972, the social, economic and human impacts lasted far longer. Anti-personnel mines continued to threaten the lives and integrity of individuals, and they remind us that the end of hostilities does not necessarily mean the end of the consequences of armed conflict. This is why mine-clearing activities were part of our national efforts to build a sustainable peace and to prevent further casualties. The experience showed us that action against mines is not just limited to removing explosive ordnance it must also include comprehensive support for victims, their rehabilitation and their full social and economic rehabilitation, together with support for their families and communities. In this context, We believe that it is also essential to guarantee the full, meaningful and safe participation of women and young people. Their understanding of local realities, their closeness to the communities and their ability to drive sustainable solutions actually strengthens prevention, support, awareness-raising and recovery efforts in the affected areas. El Salvador reaffirms its commitment to the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines during the period 2026 through 2027. Our country will be joining the Committee on Assistance to Victims, and we hope to contribute with our national experience and also learn from the good practices that other states have implemented. In May this year, El Salvador hosted a regional dialogue on assistance victims and sustainable capacity building. This reflects our position, which is to promote exchange of knowledge and views and also the universalisation of the Convention. The experiences shared today also confirm the value of south-south and triangular cooperation. However, for these efforts to actually lead to sustained results, it's essential that the international community accompany and support affected countries through technical assistance, capacity building and sufficient, predictable and sustained financing in accordance with their national policies. Finally, we believe that this Commission can help by raising awareness about these experiences and promote greater coherence between humanitarian and political aspects of peacebuilding. implementing and integrating these actions in national reconciliation plans. Based on the experiences shared today, we would like to ask what type of international support has been most effective in strengthening national capacity and guaranteeing the sustainability of action against mines? How can the international community ensure more predictable, flexible and long-term financing for countries affected by this, and what gaps still exist in the area of financing technical assistance and institutional strengthening. Chair, by way of conclusion, allow me to reaffirm that our country will continue working for a world free of anti-personnel mines and for an international system that places dignity, human rights and the needs of victims and affected communities at the heart of all of our efforts. Thank you very much for your attention.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:09:55]:

I thank the Permanent Representative of El Salvador for her intervention and now give floor to the Permanent Representative of South Africa, my brother.


South Africa · Permanent Representative [1:10:09]:

Thank you very much, Excellency Chairperson, dear brother Omar, for giving me the floor. And let me join previous speakers in thanking you for convening this important meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission on Mine Action as an Enabler of Peacebuilding, Transitional Justice, Reconciliation and Recovery. with a focus on lessons from Colombia and Cambodia. And at the same time, I take the opportunity to express my delegation's appreciation to the governments of Colombia and Cambodia for sharing instructive experiences on how comprehensive action against anti-personnel mines delivered tangible peace dividends, thus contributing to peacebuilding sustainable peace. We also thank the briefers for their insightful presentations. CHEPIS in South Africa is part of the Southern African Development Community, one of the most mined regions of the world and one of the first sub-regions to formally adhere to the Mine Ban Treaty as a whole. We've played an active role in in the Oslo process that led to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention and continue to be an active participant in its processes, including the fifth review conference held last year in Cambodia, were deeply concerned about the threats posed by explosive remnants of war and anti-personnel mines and their devastating impact on civilians, especially women and children. We therefore continue to highlight challenges faced by mine victims, including reintegration, inadequate medical care, limited access in remote areas, lack of psychosocial support, and discrimination in the job market, hence our contribution through technical assistance and capacity building to demining efforts in the SADC region. We therefore share the assessment by Colombia and Cambodia of the value of mine action in addressing the socio-economic impacts of anti-personnel mines, the explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices. Landmines, a legacy of independence and colonial wars in Southern Africa, continue to disrupt social and economic development and reconstruction in the years after the restoration of peace. Most mines are planted on strategic infrastructure points such as railway lines, roads, bridges and water resources, thus endangering the lives of local communities and the environment. Mine areas are also excluded from productive use until they have been cleared, which prevents rural spatial development and agriculture. Chairperson. In order to contribute to peacebuilding, reconciliation and social cohesion post-conflict, we propose firstly that we maintain and strengthen the frameworks that protect human life and dignity while avoiding any undermining or weakening of these frameworks. This would include the universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty that aims to eliminate anti-personnel landmines given their indiscriminate nature and humanitarian consequences. Adopted in 1997 following the historic Oslo diplomatic conference that we had the privilege to chair, the treaty prohibits the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of anti-personnel mines. Secondly, my delegation proposes that regions adopt a common approach to tackling landmine contamination. and stresses the importance of strengthening international cooperation, resource mobilization, and the sharing of best practice. In this regard, we commend the donors like Germany, who just spoke before me, who have contributed over the years to Mine Action activities and programs. Thirdly, we propose that countries integrate into their national development strategies and policies demining programs and Mine Action early in peace agreements and link these to mine clearance and victim assistance to national development and sustainable recovery plans. Fourthly, we underscore the necessity of political commitment and political will to implement transparent mine clearance policies and programs. Furthermore, capacity building and technical assistance are crucial, including for women and youth to ensure reintegration and sustainability. Victim assistance is also crucial to ensure access to much needed services and facilities in order to facilitate their full and effective participation in society. Finally, Chairperson, mine action is instrumental to enable the return of refugees and internally displaced persons and create conducive conditions for the restoration of livelihoods and sustainable microeconomic development, thereby also creating much-needed jobs to sustain livelihoods and prevent relapse into conflict. I thank you.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:15:51]:

I thank my dear brother, the Permanent Representative of South Africa, and I have the pleasure to give the floor to another brother from Africa, Permanent Representative of Kenya. We have the floor, Ambassador.


Kenya · Permanent Representative [1:16:06]:

Thank you, Excellency, and dear brother Omar, Chairperson of the PBC. Let me also join my colleagues who have spoken before me to thank you for convening this very, very timely discussion and to also thank the briefers for their very, very insightful briefings and presentations. Colleagues, the experiences of Colombia and Cambodia demonstrate that mine action delivers its greatest impact when integrated across the peace continuum. When embedded in prevention, peacebuilding and recovery efforts from the outset, mine action creates conditions for lasting peace. Let me offer four observations. First, mine action should be locally owned and integrated into national prevention strategies, peace agreements, and broader peace-building frameworks rather than being treated solely as a humanitarian activity. Its impact can be further strengthened, as you know, colleagues who have spoken before me have said, through South-South and triangular cooperation. And I was very pleased to hear from the DPR of Cambodia about how they've been able to participate in mine action operations in Africa and other places. It's a clear demonstration of the value of that South-South and triangular cooperation. Second, Chair, peace agreements should frame an action in ways that respond to the specific drivers of conflict and make it recognizable as a confidence building measure and an instrument of restorative justice. It should help societies confront the legacy of conflict and foster coexistence and healing by addressing the needs of survivors. Third, Experiences from Colombia and elsewhere, including Nigeria, underscore the importance of inclusive community-led approaches. Survivors, women, young people, local authorities and civil society should participate meaningfully in identifying priorities as well as ensuring equitable, inclusive and sustainable development outcomes. And then finally, predictable financing, robust resource mobilization, and effective monitoring are indispensable. Monitoring should demonstrate how mine action contributes to stronger state legitimacy, livelihood recovery, and durable peace. Chairperson, Kenya's participation in UN and AU peace operations has provided us with firsthand exposure to the long-term humanitarian consequences of explosive hazards. Our own humanitarian peace support school offers training in mine action and related disciplines to the military, civil police, and civilian personnel from across our region, enhancing the capacity of those services to respond effectively to complex emergencies. We encourage a whole of system approach to mine action. And as the Peacebuilding Fund supports projects in contexts where explosive hazards impede stabilization and recovery, UN country teams should ensure that mine action is adequately reflected in national planning, common country analysis and cooperation frameworks. The PBC, in collaboration with UNDP PSO can highlight the contribution of mine action to the safe return of displaced population, social cohesion and sustainable recovery, while leveraging its convening and advisory roles to strengthen national ownership, mobilize political support and advocate for predictable financing. As we implement the 2025 Peacebuilding Architecture Review, we have an opportunity to ensure that mine action is recognized for the security, trust, opportunity, and the hope that it restores to societies. I thank you.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:21:06]:

I thank the permanent representative of Kenya for his intervention and now we give floor to the DPR of Armenia which will be followed by the DPR of Japan and Australia we have closer.


Armenia · Deputy Permanent Representative [1:21:24]:

Thank you Mr. chair would like to begin by thanking uh his Excellency Omar Hilal chair of peace building commission Ambassador of Morocco for convening today's meeting which is particularly timely and we also would like to extend our appreciation to the representatives of Colombia and Cambodia Mr. Alejandro Ramey and DPR Chancellor Fair Yang for sharing their countries insightful experiences and the previous interlocutors as well the Republic of Armenia attaches utmost importance to the assistance in mine action reaffirming principled and practical dedication to the international efforts aimed at addressing the humanitarian consequences of anti-personnel landmines, unexploded ordinances and other explosive remnants of war. As a country that has unfortunately witnessed the tragic consequences of landmines and has faced with extensive contamination with mines and unexploded ordinances of the border regions of Armenia representing a significant humanitarian challenge and resulting in human losses and suffering, Armenia underscores the need for genuine and depoliticized collaboration to prevent further human suffering and ensure safety. Armenia's steadfast commitment to the humanitarian principles has also been manifested through participation in the humanitarian mission in Aleppo, Syria for five years. where the Armenian specialist shouldered international efforts for the land mine detection, mine clearings and destruction techniques. Through the consistent endeavors of our demining and medical teams, Armenia has demonstrated its dedication to mitigating the threats posed by APLs in the densely populated areas. Armenia stands ready to continue contributing to humanitarian demining efforts in Syria, including within the international relevant frameworks. I would also like to reiterate our solid commitment to sincere dialogue and international collaboration in the assistance in mine action and mine clearance. Thank you, Mr. Chair.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:23:32]:

I thank the DPR of Armenia for his intervention. And now we give floor to the DPR of Japan, Mr. Flosser.


Japan · Deputy Permanent Representative · Mr. Flosser [1:23:42]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Japan thanks Chair for convening this first ever PBC meeting on this critical topic. This is a valuable opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of mine action in peacebuilding and to explore best practices and lessons learned. Mine action not only protects lives, it is an essential component of peace building that supports a safe return of displaced persons and refugees, as well as community recovery through the rehabilitation of land and infrastructure. I'd like to make four points. First, it is important to promote comprehensive mine action through a human security approach that emphasizes empowerment and protection of every individual. Mine action encompasses not only demining activities, but also risk education, victim assistance, and community recovery. From this perspective, Japan remains committed to advancing comprehensive mine action that ensures access to medical care, rehabilitation, and economic opportunities for mine victims, including survivors, thereby strengthening community resilience toward early recovery. Second, national ownership is essential for effective and sustainable mine action. This was one of the priorities of our presidency of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, APMBC, last year. Based on this principle, Japan has supported the strengthening of demining capabilities in various contexts, including through contribution of $4.2 million to AMMAS, this year to support Colombia's mine action efforts. Third, the mining activities hold significant potential for South-South and triangular cooperation. In this vein, Japan has been supporting the mining efforts in countries such as Ethiopia, Nigeria, Somalia, and South Sudan. in collaboration with Cambodian Mine Action Center, CMAC, as well as in Ukraine in cooperation with both CMAC and the government of Colombia. Lastly, the use of advanced technologies hold great potential for improving the effectiveness and efficiency of mine action. Japan presented a working paper to the 22nd meeting of the state parties to the APMBC last year, highlighting advanced mine action related to technologies developed by Japanese companies, including an AI mine detection tool with a high accuracy rate. In conclusion, Japan remains committed to advancing mine action for sustaining peace. I thank you, Mr. Chair.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:26:36]:

I thank the DPR of Japan for his intervention. Now we give the floor to the Charg d'affaires of Australia.


Australia · Chargé d'affaires [1:26:49]:

Thank you, Chair. Australia also welcomes today's discussion and thank you to Colombia and Cambodia for sharing their experiences. Today's discussion highlights that mine action is not simply a humanitarian or technical activity, but can be a peacebuilding tool. Mine action enables displaced people to return home, restores access to land and livelihoods, and creates the conditions for recovery and development. It delivers visible peace dividends, builds trust, and strengthens confidence within communities recovering from conflict. Australia has seen this firsthand in our Indo-Pacific region. For more than three decades, Australia supported Cambodia's mine action efforts, including through more than $3 million last year for mine clearance and victim assistance. As we've heard today, what began as a humanitarian necessity has become a powerful example of how mine action can contribute to long-term recovery, development, and stability. The importance of nationally owned approaches, sustained partnerships, and building local capacity cannot be overstated in delivering these outcomes. We're also increasingly conscious of the challenge posed by explosive remnants of war in the Pacific. As Pacific Island Forum leaders recognized last year, these remnants are not simply a legacy issue. They continue to affect human security, economic development, environmental management, and access to land and resources. Addressing them is therefore an important part of building resilience, resilient and prosperous communities. Chair, mine action is more effective when integrated into broader national peace building and recovery efforts. It should not be viewed as a standalone technical activity, but as part of a wider effort to rebuild trust, strengthen communities, and sustain peace. The Peacebuilding Commission should draw on these experiences to promote greater coherence between political, peacebuilding, development, and humanitarian actors. Mine action does more than remove explosive hazards. It removes barriers to recovery, reconciliation, and lasting peace. Australia will continue to support mine action in our region and globally, recognizing its vital contribution not only to safety and recovery, but to sustaining peace itself. Thank you very much.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:29:05]:

I thank the Charg d'affaires of Australia. I now give the floor to the representative of Russia.


Russian Federation [1:29:22]:

Mr. Chair. I welcome the participation of the director of the UN Mine Action Service, Ms. Kazumi Ogawa, as well as Mr. Richard Howard, director of the Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office. I welcome their participation in this meeting, and I also thank the representatives of Colombia and Cambodia for their substantive presentations, for sharing their invaluable experience. We also listened with great interest to the civil society representative, From Nigeria, today's statements have once again reaffirmed the statement made by Secretary-General Guterres that peace without mine action is incomplete peace. It is impossible to imagine a country's post-conflict recovery without clearing its territory of mines and IEDs. This applies to restoring normal life in towns and villages, enabling the returns of refugees and IDPs, resuming agricultural activities, and rebuilding infrastructure. We are convinced that mine action is Precisely one of those areas that has a catalytic effect on peacebuilding. Russia attaches great importance to mine action. We are taking effective measures at the national level to address the threat posed by mines. We train demining experts as well as participate in exchange of professional experience with interested countries. We also contribute to strengthening the technical and operational capacities of a number of states. We note the work of the UN Mine Action Service, UNMAS, which provides technical assistance to states upon request and participates in the training of experts, development of standards, and promoting mine risk awareness among populations. We attach great importance to UNMAS's coordinating role and intend to continue participating in efforts aimed at developing standards, best practices, and recommendations in the field of mine action. To conclude, we would like to reiterate the importance of addressing the shortage of budgetary resources in this area, as highlighted by the SG in his report. We support Mr. Gutierrez's call on donors to increase funding for relevant support activities. Thank you.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:31:24]:

I thank the representative of Russia, and now we give the floor to the Permanent Representative of Egypt.


Egypt [1:31:36]:

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, Excellency, for giving Egypt the floor. Egypt welcomes the convening of this timely discussion and thanks Colombia and Cambodia for sharing their valuable national experiences. We also appreciate the emphasis on that mine action is not only a humanitarian and security imperative, but also an important enabler of peacebuilding, reconciliation, recovery, and sustaining peace. Mine action should be viewed as an integral component of nationally owned peacebuilding strategies. By enabling the safe return of displaced populations, restoring access to land and livelihoods, rebuilding confidence among communities, and supporting the implementation of peace agreements, it creates a tangible peace dividend that helps sustain political processes over the long term. Egypt firmly believes that national ownership must remain at the center of the mine action efforts. International support should be aligned with national identified priorities, and contribute to strengthening sustainable national capacities while promoting coordination among humanitarian development, peacebuilding, and political actors. From our national experience, Egypt has made considerable progress in addressing the legacy of landmines and explosive remnants of war throughout national efforts. Today, the remaining contaminated areas are very limited and continue to be addressed within broader national development plans, particularly in isolated pockets in the northwest coast of the Mediterranean and Sinai, which emanated from the wars that we had to face in both areas throughout the previous decades. Egypt's experience has demonstrated the importance of integrating mine action with infrastructure development, investment, livelihood creation, job creation, and the establishment of new communities. especially through the national project for the development of the northwest coast and also the mega development projects in Sinai, which transformed them to attractive destinations on the Mediterranean and the Red Seas, and provided a model of ensuring that cleared land directly contributes to sustainable development and improved living conditions of the communities and the countries as a whole. Beyond its national efforts, Egypt also has consistently supported strengthening mine action within United Nations peace operations, including through its role as one of the largest troop and police contributing countries, and also has advocated enhanced international cooperation, capacity building, and south-south cooperation in support of the nationally owned mine action programs. Finally, Mr. Chair, we believe that the Peacebuilding Commission can play an important role in promoting greater cognition of mine action within integrated peacebuilding strategies, facilitating the exchange of national experiences and lessons learned, and strengthening partnerships in support of nationally-led peacebuilding efforts. I thank you, Mr. Chair.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:34:30]:

I thank the representative of Egypt for his intervention. I see no more speaker. So I will now turn to the briefers to react briefly to some of the points raised. Let me start with Mr. Alejandro Ramelli, if he's still here with us. Mr. Ramelli?


Colombia · President, Special Jurisdiction for Peace · Alejandro Ramelli [1:34:55]:

Yes, I'm here.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:34:57]:

Briefly.


Colombia · President, Special Jurisdiction for Peace · Alejandro Ramelli [1:35:02]:

Thank you.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:35:07]:

If you have any comments or brief observation following what we heard from the speakers and also from the room.


Colombia · President, Special Jurisdiction for Peace · Alejandro Ramelli [1:35:21]:

Okay, thank you very much for all your support. For us, it's very important to have the support of the international community. For us, it's The demining is a very important activity because we signed a peace agreement with the FARC, the Colombian government and the FARC. And one of the most important challenges is, or was, the demining. And we have the first sentences, one of them against the former leaders of the FARC. And one of the main activities that the former leaders of the FARC will be demining in regions. So I think the message is very important because the top leaders of the armed group, the FARC, will contribute to demining the territories more affected with the mines in Colombia as part of the sentence of the penalty that they have to to accomplish. So I think the message is important, is the leaders of the park have to help the regions more affected, the victims, and it's not just a humanitarian activity. It's part of our restorative justice system and is an important contribution to the peace agreement in Colombia. and the mining and justice are priority in Colombia. And we really appreciate the support of different countries and the technical support that we have received of you. Thank you very much.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:37:22]:

I thank Mr. Alejandro Ramelli for his reaction. And now I give floor to His Excellency, Mr. Chan Sophyeng, Young Charged d'affaires and Deputy Permanent Representative of Cambodia.


Cambodia · Chargé d'affaires and Deputy Permanent Representative · Chan Sophyeng Young [1:37:35]:

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I will be brief. Thank you very much for organizing this important event once again. And I have learned a lot from the speakers. so that we can move forward with the mine action activities back home. There are one or two important points that need to be remembered. That is the, we have the Ottawa Convention, which is like a point of views and Cambodia is committed to this Ottawa Convention and spiritually we would move forward with the mining both at home and of course continue to contribute to the international community through the UN peacekeeping operation and we hope that we will continue to work more closely with our partners and donors in order to move on to implement our national plan of action from 2026 to 2030. And hopefully the Cambodian people will live free of mines in the years to come. And of course, certainly I have learned also from the experience from Colombia And we are grateful for him to have shared these lessons learned. Thank you.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:39:31]:

I thank the Deputy Permanent Representative of Cambodia for his reaction. And now I give the floor to Mr. Abubakar Abdullahi Sulaiman, Executive Director, Center for Social Cohesion, Peace and Empowerment in Nigeria. Are you still there?


Nigeria · Executive Director · Abubakar Abdullahi Suleiman [1:39:55]:

Okay.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:39:56]:

Yes, please.


Nigeria · Executive Director · Abubakar Abdullahi Suleiman [1:39:58]:

Thank you so much, Mr. Cha, for the opportunity. I believe this is a platform where we express and share experience from the success achieved by Colombia and our Cambodian counterpart. So it is an opportunity for us to highlight that. As national organization, we'll continue to do our level best in advancing mine action programming while integrating the important, while integrating peace building as an important component. Just as I've highlighted, Nigeria is currently building a mine action strategy that will respond to the ongoing humanitarian development and peace nexus. So it is important that we want to use this opportunity to advocate for more support to mine action programming in Nigeria to advance this mission and we'll continue to support communities as they relocate to their ancestral homes. Thank you for the opportunity once again.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:41:04]:

I thank Mr. Abubakar Abdullahi Suleiman for his reaction. And before concluding today's ambassadorial level meeting, I have the pleasure to invite Mr. Richard Horn, Deputy Director of the Peace Building and Peace Support Office, PBBSO, to deliver short remarks.


PBSO · Deputy Director · Richard Horn [1:41:25]:

Mr. Chair, Excellencies, dear colleagues, let me again begin by thanking our briefers for sharing their valuable experience and illustrating the important contribution of mine action to peacebuilding in Colombia, Cambodia, and Nigeria. I also wish to thank members of the Peacebuilding Commission for a rich discussion which has highlighted two key messages. First, Today's discussion has reinforced that mine action is not only a humanitarian and security imperative, but also an important enabler of peacebuilding. When integrated from the outset into peace processes and broader recovery and development efforts, it can help build confidence, enable the safe return of communities, restore livelihoods, and create the conditions for reconciliation and sustainable peace. As several members have noted, this underlines the importance for considering mine action where relevant as part of nationally led prevention and peacebuilding strategies. Second, today's meeting has once again demonstrated the unique value of the Peacebuilding Commission as a platform for bringing together diverse actors and perspectives to promote integrated approaches to peacebuilding. It highlights the importance of South-South triangular cooperation, enabling countries to share practical experiences, good practices, and lessons learned that can be adapted to different national contexts. By fostering these exchanges, the Commission helps to strengthen partnerships and connect humanitarian development and peace efforts in support of nationally owned priorities. As the Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office, we remain committed to supporting member states in this endeavor by bringing together expertise across peacebuilding, rule of law, security institutions, and peace support. We stand ready to help countries design and implement integrated nationally owned peacebuilding and prevention strategies while facilitating the exchange of experience and technical cooperation among countries and partners. I thank you for your kind attention.


Morocco · Chair · Omar Hilal [1:43:55]:

I thank the Deputy Director of the Peacebuilding and Peace Support Office. Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, I would like to thank our esteemed briefers for the substance and the generosity of their contribution, and all delegations for the quality of their this exchange, let me thank Colombia and Cambodia and Nigeria once more, not only for agreeing to share their experiences, but for the openness with which they have done so. They have given this commission something more useful than a presentation. They have given a set of lessons that can travel, and they have, through their experience, confirmed the timely, the pertinence and the importance of bringing this very important issue to the PBC today for the first time. Allow me to record three convergences. The first is a shift in the question itself. This discussion has not asked whether mine action contributes to peacebuilding, it has asked how it is best sequenced, financed, and owned. That is a considerable advance and it belongs in how mandates are designed and how transitions are planned. The second concern, people. Survivors are not category of assistance. They are a constituency of peace. When women serve as the miners and risk educators, and when survivors and young people lead community liaison, what changes is not only who is protected, but who is trusted to speak for community. That's the women, peace and security and youth, peace and security agendas made operational rather than merely invoked. The third is endurance. Progress in this field is measured in decades and the final stretch is invariably the most demanding. National institutions must therefore be built to last and international support calibrated to this horizon. To conclude, a signature brings a conflict to an end on paper. Safe ground brings it to an end in fact. And that ground is being recovered, especially in Colombia, in Cambodia, and in Nigeria, and in many of the countries on our agenda. What Cambodia and Colombia and Nigeria have shown us today is that this work has no reason, has horizon. Land returns to those who farm it. Paths return to those who walk them. And confidence returns to communities that had learned to live without it. This is peace made tangible and it is within reach. The ambassadorial level meeting of the Peacebuilding Commission is now adjourned. And thank you very much for your presence and your contributions.