Director-General's remarks at the 28th International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors and UN Advisers

28th International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors 
and UN Advisers
Wednesday, 9 April 2025 at 9.30 a.m.

Amphitheater stage, Geneva International Conference Center (CICG)

Assistant Secretary-General Zouev,
Ambassador Privitelli [Director of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining],
Director Cohn,

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

It is a great pleasure to welcome you to International Geneva for the 28^th International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors and UN Advisers. I extend my sincere gratitude to the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) and the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) for organizing this important event, in close collaboration with the UN Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action. I also thank the Geneva International Conference Center (CICG) for hosting us as we continue to renovate the Palais des Nations under the Strategic Heritage Plan. 

Mine action remains at the forefront of humanitarian, peace, and security efforts. Yet, the challenges it faces continue to grow. Ongoing conflicts, evolving weapon technologies, and resource constraints complicate demining efforts. The increasing use of explosive weapons in populated areas has made urban demining more complex, while persistent funding shortages limit clearance operations, explosive ordnance risk education, and victim assistance.

Despite these challenges, significant progress has been made. Mine action has evolved from addressing immediate humanitarian needs to becoming an integral part of the Sustainable Development Goals. International partnerships, improved data management and more efficient land release practices are enhancing community resilience. 

An important achievement in mine action has been the empowerment of women. Female deminers play a vital role by addressing gender-specific risks, such as hazards near schools, water sources, or other areas frequented by women and children. Their participation also drives economic empowerment and fosters innovation through diverse perspectives. As role models, they inspire future generations in post-conflict societies, advancing equality and community resilience[1]. It is encouraging that more countries report having adopted gender strategies in mine action and women make up approximately 40% of the sector’s workforce, up from 22% only six years ago.[2] 

This achievement is even more significant in the context of global gender equality. While the projected timeline to achieve gender parity has improved from 300 years in 2022[3] to 134 years in 2024[4], marking a five-generation leap forward, it still falls far short of the 2030 SDG deadline, underlining the need for accelerated action. 

In alignment with the Pact for the Future, the United Nations remains firmly committed to institutional gender parity, including at the highest levels of leadership, as reaffirmed by the recent launch of the UN System-wide Clarion Call on Gender Equality. The mine action sector is fully aligned with this commitment, with UNMAS Director Cohn and Deputy Director Gunaryati Lubis exemplifying the transformative leadership that women can bring. Whether in humanitarian assistance or development, conflict prevention or peacebuilding, the full, equal, meaningful, and safe participation of women is indispensable. 

Ladies and gentlemen,

I wish you a successful meeting and look forward to welcoming you back to the Palais des Nations once the renovation is complete^[5].

Thank you.