Ukraine Mine Action Conference UMAC2024

Humanitarian mine action is essential for social and economic recovery in the aftermath of armed conflicts. Contamination from mines and other explosive ordnance directly impacts civilian life, affecting agricultural production and disrupting access to essential services such as education and healthcare in Ukraine and beyond. Victims and survivors need help.

The dynamics of mine action extend beyond traditional donor–recipient relationships.  Establishing the right institutional architecture for an effective national mine action programme is essential for Ukraine.  International partners bring their expertise, affected countries offer their experience, and Ukraine shares the lessons it has learned.

Innovation has made humanitarian mine action more effective, efficient and safer. By continuously innovating in methods, technologies and financing, we can further enhance the effectiveness of the sector.

Building on the momentum of the International Donors' Conference on Humanitarian Demining in Ukraine in Zagreb on 11–12 October 2023 and inspired by the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2022 in Lugano, UMAC2024 will further pave the way for international cooperation and support in the field of humanitarian mine action. Switzerland is engaged at both the technical and diplomatic levels. In November 2022, it held an initial workshop on donor coordination together with the GICHD in Geneva. Throughout 2024 it also organised a series of events – the Road to Lausanne – which included an international workshop meeting in Kyiv in April.

The Ukraine Mine Action Conference brings together high-level representatives from governments, international organisations, the private sector, civil society and the scientific community in Lausanne to address the broad aspects of humanitarian mine action under the guiding themes of people, partners, and progress. The aim is to highlight the critical importance of mine clearance as part of social and economic recovery.

Switzerland has invited more than 50 states as well as the relevant international and regional organisations. There are also participants from NGOs, the scientific community and the private sector. In addition to all EU countries, donor countries and the affected states from the global south have also been invited. The list of participating countries and organisations will be published before the start of the conference.

The conference agenda features a high-level segment on Thursday 17 October, followed by an expert segment on Friday 18 October. The conference will include both plenary discussions and individual panel discussions. Alongside the main programme, there will also be presentations on a replica minefield, a photo exhibition by the renowned English photographer Giles Duley, and a virtual reality experience.

Switzerland is continuing its long-standing commitment to humanitarian mine action worldwide. According to the Action Plan on Mine Action for 2023–26, the focus is on implementing relevant conventions and supporting the clearance of contaminated areas, as well as on innovative approaches. A special focus is placed on Ukraine:

• In 2022 and 2023, the FDFA contributed CHF 10 million to a humanitarian mine clearance programme run by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). The Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD) carries out mine clearance and risk education, while agricultural enterprises receive economic and technical support until they are able to resume cultivation of their land. This groundbreaking project for integrated mine clearance is being supported by Switzerland with CHF 5 million for the period 2024–25.          
• In 2023, the FDFA supported the FSD's work in Ukraine, particularly in the Kharkiv region, with CHF 2.5 million over a period of 12 months. As part of the CHF 100 million aid package, the project will be supported with a total of CHF 10 million in 2024 and expanded to the Kherson region.
• In June 2023, the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) donated a remote-controlled mine clearance machine from the Swiss Digger Foundation to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU).
  
• From 2023 to 2025, the FDFA and the DDPS are supporting the Ukraine country programme of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) with CHF 3.2 million.  The GICHD is assisting Ukraine in expanding its national mine clearance programme and advising the authorities responsible on its implementation. 
• In 2023 and 2024, Switzerland is co-financing a study by the UNDP that explores approaches to innovative financing and ways to involve private investors. 

At the 'Geneva Day', which took place on 16 January 2024 as part of the World Economic Forum, the Swiss Mission to the United Nations and the FDFA's Peace and Human Rights Division hosted an event on humanitarian mine action. In addition to President Viola Amherd and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, the event was attended by Ukraine's First Deputy Prime Minister, Yuliia Svyrydenko, Philipp Hildebrand, Vice Chairman of BlackRock, and Assistant Secretary Ramin Toloui of the US State Department.  

Ukraine at heart of talks in Davos

On 17 and 18 April, representatives from more than 50 countries and organisations gathered at an international workshop in Kyiv to discuss measures for identifying and clearing mines and unexploded ordnance in Ukraine. Good coordination of national activities and international support are crucial to ensure that this work can progress swiftly and effectively. The workshop was co-organised by the GICHD.  Switzerland, whose delegation at the conference was led by Ambassador Simon Geissbühler, has a long history of supporting humanitarian demining through the GICHD and other organisations. Clearing the country of mines is a key prerequisite for Ukraine's recovery.

During the workshop, Ukraine unveiled its strategy for humanitarian demining to be implemented over the next decade:  how Ukraine's national humanitarian demining programme will be implemented over the next few years; how suspected contaminated areas can be inspected; how mines and explosive remnants of war can be surveyed, identified, documented and cleared; which innovative approaches, such as the use of drones, can assist in this process; which financing mechanisms can be used for humanitarian demining; and how international support must be coordinated to achieve the best possible impact.

On 12 June 2024, Patricia Danzi, director-general of the SDC, explained Switzerland's expertise in this area and the challenges in Ukraine at a URC2024 panel discussion on humanitarian mine action in Berlin.