Note to Correspondents

United Nations Marks International Day for Mine Awareness,

 

Assistance in Mine Action 4 April

 

Landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to impact the lives of thousands of people each year in more than 65 countries.  In 2009, nearly 4,000 new casualties were recorded from mines, explosive remnants of war, and victim activated improvised explosive devices.  One third of the victims were children.

This year's commemoration of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (4 April) will highlight the work of the mine action sector to save lives and protect livelihoods and celebrate the vigorous movement towards the United Nations vision of a world free from the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war.

To mark the international day, a multimedia exhibition entitled “DeterMined” will open with a formal ceremony and reception in the Main Gallery of the Visitors Lobby on Monday, 4 April at 6 p.m.  Refreshments will be provided by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Slovenia to the United Nations.

The exhibit features the work of renowned Venezuelan photographer Kike Arnal and the distinguished Slovenian photographer Arne Hodalič.  It displays not only the cruelty of landmines, but also the strength and dignity of landmine survivors and communities who must live daily life surrounded by these weapons.

The work of Kike Arnal explores the impact of cluster munitions on the lives of individuals in Lebanon, while Arne Hodalič, who recently returned from a mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has documented the tireless work of the United Nations Mine Action Team.  The exhibition also includes a UNTV video featuring an historical overview of United Nations mine action work between 1990 and 2010.  The message is powerful:  landmines have no place in any civilized society.

The exhibit will be opened by the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Alain Le Roy, with the participation of the Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Kiyo Akasaka; Ambassador, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Slovenia and Chairman of the Managing Board of International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance (ITF), Andrej Benedejčič; Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations, Gary Francis Quinlan; Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations, Tsuneo Nishida; and the Officer-in-Charge of the United Nations Mine Action Service, Justin Brady.  A live performance by the Nolan Ericsson Trio of New York City will follow.

For background information, visit the Mine Action Team's website at www.mineaction.org.  In New York, contact Aaron J. Buckley, United Nations Mine Action Service at tel.:  +1 212 963 4632; e-mail:  mbuckleya@un.org.

For more information on United Nations exhibitions, call Jan Arnesen at tel:  +1 212 963 8531; Liza Wichmann at tel:  +1 212 963 0089; e-mail:  arnesen@un.org or wichmann@un.org; or visit http://visit.un.org.

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For information media • not an official record