“A World without Anti-personnel Mines Is Not Just Possible, It Is within Reach,” Secretary-General Says in Message to States Parties Review Conference

Following is UN Secretary‑General António Guterres’ message, delivered by Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), to the Fifth Review Conference of the States Parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti‑Personnel Mines, in Siem Reap, Cambodia, today:

I congratulate Prime Minister Hun Manet and the people of Cambodia for hosting this important Summit, and for this country’s inspiring progress in eliminating this once-pervasive threat.  By sharing this country’s experience and contributing expert deminers to UN peacekeeping missions, Cambodia is demonstrating how mine action can build lasting peace.

Anti-personnel mines represent a clear and present danger for civilians.  Even after fighting stops, these horrifying and indiscriminate weapons can remain, trapping generations of people in fear.

The pioneering Convention under discussion today represents our solemn commitment to end the legacy of destruction from landmines.  For 25 years, it has driven important progress, with over 55 million anti-personnel devices destroyed across 13,000 square kilometres in over 60 countries, and thousands of people receiving life-saving awareness education and victim assistance services.

But the threat remains.  This includes the renewed use of anti-personnel mines by some of the Parties to the Convention, as well as some Parties falling behind in their commitments to destroy these weapons.

We need to finish the job and translate commitments into reality.  I call on States Parties to meet their obligations and ensure compliance to the Convention, while addressing humanitarian and developmental impacts through financial and technical support.

I also encourage all States that have not yet acceded to the Convention to join the 164 that have done so.

A world without anti-personnel mines is not just possible. It is within reach.

This Conference and its Siem Reap Action Plan represent a critical step in achieving this vision and ensuring that all people can live their lives in safety, dignity and hope.