The international community provides international assistance to support States Parties to fulfil their Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) obligations, which has removed threats to civilian well-being, reduced human costs of these weapons, and laid foundations for peace, security and development.
As of mid-2026, 33 States have outstanding Article 5 obligations related to the clearance of mined areas and the destruction of anti-personnel mines. Sixteen of them are from the African region, and several are relatively close to becoming “mine-free” – despite receiving the lowest levels of international cooperation and assistance. The Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan 2025–2029 therefore seeks to foster cooperation and assistance in Africa as an enabler across all APMBC obligations.
This event will launch a new multi-year project titled “Working towards a mine-free Africa: Building African capacity to remove threats posed by anti-personnel landmines to peace, security and development”. Supported by the European Union, the project seeks to enable African States Parties to fulfil outstanding Article 5 obligations. The event will raise awareness of the initiative’s approach and objectives, encouraging collaboration and renewed, shared commitments by all stakeholders and partners in working towards a mine-free Africa.
Agenda
Opening remarks
- Ambassador Michele Cervone d’Urso, Deputy Head of EU Delegation to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva, European Union
Panel
- Juan Carlos Ruan, Director, Implementation Support Unit, APMBC
- Hardy Giezendanner, Senior Researcher, Conventional Weapons Programme, UNIDIR
- Clément Meynier, Global Policy and Partnerships Lead, Mines Advisory Group
Closing remarks
- Mulima Lisimba, First Secretary, Permanent Mission of Zambia to the UN and other international organizations in Geneva
Coffee/tea and light sandwiches will be served outside the room from 13:00.
When and where
Thursday, 18 June 2026 | 13:15–14:45 CET | In-person at Room B, International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG), Rue de Varembé 17, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland, and online.
Check your local time here.
Participants
The co-organizers encourage the participation of representatives and experts from States, the United Nations, African sub-/regional organizations, NGOs, civil society, and academia who are engaged in or following humanitarian disarmament deliberations and issues related to the effective implementation of the APMBC, including in Africa.
RSVP
For online participation, please register here by 16 June.
Connection details will be shared with registered participants prior to the event.
Further information
For any questions, please contact Mae Ballena at mae.ballena@un.org
In partnership with
