Ukraine Mine Action Conference UMAC2024

Switzerland and Ukraine will jointly host the Ukraine Mine Action Conference UMAC2024 in Lausanne on 17–18 October 2024. The aim of the conference is to address the critical importance of mine clearance as a central component of rebuilding society and the economy. Switzerland is supporting Ukraine with its expertise and contributing CHF 100 million over a four-year period to clear civilian areas of mines.

Logo Ukraine Mine Action Conference
In 2024, Switzerland will co-organise a series of events culminating in the Ukraine Mine Action Conference on 17-18 October in Lausanne. © FDFA

Since February 2022, Ukraine has become one of the most heavily mined countries in the world.  It is estimated that almost a quarter of Ukrainian territory, an area 3.5 times the size of Switzerland, is contaminated by mines and other explosive ordnance. Due to this situation, Ukraine, known as the breadbasket of Europe, is unable to fully resume agricultural production.  Mines and other explosive ordnance pose a grave danger to farmers working their fields and children playing outside. All too often, tragic accidents occur.  Humanitarian demining is the top priority and a prerequisite for the country's recovery. 

The Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC2024) brings together high-level representatives from governments, international organisations, the private sector, civil society and academia 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 a central component of social and economic recovery.

Putting people at the centre of the debate

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.

Emphasising the benefits of partnerships

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.

Showing how innovation drives progress

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.

Questions and answers about the Conference

  

Why is the conference being held in Switzerland?

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.

What does Switzerland want to achieve?

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.

Who is invited? On what basis?

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.

What does the conference programme look like?

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.

Media Corner

All the information for media representatives is available on the dedicated page:

Media Corner UMAC 2024

Humanitarian mine action in Ukraine and Swiss expertise

Switzerland is supporting Ukraine with its expertise and contributing CHF 100 million over four years to clear civilian areas of mines. 

In line with its humanitarian tradition, Switzerland has developed extensive expertise in humanitarian mine action. It has been supporting mine clearance programmes undertaken by the international community for over 25 years. 

Ongoing projects in humanitarian mine action in Ukraine

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. 

Switzerland is supporting Ukraine with its expertise in efforts to make contaminated areas safe again in an efficient and effective manner. Switzerland works closely on this issue with the GICHD and the FSD, for example, both of which are based in Geneva and have been operating in Ukraine for many years. 

As a donor, Switzerland finances FSD and GICHD for mine action in Ukraine.

The GICHD offers Ukraine training, strategic support and technical advice to strengthen the capacities of state institutions. The FSD has expanded its engagement that began in the Donbas region in 2015 and now conducts surveys, clearance and explosive ordnance risk education in the eastern regions of Ukraine, and is expanding its activities to southern parts of the country. Through their work over the past 25 years, the GICHD and FSD have helped establish International Geneva as a hub for humanitarian disarmament. The two organisations are an important part of Switzerland's recognised expertise in humanitarian mine action.

Tradition and principles of humanitarian mine action in Switzerland

Road to Lausanne

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 supporting Ukraine with its expertise and contributing CHF 100 million over four years to clear civilian areas of mines. Switzerland is engaged at both technical and diplomatic levels.  After organising a first workshop on donor coordination in Geneva in November 2022 together with the GICHD, Switzerland co-organised a series of events in 2024, culminating in the Ukraine Mine Action Conference UMAC2024 in Lausanne.

 

16 January 2024: Swiss President Viola Amherd and Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis participated in a panel discussion on humanitarian mine action in Ukraine

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

17–18 April 2024: Technical meeting in Kyiv

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.

11–12 June 2024: Ukraine Recovery Conference in Berlin

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.

Last update 02.10.2024

  • Interested media representatives are recommended to take a look at the media corner for the conference.

Contact

FDFA Communication

Federal Palace West
3003 Bern

Phone (for journalists only):
+41 58 460 55 55

Phone (for all other requests):
+41 58 462 31 53

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