CommunicationPublished on 24 October 2024

Ukraine Mine Action Conference UMAC2024

Switzerland and Ukraine jointly hosted the Ukraine Mine Action Conference UMAC2024 in Lausanne on 17–18 October 2024. The ‹Lausanne Call for Action› was adopted at the Conference, calling on states to take concrete action in the area of humanitarian mine clearance . This is crucial for social and economic reconstruction. Switzerland is supporting Ukraine with its expertise and contributing CHF 100 million over a four-year period to clear civilian areas of mines.

In 2024, Switzerland co-organised 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) brought 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 was to highlight the critical importance of mine clearance as a central component of social and economic recovery. The ‹Lausanne Call for Action› was adopted at the Conference.

• 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.

Ukraine Mine Action Conference in video. © FDFA

List of participating states and organisations

The list of participating states and organisations of the Ukraine Mine Action Conference can be found under the following link:

• List of individual participants (as of 18 october 2024)

  (English)

  PDF112.36 kB18 October 2024

• List of participating states and organisations

  (English)

  PDF174.76 kB18 October 2024

Images and replay of the Ukraine Mine Action Conference UMAC2024:

Images of the event are avalaible on Flickr. The images may only be used for editorial purposes.

• Photos Flickr: Ukraine Mine Action Conference
• Replay of key moments

Questions and answers about the Conference

• Why was 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 further paved 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 did Switzerland want to achieve?

  The Ukraine Mine Action Conference brought 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 was to highlight the critical importance of mine clearance as part of social and economic recovery.

• Who was invited? On what basis?

  Switzerland has invited more than 50 states as well as the relevant international and regional organisations. There were  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.

• What did the conference programme look like?

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

Further Information

Video

• Road to Lausanne
• Aims and guiding themes of UMAC
• Highlight Video

Articles

• GICHD: One of Switzerland’s crucial partners for mine action in Ukraine
• FSD: Swiss expertise in humanitarian demining operations
• Helping farmers get back to their land – one of the challenges of Ukraine's recovery
• Innovation makes humanitarian demining safer and more efficient

Links

• Opening address by President of the Swiss Confederation Viola Amherd at the UMAC2024
• Address by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis at the UMAC2024
• Press release: International appeal for humanitarian demining in Ukraine adopted in Lausanne, 17.10.2024
• Press release: Humanitarian mine clearance: Confederation establishes comprehensive partnership with Ukraine’s civil protection service and Swiss mine clearance company, 17.10.2024
• Switzerland prioritises humanitarian demining in Ukraine – FDFA
• Swiss expertise bolsters humanitarian demining efforts in Ukraine – FDFA
• Humanitarian demining: DDPS presents Ukraine with remote-controlled demining machine – DDPS

Documents

• Mine Action: Action Plan 2023–2026

  PDF4.11 MB4 April 2023