Mine Action Symposium 2023
“Mine Action Cannot Wait”
4 April 2023
Closing remarks by the Permanent Representative of Italy, Ambassador Maurizio Massari
Thank you, Ms. Undersecretary General. Today I am particularly proud to take part in the 18th International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
As we have heard in details in many interventions by government officials, civil society representatives and survivors, millions of people around the world, from Cambodia to Colombia, as well as from Syria to Ukraine, are in desperate need of protection from explosive hazards.
It is a Day not only to remind us of the efforts carried out to rid the world of landmines and explosive remnants of war but also to raise awareness on the work that remains to be completed.
Today, more than ever, in doing so, we must bear in mind that “Mine Action cannot wait”. UNMAS, as we all know, works tirelessly assisting States and relevant Organizations to reduce the appalling number of casualties caused each year by landmines, explosive remnants of war and explosive devices.
The remarkable work carried out by the United Nations, with the support of expertise from all over the world, aims at saving lives, facilitating the deployment of UN missions and the delivery of humanitarian assistance, protecting civilians, supporting the voluntary return of the internally displaced and refugees, and enabling humanitarian and recovery activities.
However, despite our common and most thoughtful efforts, there is still a long way to go. Without constant contributions from the donors, and a clear political will along with the systemic support for UN mine action, every step forward could be compromised, pushing further away the goal of making the world a safer place for future generations.
Italy is not only proud to have been through the years one of the main supporters of UNMAS, but is also honored to chair the Mine Action Support Group (MASG) for this year.
We are conducting our 2023 Presidency’s activities under the ‘trademark’ P.E.A.C.E., an acronym that stands for People, Education, Advocacy, Cooperation, and Environment, which represents the five pillars of our demining national strategy. I am confident that our joint efforts and engagement within the MASG will prove to be as fruitful as possible.
In order to remember that “Mine Action cannot wait”, please, let me also invite all of you to the multi-media exhibition that together with UNMAS and the Missions of Germany and the United States we have organized here at the UN premises and we will open at the end of today’s symposium.
Thank you all for your kind attention.
