Today, on UN International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (International Mine Awareness Day), the organisers of the regional campaign, Landmine Free South Caucasus, have launched their campaign for 2021. The statement, published below, outlines the campaign's activities, which will take place in two parts later this year.
Since its establishment in 2019, the Landmine Free South Caucasus campaign has helped to raise awareness of the problem of landmines and other unexploded remnants of war in the region, with activities in five languages – Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgian, Russian and English. Government agencies and NGOs from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and beyond, are members of the campaign, including, The Center for Humanitarian Demining and Expertise (Yerevan); The DELTA State Demining Agency (Tbilisi); The Caucasus Policy Analysis Center (Baku); The Europe-Georgia Institute (Tbilisi); The HALO Trust (London) and LINKS Europe Foundation (The Hague). This year's campaign will be organised once more with the support of the European Union.
Read the full statement of the campaign here:
In December 2005, the United Nations designated 4 April as International Mine Awareness Day. Ever since, it has been marked each year across the globe by the many individuals, states and organisations that support or are involved in the fight to rid the world of landmines. This international day of observance serves to raise awareness and understanding of the ongoing threat posed by mines and other explosive ordnance. On this occasion, we are pleased to announce that the Landmine Free South Caucasus campaign will this year take place once more – with a common message and activities across the region.
Since it was launched in 2019, the Landmine Free South Caucasus campaign has brought together local and international NGOs, governments and civil society groups from across the region in support of the objective of clearing the region of all landmines and unexploded remnants of war.
Whilst, regrettably, last year’s campaign had to be cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions, we are pleased to announce the launch of this year’s campaign which will run in two parts. The first part, from 15-30 June, will focus on raising awareness of landmines and their dangers among school children, especially in mine-affected communities. The second part – with the theme, Landmine Free South Caucasus. NOW! – will take place across the region from 15 September to 15 October. It will focus on the work and sacrifice put in by deminers from all parts of the South Caucasus, whilst also highlighting the plight of the region’s growing number of victims of landmines and unexploded remnants of war, their families and communities. The campaign will be conducted in five languages: Armenian, Azerbaijani, Georgia, Russian and English.
On the occasion of International Mine Awareness Day 2021, we call for a concerted effort to rid the South Caucasus of all landmines and invite communities across the region to join the activities of the Landmine Free South Caucasus campaign throughout the year.
The regional campaign: Landmine Free South Caucasus
The Landmine Free South Caucasus campaign is co-ordinated by LINKS Europe. For further information, please contact office@links-europe.eu