Thank you, Mr. President.
I would like to thank you for organizing this meeting on an urgent issue. I would also like to thank Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix and His Excellency Keo Chhea for their contributions.
I'll start with a quote from Mr. Giles Duley, the UN's first Global Advocate for persons with disabilities in conflict and peacebuilding situations, when he met a boy in a hospital in Afghanistan: “His injuries were so similar to mine (I am a triple amputee), and I remember thinking of the pain I’m still in both physically and emotionally, and I asked myself why should a young boy have to go through what I do each day simply because he was walking to school.”
Two weeks ago, the States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention met in Siem Reap, Cambodia, for their Fifth Review Conference. Much progress has been made since the Convention entered into force, thanks to the efforts of countries affected by mines and explosive remnants of war, as well as the support of partner countries, civil society organizations and the UN, notably UNMAS. In 2023 alone, 280 km2 have been cleared and more than 400 km2 have been made available to the population.
Yet thousands of square kilometers remain contaminated for decades. Worse still, vast areas are being newly contaminated, notably by improvised explosive devices. Humanitarian demining remains a lengthy process. The humanitarian consequences are serious: every year, thousands of civilians, many of them children, fall victim to this scourge. The consequences are not limited to the areas directly affected; contaminated fields in Ukraine, for example, can affect the price of bread on another continent.
The link between humanitarian demining and sustainable peace and development is clear. Indeed, this link was recognized by this Council in its resolution 2365 (2017), which emphasizes the essential role of mine action in stabilizing and protecting civilians. This is also why mine action is an integral part of the Swiss strategy on disarmament, and why we have adopted a dedicated action plan for the years 2023-2026. This plan foresees three areas of action:
First, to promote the normative framework to ensure that parties to armed conflicts comply with their respective obligations. Switzerland has always advocated the universalization and implementation of the Ottawa and Oslo Conventions, and I reiterate this call. Compliance with the obligations of the Second Amended Protocol and Protocol V of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), as well as with the fundamental rules and principles of international humanitarian law, has already had a significant impact. It is in situations of armed conflict that these Conventions are truly put to the test and must be respected.
Second, it is necessary to be directly involved in the countries and regions affected. Switzerland deploys specialized military personnel in peacekeeping operations, and supports projects in the countries concerned: for example, in Ukraine, Colombia, DRC, Syria and Cambodia. This includes demining, risk education and victim assistance. We need to adapt our interventions to the local context, and take gender issues into account, including by working in gender-balanced teams. When it comes to risk education, the most important point is a focus on children: a lack of awareness and their lighter bodies make them far more vulnerable to serious and fatal injuries.
Third, innovation is opening new avenues. The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining works on many levels to make mine action safer, more effective, more precise and more efficient. The Centre contributes to the ongoing development and implementation of international mine action standards. Through workshops, conferences and studies, it promotes innovative technologies, such as more effective detectors or drones to speed up non-technical surveys.
Mr. President,
This afternoon alone, as we read our statements, seven people have been killed or injured by landmines and explosive remnants of war, according to statistics. Six of them are civilians. Switzerland has been active in mine action for more than 30 years, and we intend to continue this commitment in the face of the many wars currently being waged. Our experience in the Council, in line with our priorities and our commitment to the protection of civilians and to sustainable peace, has shown us the need to insist on the application of international humanitarian law. Even today, when certain areas, such as the Gaza Strip, are still inaccessible, it is crucial to work proactively in order to be able to intervene as soon as conditions permit. Securing access routes must be one of the first measures to take in order to guarantee any humanitarian demining or stabilization initiative, which is essential for the establishment of a lasting peace.
I thank you