Safe Futures Start Here.
4 April 2025 - International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
On 8 December 2005, the General Assembly declared that 4 April of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
The United Nations mine action community will commemorate the annual International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on 4 April 2025 under the theme “Safe Futures Start Here”. The UN mine action community will bring attention to the progress made over the last year and the challenges that remain in countries around the world.
Mines, explosive remnants of war, and improvised explosive devices continue to cause death and injury, especially in situations of armed conflict. On average, one person is killed or injured by such explosive device every hour. Many children are among the victims. The use of improvised explosive devices has expanded, terrorizing civilians and threatening humanitarian actors and United Nations missions and personnel.
Building on the Pact of the Future, considering the condemnation of the devastating impact of armed conflict on all persons including persons with disabilities (Action 14) and seizing “on opportunities provided by new and emerging technologies to empower and advance equity for persons with disabilities, including through promoting the availability of assistive technologies” (Action 29), events and campaigns will focus on raising awareness about the needs of people around the world.
Secretary-General Message for the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
Read the Secretary General's Message for the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action:
| Arabic | Chinese | English |
| French | Russian | Spanish |
Events at United Nations Headquarters
On 3 April 2025, Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions, Mr. Alexandre Zouev, and two other UN officials will be guests at the Noon Briefing of the Spokesperson of the Secretary-General.
On 4 April the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations will hold a roundtable discussion entitled “Saving Lives through Humanitarian Mine Action in Azerbaijan”. The briefing will be held in cooperation with the Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center). Information about the event and to RSVP can be found in the agenda and concept note.
An exhibition dedicated to the humanitarian mine action in Azerbaijan organized by the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United Nations will be on display from 24 March until 4 April 2025 in the General Assembly Building.
Events around the world
Afghanistan
The Afghanistan National Disaster Management Authority (ANDMA) and Directorate of Mine Action Coordination (DMAC) celebrated the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kabul. In attendance was the Director DMAC, acting Minister ANDMA, UNAMA Chief of Mine Action, Environmental Protection Agency, AREA (Afghan demining NGO), Deputy Minister Public Health, and the Iranian deputy Head of Mission (Gholamreza Najjari).
The event discussed themes including the remaining contamination and casualties, funding issues, and the anticipated increase in returnees.
There was also a performance from a girls’ choir (attached), a play involving a child killed by explosive ordnance, and a speech from a landmine victim.
Central African Republic
Several activities will be held in Bangui in commemoration of International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
1 April - Awareness raising activity in the 7h arrondissement of Bangui
2 April - Radio show on mine action conference at the University of Bangui
3 April - Workshop led by three NNGOs with EO victims to understand their needs and address an advocacy and recommendations to the authorities
4 April - High-level roundtable co-organized by the Government and UNMAS MINUSCA.
Activities will also be held in Bouar with a ceremony and workshop with local authorities.
Colombia
Panel discussion
3 April 2025, 10am - 12pm
Auditorio Marino Troncoso, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá
Flyer (in Spanish)
Join us for a conversation on 'Humanitarian Demining and Territorial Transformation: Contributing to the Construction of Peace from the Territories' organised by the High Commissioner for Peace.
Lebanon
The Spanish blue helmets of the UNIFIL contingent in the Eastern Sector—led by Spain—continue their awareness-raising efforts through a series of educational conferences aimed at increasing knowledge of the management of unexploded ordnance (UXO). Learn more about this outreach initative that seeks to deepen the local community's understanding of the danger posed by various types of explosive devices that may be found in the region, while also providing essential guidance on how to react if such devices are found.
Nigeria
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and its partners commemorated the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on 4 April 2025. In line with the UNMAS theme for this year “Safe Future Starts Here”, the activities engaged the main beneficiaries, cross section of local population as well as relevant national and international partners.
The event, which held in Maiduguri, Borno state also, brought together representatives of various government ministries and agencies including the National Mine Action Center (NMAC), Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (MRRR) as well as representatives of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
Somalia
6 April 2025, 10am to 12pm
Tukul, UN Compound, Mogadishu, Somalia
We invite you to join us in this important commemoration with remarks from key UN and Somali officials and presentations on the ongoing efforts to strengthen Somali-led mine action capabilities.
You will have an opportunity to meet our wonderful explosive detection dogs and watch them go through their paces, as well as to familiarize yourself with the equipment and engage with technical experts to discuss all aspects of mine action in Somalia. Personnel from SNA and SPF will be present to participate in the interactive session for the EDD response Demo.
Sudan
Mine action partners in Sudan are conducting a media campaign to raise awareness of the explosive ordnance risks.
Read the press release or watch the video produced by the Global Protection Cluster on YouTube.
Listen to the audio voicenoice created to share the important message about the risk of explosive ordnance:
United States of America
Mine Awareness Day: Exhibition and Reception
7 April 2025, 6pm - 8pm
Rayburn House Office Building, 45 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20515
RSVP: https://forms.office.com/e/u7BDTxzQMN
You are cordially invited to join the bipartisan Congressional Unexploded Ordnance/Demining Caucus for an exhibition and reception to celebrate International Mine Awareness Day, and to acknowledge the United States' historical commitment to Conventional Weapons Destruction.
Join us for an evening with refreshments, interactive exhibits from leading demining organizations, cutting edge technology from the Department of Defense (including Spot the robot dog), and demonstrations from live demining dogs and rats. Hear from Members of Congress (including Caucus Co-Chairs Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and David Valadao, and HFAC Chairman Brian Mast), Administration representatives, and Ambassadors about the modern field of humanitarian demining and how the United States is saving lives and strengthening security around the world.
Territory of Western Sahara
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) working as part of the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) held a commemorative event, celebrating the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on 4 April at the MINURSO HQ Compound in Laayoune.
Themed "Safe Futures Start Here – Ban Stigma – Take Action", the event included speeches by MINURSO Force Commander, highlighting the ongoing threat of landmines and unexploded ordnance in the region. Decades of conflict have left Western Sahara heavily contaminated.
