CMAA review mine action success, set ‘24 goals
Neang Sokunthea
THE Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) held a two-day workshop on December 27-28 to summarise the results of its work in 2023 and outline its working direction for 2024. The conference, held in Kep province, also saw representatives of development partners.
CMAA second vice-president Sem Sovanny addressed the opening of the event, saying the CMAA is a government administration unit that leads, coordinates, monitors and controls the activities of demining operators, in order to contribute to the peace, development and security of the people.
“Cambodia has achieved great successes. It has reduced the number of mine victims from 4,320 in 1996 to less than a hundred people a year.
“This is because of increased efficiency in demining operations, and the promotion of education about explosive ordnance in schools, communities and target areas,” he said.
According to a CMAA report, 1,176,462 anti-personnel mines, 26,321 anti-tank mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW), including 3,100,123 cluster munitions, have been found and destroyed.
Sovanny also explained that the CMAA Gender Team is developing the world’s first national standard on gender mainstreaming in the field of mine action. Almost a quarter of the staff working in the demining sector are women.
As of November this year, Cambodia has declared a total of 1,777 villages mine-free in 14 capital-provinces.
The CMAA receives support from the US, UK, Japan, Australia, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, China, Canada, New Zealand, South Korea, Ireland, India and the UNDP, as well as from civil society and philanthropic foundations.
Ly Thuch, vice-president of the CMAA, said Cambodia has been applauded by the international community for its successes.
He added that in November, the 164 state parties to the Ottawa Convention – or the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty – selected Cambodia to host the next treaty summit. The Kingdom will chair the fifth review meeting of the Ottawa Convention, named “Siem Reap Angkor Summit on a Mine-Free World in 2024”.
“In the 30 years since 1992, we have cleared 356sq km of landmines. Cambodia is regarded as a model country for its successful leadership in the mine action sector,” he said.
“This success had resulted from the priceless value put on peace by former Prime Minister Hun Sen. We remain committed to resolving the issue of landmines by 2025,” he added.
He thanked and praised the leaders and officials of the CMAA, as well as all partner organisations, for their wholehearted dedication to the work.
He also advised them to provide selfless service and behave with integrity and courage.
“We are not only fulfilling our mission for the CMAA but also for the government, which is spearheading the management and coordination of mine action throughout the country. Together, we shall free our nation from the suffering and threat of landmines,” he added.