The following is a list of events that help raise awareness about landmines, explosive remnants of war, and the efforts to eliminate them are taking place around the world for the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action:
CAMBODIA
When: April 4th 2009
Where: Phnom Penh
What: Media statement
Who: CMAA, UNDP
Contact: Melissa.sabatier@undp.org
ETHIOPIA
When: April 2nd 2009
Where: Ghion hotel, Awash Hall
Who: EMAO and UNDP
What:
1. Film on HMA
2. Presentation on the results of stockpile destruction, mine clearance and mine risk education (MRE) programme and way forward:
3. Photo exhibition of mine action programmes i.e. clearance, MRE, victim assistance (EMAO and CSOs)
4. Press release by UN New York, and by UN Ethiopia (UNDP)
5. Statement by UN Secretary General (UNDP)
6. Distribution of leaflets etc (EMAO, CSOs, UNDP)
Contact: Keita.sugimoto@undp.org
IRAQ
When: TBC
Where: TBC
What: UNDP and UNICEF Iraq Mine Action, we will launch a report covering the mine action situation in Iraq.
Who: UNDP and UNICEF
Contact: kent.paulusson@undp.org
JORDAN
When: 8th April 2009
Where: King Hussein Cultural Centre
What: The National Committee for Demining and Rehabilitation is holding a reception under the patronage of HRH Prince Mired Al – Hussein, which will be followed by a dramatic theatre production called “We Love Life” produced by one of Jordan’s MRE providers ‘Life Line for Consultancy and Rehabilitation’. The play aims to raise awareness of the danger of mines as well as on the victims of mines/uxo and on disability in general. At least three of the actors are disabled landmine survivors. ‘We Love Life’ has been produced with the cooperation of James Madison University Mine Action Information Center, and is touring the mine affected governorates in Jordan performing for children and local residents of mine affected communities. On the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action the play will be performed for a high-level audience of royalty, ministers, governors, the international donor community in Jordan, local and international humanitarian organizations and partners in mine action at the King Hussein Cultural Center. A photo exhibition will also be displayed highlighting humanitarian mine clearance at the Northern Border Mine Clearance Project, which constitutes Jordan’s last major mine clearance task.
Who: National Centre for demining and Rehabilitation
Contact: m.alalul@ncdr.org.jo Olaf.Juergensen@undp.org
LAO PDR
When: April 7th 2009.
Where: Lao Cultural Hall, central Vientiane
What: key note speeches by government officials led by the Minister of Defence (currently the chair of the inter-Ministerial National Regulatory Authority), the UN, and Donor representatives; followed by an interactive display involving UXO and Mine Action Organizations’. Lastly there will be a program of entertainment, from performers who come from disadvantaged and/or affected groups.
Who: UNDP, NRA, UXO Lao
Contact: tim.horner@undp.org
LEBANON
When: Event 1: 3 April. Event 2:18 April
Where:
What: Event 1: LMAC/UNDP will host a donors meeting with presentations from local NGOs;
Event 2: Annual Mine Action Gala Dinner LMAC/UNMACC/Clearance NGOs
Who: LMAC and UNDP
Contact: allan.poston@undp.org
SRI LANKA
When: From March 30th
Where: Colombo, Sri Lanka,
What: A television interview with representatives from civil society working on Mine Action as well as an interview for a morning talk show with the UNDP Country Director; A 15 second public awareness announcement on the radio repeated throughout April 4; Distributing a press kit with a press release, pictures, stats, and some ready-made beneficiary stories. We will invite 3-5 journalists with a specific interest in mine action for a more in-depth briefing and to encourage them to allocate more space in their papers than just for the press release.
Who: UNDP, UNICEF, Landmine Monitor, and the Small Arms South Asia Network.
Contact: floor.beuming@undp.org
SUDAN
When: April 4, 2008, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Friendship Palace, Khartoum
What: Welcome speeches, musical bands playing, marathon & bicycle races coordinated by national NGOs Friends of Peace and Development Organization (FPDO) and JASMAR, drama on mine awareness, testimony by victims of landmines/ERW, exhibition of activities by mine action sector partners, by pillars rather than by organization
Who: National Mine Action Center
Contact: Severine Flores, +249 (0)155 771 898, severinef@sudan-map.org
When: April 4, 2008, 3 to 6 p.m.
Where: Buluk Square, Juba
What: Musical bands, various speeches, demining display by UNMIS Bangladeshi Military Demining Company’s teams, display of demining machinery, MRE display
Who: South Sudan Demining Authority (SSDA)
Contact: Severine Flores, +249 (0)155 771 898, severinef@sudan-map.org
When: 4th April 2009
Where: Friendship Palace, Khartoum
What: welcome speeches, musical bands playing, marathon & bicycle races coordinated by national NGOs Friends of Peace and Development Organization (FPDO) and JASMAR, drama on mine awareness, testimony by victims of landmines/ERW, exhibition of activities by mine action sector partners, by pillars rather than by organization
Who: UNDP Sudan, National Mine Action Centre (Sudan)
Contact: Qadeem.tariq@undp.org
When: 4th April 2009
Where: Buluk Square, Juba
What: musical bands, various speeches, demining display by UNMIS Bangladeshi Military Demining Company’s teams, display of demining machinery, MRE display
Who: UNDP Sudan, South Sudan Demining Authority (SSDA)
Contact: Qadeem.tariq@undp.org
TAJIKISTAN
When: April 4th 2009
Where: Central Building of the Kohi Vahdat conference hall
What:
1. Official Opening will be held at the Central Building of the Kohi Vahdat conference hall.
2. The High Representatives of the UNDP/Tajikistan, the Ambassador of the ESCE in Dushanbe, Officials of the Commission on Implementation International Humanitarian Law (CIIHL) under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Ministries, Embassies diplomatic corps, international and local organizations will attend the meeting.
3. Exhibition on the achievements reached by Mine Action in Tajikistan will be demonstrated on all Programs, particularly, Mine Clearance, Mine Victims Assistance and Mine Risk Education.
4. Some Landmine Survivors will be invited to show the effectiveness of the small grant fundraising on their self-development and the impact of the rehabilitation provided by TMAC the last years.
5. 24 National Companies of Tajikistan Mass Media will be involved to announce commemoration of the International Mine Action Day.
6. So called ‘Drawing Corner’ will be arranged by the students of Dushanbe Art College to demonstrated their drawings relate to Mine Action.
7. Besides, the events on raising attitude to support progress of Mine Action in Tajikistan will be arranged by 66 MRE Volunteers in 22 districts.
8. Articles written by TMAC Program Staff will be issued throughout the worl and TMAC mine action websites and the republican papers;
9. Radio Broadcasting will be aired the process of the Mine Action Day.
10. District journalists will be tasked to provide articles in the local papers.
11. Demonstration of the landmines and UXOs will be arranged in the hall;
12. Demonstration of the mine detection dogs and deminers will be another part of the event at Mine Action Exhibition;
13. The TV Program will demonstrate special film about “Invisible Enemy” devoted to the Fifth-Anniversary of Tajik Mine Action Centre in national language.
Who: Tajikistan Mine Action Centre (TMAC) UNDP
Contact: jonmahmad.rajabov@undp.org; jonmahmad@mail.ru
WESTERN SAHARA
When: 2 April, 2009
Where: Laayoune HQ
What: Mine Action Display, MACC Presentation to MINURSO staff (including PowerPoint presentation and video materials) Remarks by HOM (TBC), Free viewing of mine action displays. Displays will remain in the MINURSO cafeteria until 4th April
When: April 4, 2008
Where: MINURSO Team Sites
What: Monthly training plan to highlight Mine/UXO Safety Training on April 4th. All MINURSO Team Sites to show PowerPoint presentation and video for raising awareness during their daily briefing on 4th April.
Who: MINURSO Laayoune, Western Sahara
Contact: Tammy Hall, +1-212-963-1952 ext. 5427, hall9@un.org