DUSHANBE, March 27, 2015, Asia-Plus — On April 4, Tajikistan National Mine Action Center (TMAC) will be commemorating the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action in its newly opened office, located at 121, Ayni Street.
TMAC notes that during the event the perspective achievements of the Tajikistan National Mine Action Center and its partners (Norwegian People’s Aid, Swiss Foundation for Humanitarian Demining (FSD), humanitarian demining team from the Ministry of Defense of Tajikistan, including Tajik female demining team) will be demonstrated on releasing the contaminated lands and reducing the consequences of mine/ERW hazards and benefited landmine survivors. Representatives of the Ministries of Defense, Health and Social Protection of Population, Education and Science, Labor, Migration and Employment, Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defense, Main Directorate of Border Troops, National Guard, Red Crescent Society of Tajikistan, as well as international organizations: United Nations Development Programme, International Committee of Red Cross, Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe, other public and nongovernmental organizations and mass media will participate in this event.
During the event officials of governmental authorities and donor organizations will present results of activities on assistance to mine victims, provide comprehensive advocacy on prevention of threats of mine and explosive remnants of war, screen documentary films, and provide information on demining operations on the territory of Tajikistan and its border regions with Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.
Tajikistan has been a party to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (Ottawa Treaty) since April 1, 2000, and is making its contribution to reduction of threat of mines and unexploded ordnance to security, health and life of people of the country.
April 4 was officially announced as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action by resolution of UN General Assembly of December 8, 2005, and it is annually celebrated at international level. Since 2006 Tajikistan has been celebrating this event with enthusiasm to raise awareness on threat caused by landmines and unexploded ordnance.
According to available information, since 1992 almost 482 people have been injured and 369 people have been killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance, 30% of which are children. Up till now 127 states of the world supported and signed the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Currently Tajikistan is at stage of introduction with and studying the Convention, and will probably accede to it in upcoming years.
In the course of operation of the program (during the period of 2003-2014) in Tajikistan a land area equal to 14.5 square kilometers was cleared from mines, and 55,773 anti-personnel mines, 22 anti-tank mines, 8,454 unexploded ordnance and 501 cluster bomb remnants were detected and destroyed.
Since 1999, 162 countries of the world joined the Ottawa Treaty and 111 countries signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions. This event provides opportunity to conduct advocacy for prohibition of anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions through exchange of information and demonstration of solidarity with victims to support relevant international conventions (including Ottawa Convention, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Convention on Cluster Munitions) at high level.
