Ukraine Mine Action Conference Scheduled for October in Switzerland

The Ukraine Mine Action Conference (UMAC2024) is set to take place on 17 and 18 October 2024 at the EHL Hospitality Business School in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Co-organised with Ukraine, the conference aims to emphasize the critical role of humanitarian demining in the country’s social and economic recovery. The event, situated by Lake Geneva, will gather representatives from governments, international organizations, humanitarian demining agencies, and civil society.

Since the onset of the war in February 2022, Ukraine has become one of the most heavily mined nations globally, with nearly a quarter of its land—over three times the size of Switzerland—contaminated by mines and unexploded ordnance. Humanitarian demining is a priority for Switzerland, which has been actively involved in diplomatic and humanitarian efforts to support Ukraine’s reconstruction. This approach aligns with the Lugano Principles from the 2022 Ukraine Recovery Conference, focusing on responding to humanitarian needs and fostering post-war recovery to build lasting peace.

The opening session on 17 October will be led by Switzerland’s President, Viola Amherd, with the FDFA head, Ignazio Cassis, also participating. The following day will focus on technical discussions involving experts.

Since February 2022, Switzerland has allocated approximately 3.7 billion Swiss francs to support those affected by the war in Ukraine. This includes 100 million francs approved for a four-year period specifically for humanitarian demining. Swiss organizations such as the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) and the Fondation suisse de déminage (FSD) are actively involved in demining efforts in Ukraine’s Kharkiv and Kherson regions. Additionally, Switzerland supports mine victim assistance and aid for smallholder farmers.