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Safe Futures Start Here

The 28th International Meeting of Mine Action National Directors and United Nations Advisers (NDM-UN28) will soon take place in Geneva from 9 to 11 April 2025.

We look forward to welcoming mine action leaders and experts to Geneva for this in-person meeting to network and exchange views on pressing issues facing the sector.

This year's NDM-UN, under the overarching theme of "safe futures start here," will include five plenary sessions and 31 side events. A full meeting agenda will be available here by 28 March 2025. 

The NDM-UN28 is co-organized by UNMAS and the GICHD on behalf of the UN Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action.

Meeting Information

Are you coming to the NDM?

Information about the meeting is available here, including useful info on the venue, accommodation, and more.

Days

Hours

Minutes

Programme

Wednesday 09 April 2025

08:00 - 09:30

Arrival & Registration of Participants

Coffee & Tea

09:30 - 10:00

Opening Session

Room: D

Call to order and minute of silence observed

Opening of the Meeting by Co-Organizers
- Ms. Ilene Cohn, Director, UNMAS
- Ambassador Tobias Privitelli, Director, GICHD

Speakers
- Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations and Chair of the UN Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action
- Ms. Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General, United Nations Office at Geneva

10:00 - 10:30

Keynote Speech

Room: D

Keynote speaker
- Ms. Hannah Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL)

Introduction by:
- Mr. Alexandre Zouev, Assistant Secretary-General for Rule of Law and Security Institutions, Department of Peace Operations

10:30 - 11:45

Plenary Session 1
Mine Action in Cities: Realities and Responses

Room: D

Chair  
- Mr. Luke Irving, Palestine Chief Mine Action Programme, United Nations Mine Action Service

Speakers 
- Dr. Ikteefa Al-Hasnawi, Deputy Minister of Environment, Iraq
- Brigadier Jihad Al Bechelany, Director, Lebanon Mine Action Centre
- Ms. C. Mélanie Regimbal, Director, United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
- Mr. Valon Kumnova, Director of Operations, Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining

Purpose of the session:
The need for mine action interventions in cities has increased. This session will focus on responses to contamination and its impacts on urban populations and infrastructure. It will explore conceptual and operational approaches implemented in different countries to respond to diverse challenges. The panel will outline differences and commonalities of urban contamination in various contexts and related responses. It will also be an opportunity to explore possible ways forward for the mine action sector.

12:00 - 13:00

Lunch break

13:15-14:30

Side Events
- How can mine action operators best support reconstruction in urban environments that have suffered devastation during conflict?

Room: B

(More information coming soon)

- Syria at crossroads: Challenges and opportunities in addressing EO contamination in Syria’s new context

Room: C

As Syrians looked ahead to the prospect of peace after 14 years of civil war, the change in political context presents the international community with an opportunity to invest in stability and the reconstruction of Syria. Mine action is the key enabler for any sustainable future. How can we, as the mine action sector, overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and find paths forward to make sure that Syrians can live their lives in safety and dignity?

Syria MA AoR / UNMAS / NPA / HALO / HI

Mine Action Review briefing on latest 'Clearing the Mines', 'Clearing Cluster Munition Remnants', and environment reports

Room: E

Participants will gain a clearer understanding of global progress and challenges in mine and cluster munition clearance, including the status of APMBC Article 5 and CCM Article 4 implementation. They will also learn about Mine Action Review’s new environmental assessment criterion and best practices for integrating environmental considerations into mine action. The event will foster constructive discussions, inform policy and operational decisions, and provide an opportunity for engagement with Mine Action Review’s researchers and experts.

Mine Action Review

- Protecting civilians in active conflict

Room: F

This side event will explore the role of Conflict Preparedness and Protection (CPP) in safeguarding civilians during active conflicts. Building on discussions from the NDM plenary on Mine Action in cities: realities and responses, we will examine CPP as a civil protection activity and its implementation in both urban and rural settings. The session will also highlight how National Mine Action Authorities integrate CPP into Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) and showcase successful EORE/CPP coordination strategies.

We invite mine action practitioners, policymakers, donors, and humanitarian actors to join us in strengthening civilian protection approaches in conflict-affected areas.

EORE Advisory Group / Lebanon Mine Action Center / GICHD / NPA / HI /  UNICEF / Humanitarian Policy Group (ODI) on behalf of the Strengthening Safety and Security Consortia

14:30 - 15:00

Coffee & Tea

15:00 - 16:15

Plenary Session 2
Restoring Land for a Greener, Sustainable Future

Room: D

Chair:
TBC

Speakers:

- Mr. Muhabbat Ibrohimzoda, National Director, Tajikistan Mine Action Centre
- Ms. Kristin Holme Obrestad, Environmental Issues and Mine Action Working Group Co-Chair, Norwegian People’s Action
- Ms. Linsey Cottrell, Environmental Issues and Mine Action Working Group Co-Chair, Conflict and Environment Observatory
- Ms. Tiphaine Lucas, Programme Coordinator, Mine Action & Land Rehabilitation, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Ukraine

Purpose of this session:
Protecting the environment and addressing climate change have become a higher priority for national governments and international institutions. This is reflected in the increasingly rigorous demands in national legislation and international treaties to which mine action operations are subject.  The purpose of the session is to share experiences and provide practical guidance on managing environmental and climate change considerations in mine action. Panellists will cover IMAS (International Mine Action Standards) 07.13 and related technical notes, the Green Field Tool for climate and environmental assessment, as well as new collaborations with environmentally focused organisations aimed at restoring ecosystems and supporting communities.

16:30 -17:45

Side Events
- Mine Action is Core for Safe Futures in Ukraine: Situation, Prospects and Challenges

Room: B

Ukraine is the most contaminated country. Mine action in Ukraine is developing rapidly. There is progress in all areas, but there are significant challenges, especially in 2025. The Mine Action Strategy was adopted, the number of mine action operators and deminers increased, and the state announced the first tenders and innovative technologies are being introduced. Yet, several programmes have been suspended or reduced. Operators are dismissing deminers, and the potential for humanitarian demining is being lost.

Ministry of Economy of Ukraine / Ministry of Defence of Ukraine / UN Resident Coordinators Office Ukraine / WFP / MAG / Ukraine Demining Association

- Advancing cross-border demining: Practices from successful projects and innovations from outside mine action

Room: C

(More information coming soon)

- Enhancing Media and Communications Capacity for Mine Action National Authorities

Room: E

Effective media engagement is vital for Mine Action National Authorities to raise awareness, build trust, and showcase impact. This side event offers tailored training on media strategies, message framing, and handling interviews. Participants will gain hands-on experience through interactive exercises and simulations. Strengthening communication skills will help national authorities share their work more effectively, manage public perception, and engage partners, while also learning how to use digital media to amplify mine action efforts.

UNDP / GICHD 

- Technology and Innovation - Speed-Pitch Session

Room: F

This session will showcase innovative tools, technologies and processes. Six organizations will each have 8 minutes to present their work in a speed pitch format. 

Presentations will include:

1. Leveraging Open-Source Data for Smarter Mine Action - NPA and Fenix Insight
2. LandminesAware virtual reality application - CIFAL York & ADERSIM Lab York University
3. Ordnance Identification Guide Case Studies - Bomb Techs Without Borders
4. Deploying the R-BOT UGV in Humanitarian Demining - Inert Products LLC
5. Demining technologies in Urkaine - Ukrainian Demining Services (UDS) and International Mine Academy in Ukraine
6. Reparative Cartography - University of Calgary/SubSphere/International humanitarian Demining Academy (IHDA) 

18:00 - 19:30

NDM-UN28 Reception

CICG - Espace Violeta Parra (Restuarant)

Speaker: H.E. Mr. Julien Thöni - Ambassador Disarmament and Multilateral Affairs, Deputy Permanent Representative

Meeting Location

Geneva International Conference Centre
Rue de Varembé 17,
1202 Genève,
Switzerland

 

Donor

The meeting is made possible by the generous support of Switzerland.

Want to know more about past NDM-UNs?                  

Learn more about past NDMs

NDM-UN 27

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