HIGHLIGHTS:
• The International Day for Mine Awareness is marked annually on April 4th
• The day is celebrated to raise awareness among people about landmines and its threats
• The theme for this is “Safe Ground, Safe Steps, Safe Home.”
The International Day for Mine Awareness is marked annually on April 4th to raise awareness among people all around the globe about landmines, assistance for mine action operations, the threats that humans face from them, and the work that is being done to eradicate them.
Overview:
The United Nations-supported platforms are hosting this event, which will include a variety of activities aimed at reducing the threat posed by explosives and mines.
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), which leads the global mine action community, has started some actions a week ahead of schedule.
The theme for this year
The theme for this year’s International Day for Mine Awareness is “Safe Ground, Safe Steps, Safe Home.” The United Nations Mine Action Service will devote more attention to the exceptional achievements of the global mine action community under this theme. “Safe Ground” focuses on removing explosives and landmines from the planet so that it can be made safe for development. “Safe Steps” captures the terror of those who live in areas rife with landmines and explosives, never knowing when an explosive would detonate, injuring or killing them. In post-conflict circumstances, “Safe Home” will work to rebuild communities and individuals’ personal security.
History of this day
The decision to observe this day on April 4th was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005. This day was set aside to promote the development of national mine-action capabilities in all areas where explosives and mines pose a hazard to people’s lives. UNMAS has been working for the last 20 years to address the needs of those who have been affected by explosives and mines, as well as the threats that humans face as a result of these hazards.
The significance of today
This day is commemorated with the goal of ridding the world of explosives and landmines.