Humanitarian Demining Forum Held in Dnipro
A forum focused on humanitarian demining took place in Dnipro, where the central topic was the urgent need to reform the management system and amend related legislation. The event was organized by the charity 'Coordination Humanitarian Center' in partnership with INTERSOS (Italy), with support from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) and the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration. Ukraine, one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world, faces significant challenges in clearing vast areas affected by the ongoing conflict.
Key Discussion Points
Forum participants addressed several critical issues, including:
- prioritizing demining efforts;
- strengthening collaboration between the state, local communities, and operators;
- workforce capacity in the sector;
- technologies for cleaning contaminated areas.
Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment, and Agriculture of Ukraine, highlighted a major institutional challenge in the humanitarian demining sector.
'The main challenge for the sector is institutional. The law on mine action, adopted back in 2019, has seen the scale of the problem and the challenges we face change significantly since then. A draft law was registered in parliament back in April that would complete the reform of state governance in mine action: establishing a single body responsible for shaping state policy in this area, and a Center for Humanitarian Demining to implement that policy. No matter how many breakthrough solutions we propose, they won't fix the systemic mismatch. Legislative changes are necessary,' — Ihor Bezkaravainyi.
It is worth recalling that the mine action law was passed in 2019, and in April 2024, a bill for reforming state governance in this field was registered in parliament. These changes could significantly boost the effectiveness of mine action in Ukraine.
Reforming the management system in humanitarian demining is a crucial step toward improving safety in conflict-affected areas. Legislative amendments could enable better coordination among government agencies, local communities, and non-profit organizations, thereby speeding up the clearance of mines and explosive remnants. This issue remains vital for the country's recovery and ensuring public safety.
As the urgent need for reform in mine clearance management becomes increasingly evident, it is essential to consider the broader implications of these changes. Recent discussions highlight how prioritizing demining efforts based on their economic impact can significantly enhance recovery efforts. For a deeper understanding of how these strategies are being developed and implemented in Ukraine, explore our article on prioritizing mine clearance by economic factors.