Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son on April 8 chaired a United Nations Security Council open debate on “Mine action and sustaining peace: Stronger partnerships for better delivery.”

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son chairs a UNSC open debate
on “Mine action and sustaining peace: Stronger partnerships for better delivery”
on April 8, 2021

Delegates to the event, which was held digitally, included Secretary-General António Guterres, Ambassador Stefano Toscano, the Director of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, Nguyen Thi Dieu Linh-Manager of “Project Renew” (an all-women demining team) at the Norwegian People’s Aid in Viet Nam, and UNDP Goodwill Ambassador Michelle Yeoh.

Delegates voiced their support for the humanitarian purpose of limiting use of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) around the world, emphasizing the consequences of landmines and ERW in conflict-ravaged zones, and backed efforts to overcome the consequences, assist victims, and stabilize the situation for reconstruction and socio-economic development.

They underscored the importance of international cooperation in overcoming the consequences of landmines and ERW, as well as need to strengthen cohesion and coordination within the United Nations system, including the UN Security Council, so as to further contribute to landmine and ERW recovery efforts by the United Nations and relevant countries.

Addressing the meeting, Son stressed that sustainable peace is only achieved when the consequences of wars and conflicts, including consequences of mines and ERW, are resolved.

He called on countries to further strengthen cooperation to achieve more sustainable outcomes in handling landmine and/or unexploded ordnance recovery through financial provision, technical assistance, capacity building, awareness and experience sharing for affected countries.

Son also emphasized the United Nations and in particular the Security Council should step up measures to ensure safety of peacekeepers, protect civiliants and promote sustainable peace.

The meeting adopted a presidential statement initiated by Viet Nam that affirms the Security Council’s commitment and upholds the necessity of international cooperation in overcoming consequences of landmines and ERW.

The statement also calls for setting up a specialized landmine and ERW recovery body within the United Nations peacekeeping missions, taking into account special needs of women and children in implementation of related tasks.

Viet Nam is assuming the role of UNSC Presidency in April 2021./.