“Invest in Peace, Invest in Mine Action” – UNMAS
On 4 April, the international community marks the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, highlighting the vital role mine action plays in peacebuilding, recovery, and sustainable development. Global Clearance Solutions (GCS) joins UNMAS and international partners in a co‑signed message underscoring that peace cannot endure where landmines, explosive remnants of war, and unexploded ordnance continue to threaten civilians and obstruct reconstruction.
In many conflict‑affected regions, explosive contamination still limits freedom of movement, access to land, infrastructure repair, and economic recovery. Mine action addresses these challenges by restoring safety and enabling communities to return home, resume livelihoods, and rebuild.
Progress over recent decades has been driven by strong international humanitarian norms, including the Anti‑Personnel Mine Ban Convention, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, and the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. Together, these instruments help prevent new harm, guide clearance efforts, and reinforce civilian protection. Maintaining these commitments remains essential to safeguarding hard‑won gains.
For GCS, mine action represents stage zero of recovery. By combining advanced technology with proven operational expertise, clearance can be conducted more efficiently and safely, enabling infrastructure to be rebuilt and communities to move forward.
As Philipp von Michaelis, CEO of Global Clearance Solutions, noted in the joint message marking the day:
“Mine action is the first step toward reconstruction. By combining advanced technology with operational expertise, we not only clear land, but enable infrastructure to be rebuilt, economies to recover, and communities to progress safely and sustainably. This requires close collaboration between governments, industry, NGOs and international partners to deliver impact at the scale that is needed.”
Investment in mine action is an investment in peace. For GCS, this means continuing to deliver solutions that help partners clear land effectively, restore safety, and support long‑term recovery in affected communities.
Context
This message aligns with the global observance of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action and reflects a position jointly endorsed by UN agencies, international organisations, humanitarian actors, and industry partners, including members of the Swiss Mine Action Network.