Secretary-General's message on the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action

I call for greater measures to involve more women at higher levels in mine action. Governments should do more to address gender in their mine action programmes and through their implementation of the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Convention. Fifteen years after it entered into force, I am encouraged that 161 States are now bound by this Convention and I call on all others to follow suit. In this effort, we can take inspiration from the rapid pace of new States that are joining the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and other international instruments aimed at the elimination of threats caused by explosive remnants of war. The United Nations has a proud record of helping millions of people in mine-affected countries. On this International Day, let us resolve to mobilize the resources, partners and resolve we need to further advance our vision of a planet free from mines.