Our Mission
A surge in conflict across the globe has led to increasingly complex demands on the mine action sector. The UNMAS approach is needs-driven and people-centred, guided by humanitarian principles.
UNMAS supports the entire UN system through a small team at headquarters, a humanitarian hub in Geneva, and some 3,000 women and men employed through UNMAS funding in the field. UNMAS is a specialized, agile organization, which delivers concrete results in dynamic operating environments across the world.
UNMAS works with affected communities and partners worldwide to eliminate explosive threats, protect civilians, enable humanitarian action, and create the conditions for sustainable peace and recovery.
Established in 1997, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) works to eliminate the threat posed by mines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices by coordinating United Nations mine action, leading operational responses at the country level, and in support of peace operations, as well as through the development of standards, policies and norms. UNMAS is a specialized, agile organization, which delivers concrete results in dynamic operating environments across the world. UNMAS operates under UN legislative mandates of both the General Assembly and the Security Council. UNMAS also responds to requests for assistance from national authorities in states affected by explosive ordnance. The scope of mine action work covers five pillars.
Five Pillars of Mine Action
Clearance
Mine clearance is one of the five core components of mine action. In its broad sense, it includes surveys, mapping and minefield marking, as well as the actual clearance of mines from the ground. This range of activities is often referred to as "demining".
Explosive Ordnance Risk Education
Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) refers to educational activities aimed at reducing the risk of injury from explosive ordnance, including mines and unexploded ordnance, by raising awareness and promoting behavioural change through public-information campaigns, education and training, and liaison with communities.
Victim Assistance
Victim assistance refers to addressing the needs and rights of victims of explosive ordnance, including people killed, injured and/or impaired, their families and communities. It is provided through several actions to meet their immediate and long-term needs, such as emergency and continuing medical care; physical rehabilitation; psychosocial support and social inclusion; and laws and public policies that promote effective treatment, care and protection.
Advocacy
Advocacy refers to all activities related to public support, recommendation or positive publicity to remove the risk and impact of explosive ordnance. This includes outreach to encourage universal participation in existing international agreements and treaty meetings that ban or limit the use of landmines.
Stockpile Destruction
UNMAS provides technical support to aid the destruction of stockpiled explosive hazards. Inadequately managed conventional ammunition stockpiles threaten public safety and pose a risk to the security of States.
Watch and Listen
#ForwardNotFragmented - 'Looking Away' by Tabitha Haly
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