Today, the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) and the Geneva Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) signed and launched the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Facilitating Cooperation and Planning of Joint Activities to Provide Assistance to the National Mine Action Authorities/Centres in ASEAN.

In his remarks, GICHD Director Stefano Toscano highlighted that “the MoU will help formalise and strengthen GICHD-ARMAC’s partnership in encompassing a number of areas of activity that the GICHD is committed to supporting.’’

Several areas GICHD is committed to support include:

• promoting the use of International Mine Action Standards and good practices in Mine Action;
• supporting national authorities in drafting and adopting National Mine Action Standards;
• supporting the national training centres in developing their capacities and curriculums;
• capacity development activities in information management for mine action, explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) and in integrating the Gender & Diversity perspective in programmes and training courses; and
• other general support to mine action authorities and centres, such as development of national strategies, programmes and work plans.”

He further added that the MoU is a new milestone that will further contribute to continued collaboration in achieving our common goals and objectives.

On his part, ARMAC Executive Director Prum Suonpraseth emphasised that “ARMAC’s existence to support the ASEAN Member States in area of mine action aligns with GICHD’s expertise in and perpetual support to mine action in the ASEAN Member States in need.’’

‘’Thus, ARMAC looks to strengthen its collaboration with GICHD through this three-year MoU – aiming to build community of practice and develop mine action capacity for strong regional approach to and efforts in ASEAN mine action,” he concluded.

By signing this MoU, ARMAC and GICHD commit to work closer in facilitating collaboration and organising joint activities which aim to assist the National Mine Action Centre/Authorities in ASEAN.

The two Centres have worked together in organising a series of training in the Southeast Asia region, including the Operational Efficiency in Mine Action (in August 2019, Cambodia); Gender Equality and Empowerment in Mine Action (in October 2019, Lao PDR); Risk Management in Mine Action (in December 2019, Thailand); and Quality Management in Mine Action (in September 2020, online).

Further, both GICHD and ARMAC have joined efforts to promote EORE in the region, emphasise exchange of good practices, and integrated approaches in the region and beyond, through the partnership with EORE Advisory Group. They also participated in webinars and relevant meetings/conferences of Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, Convention on Cluster Munition and National Director; and UN Advisor Meeting on Mine Action.