Undersecretary Silli reaffirms Italy’s international commitment to humanitarian action against anti-personnel mines

Italian Undersecretary Silli today chaired the 27^th Meeting of the National Committee for Humanitarian Action against Anti-Personnel Mines (CNAUMA) held in Rome. The meeting represents a key opportunity to exchange views with administrations and associations working in the sector.

"Humanitarian action against anti-personnel mines is a major priority for Italy and for the promotion of peace and the stabilisation of crisis areas," said Silli, reaffirming the importance attached by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation to mine clearance. Italy maintains a prominent role in the sector, currently serving as chair of the Mine Action Support Group (MASG), as well as co-coordinator, together with Norway, for mine clearance and risk education in the framework of the Oslo Convention on Cluster Munitions.

The Italian "Fund for Humanitarian Demining and the Clearance of Areas with Explosive Remnants of War" (Fondo per lo Sminamento Umanitario e la bonifica di aree con residuati bellici) is the main financial instrument used by Italy to contribute to mine clearance, providing funding for projects in Ukraine, Mali, Somalia, Libya, Syria, Palestine and Afghanistan.

Undersecretary Silli also expressed concern over the alarming humanitarian implications of the use of anti-personnel mines as part of the Russian aggression against Ukraine, including their dissemination near the Zaporizhzhia area.