Ukraine Mine Action Conference UMAC2024 (en)

Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I'd like to begin by saying, at the end of this day, that my thoughts go out to the Ukrainian people suffering in the midst of this war, to those who have lost a parent, a loved one, a child.

Mine action is not an end in itself. It saves lives and limbs and is a precondition for sustainable development in affected places. In Ukraine, confronted with such a large-scale contamination, it is stage Zero of reconstruction and the recovery process.

In other words: Mine action is anything but a quiet road. And at the end of this high-level day of the conference, I am proud to report that we have paved the way for continued international cooperation and support in this area.

Our shared commitment to humanitarian mine action has brought together high-level representatives from governments, international and regional organizations, the private sector and academia.

Your participation has demonstrated the importance of this collective engagement - not just for Ukraine, but for the global community.

A lot has already been done, with three Recovery Conferences in Lugano, London and Berlin; last year's International Conference on Demining in Zagreb; and all technical discussions which have led us to Lausanne today.

Throughout the day, we've explored key issues that have touched us, provided insights and hopefully brought us a step further. With much work ahead and concrete engagement needed.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Switzerland is actively financing projects in Ukraine that make a real difference on the ground, saving lives by reducing risks for the civilian population.

In the vast territories suspected of mine contamination, we are supporting rapid surveys and efforts to return cleared land to productive civilian use.

Our focus has been particularly strong in the Kharkiv region, which has seen the highest number of mine-related accidents. Here, we partner with the Fondation suisse de déminage FSD, one of the most experienced demining operators in Ukraine.

We will continue this impactful collaboration: last week, my government has decided to allocate an additional 30 million CHF to the FSD so that it can expand its activities in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions until 2027.

Starting in 2025, these efforts will be enhanced by innovative technologies, including the use of detection dogs and Swiss-made demining machines.
Moreover, we place great importance on developing local expertise, with the aim of supporting a Ukrainian humanitarian demining NGO to become fully autonomous by 2027.

Switzerland also engages in risk education and in victim assistance programs. We are working to prevent new victims and to assist the survivors who have suffered injuries by mines and explosive remnants of war. Supporting their rehabilitation and reintegration remains central to our mission.

Additionally, Switzerland was one of the first to support the UN initiative to return agricultural land to farmers, an effort that has now received broad international backing. This project is vital to restarting agricultural production in contaminated areas, contributing to both local and global food security.

At the same time, we should not forget the continuous challenges in affected countries around the world and Switzerland will keep up its assistance. Based on the Swiss Action Plan for 2023-2026, we will continue strengthening the norms against mines, supporting mine action on the ground and promoting innovative solutions.

Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Mine action in Ukraine is done for Ukraine, with Ukraine - and to a large part by Ukraine.
Mine action programs should be nationally owned and led, supported by international and national partners.

In Ukraine, the basis for our cooperation and assistance is the recently adopted National Mine Action Strategy and the Operational Plan.

It is now my honor to present to you the outcome document of this Conference: the Lausanne Call for Action.

This document reflects our collective will to take concrete steps. We want to support the implementation of the strategy and address mine contamination in Ukraine and around the world.

The Lausanne Call for Action focuses on the three key pillars: People, Partners, and Progress.

• Under the People pillar, we commit to carrying out safe and high-quality mine action activities and to restore contaminated land to safe and productive use. We will also address the needs of victims and people with disabilities.

• Under Partners, we call to continue international cooperation and to promote sustainable national capacities. The goal is to foster long-term and all-encompassing cooperation aligned with national strategic objectives.

• The pillar Progress underscores the importance to explore new sources of funding. We emphasize the value of exchanging experiences, best practices and lessons learnt and want to develop and use innovative methods and technologies.

Ladies and Gentlemen

This document is not just another declaration; it is a commitment - a call for collective action to restore safety, rebuild lives, and sustain long-term recovery.

Our efforts will remain on the global agenda, with our eyes set on the next Ukraine Mine Action Conference in 2025, which will be hosted in Japan.

I sincerely hope that by then, we'll be able to talk about both demining and peace in Ukraine.

In closing, I thank you all for your participation, engagement, and dedication. The journey continues tomorrow with technical discussions, and I encourage you all to contribute to those essential conversations.

Thank you.