ARMAC Regional Consultative Meeting Deliberated the establishment of victim assistance network in the ASEAN region

5 December 2022, Bali, Indonesia. Under the project “Enhance Victim Assistance Programme in the ASEAN Member States”, the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) organized the Regional Consultative Meeting to promote the establishment of a Regional Victim Assistance Network.

The meeting collected and synthesized inputs from ASEAN Member States’ (AMSs) representatives, and relevant stakeholders such as the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, Humanity and Inclusion. Outputs from the discussion revealed that having the regional network in place as a central point to link related stakeholders collaborating on victim assistance services is essential and will be beneficial to explosive ordnance victim services providers. Stakeholders can use the network as a platform to learn, share knowledges and exchange best practices. Moreover, it is hoped that the network will continue to enhance the collaboration among explosive ordnance affected and non-affected countries to support one another as they improve victim assistance services.

The one-day intensive meeting was led by Mr. Prum Suonpraseth, Executive Director ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center. Guests of honor were H.E. Mr. Yeap Samnang, Ambassador / Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Cambodia to ASEAN and H.E. Mr. Kwon Hee-seog, Ambassador of the Mission of the Republic of Korea to ASEAN delivered the Remarks. A total of 38 representatives from the ten ASEAN Member States, international and national organizations participated in the meeting.