Upholding the Oslo Action Plan in Times of COVID-19

Last November (2019), States Parties committed to investing in effective risk education as a primary means of protecting communities from the threat of explosive ordnance (actions 28-32 in the Oslo Action Plan – OAP). This Side Event provided an open forum for national authorities and partners to share their experiences and challenges implementing their risk education programmes during the COVID-19 pandemic, while also ensuring do no harm.

This Side Event was co-organised by Explosive Ordnance Risk Education Advisory Group (EORE AG) and ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) on 1 July 2020, 13:00 (GMT +2) virtually, during the Intersessional Meetings of Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC). It was attended by 75 participants from 25 countries and 34 organisations, including States Parties of the APMBC, States not Party and other observers.

Having Co-hosted by Mr. Hugues Laurenge, Child Protection Specialist, UNICEF and Co-Chair of the EORE AG, and Ms. Dwi Prameswari, Senior Officer, ARMAC, the Side Event featured presentations from:

1. Flt. Lt. Chotiboon Anukulvanich, Interpreter/Coordinator of Special Affairs Division, Thailand Mine Action Centre (TMAC)
2. Mr. Khaled Gebreil Alwadawi, Head of Mine Risk Education Department, Libyan Mine Action Centre (LIBMAC)
3. Mr. Dara Seng, Deputy Director of Public Relation Department, Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA)

Further, knowledge sharing was stimulated through breakout groups and plenary discussions.

For detailed information on this event, please see the report on this event (available here: Summary – Side Event on EORE, YouTube – EORE AG ARMAC Side Event)

Key links: Oslo Action Plan, EORE AG, iMREWG

(ARMAC 15 July 2020)