Following is the message of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to the Fourteenth Meeting of the States parties to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. It was delivered by Michael Møller, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva and Secretary-General of the Conference on Disarmament, on Monday, 30 November:
“Iam pleased to send greetings to all participants at the Fourteenth Meeting of the States Parties to the Mine Ban Convention.
The linkage between development, peace and security emphasized in the newly adopted Sustainable Development Goals is manifested in the Mine Ban Convention. Under its cooperation framework, more than 47 million mines have been destroyed, 157 States no longer hold stocks, vast territories have been cleared of antipersonnel mines and released for peaceful and productive use, the number of victims has declined by about two thirds over the past decade, survivors have benefited from improved rehabilitation and reintegration assistance, and the very use of anti-personnel mines has been stigmatized.
I thank you for helping to drive this progress, and I urge you to continue your endeavours. Anti-personnel mines still kill, maim and terrorize populations while often denying communities the means to rebuild. Nearly 8 million people still live in close proximity to areas contaminated with mines and explosive remnants of war. An additional 4.7 million people are at risk as a result of seasonal migration through affected corridors. Signing up to the Convention alone is not enough; we need resolute action to achieve its objectives and end the harmful legacy of anti-personnel mines.
Last year, this Conference adopted the Maputo Action Plan to advance progress as well as a Political Declaration reconfirming the commitment to end the suffering caused by anti-personnel mines. This year, States parties must consider the implementation of the Maputo Action Plan and the operation of the Convention.
Anti-personnel landmines have no place in our world. I renew my call on all States that have not yet done so to accede to the Mine Ban Convention as soon as possible. And I urge all countries to secure the resources necessary to realize the Convention’s goals.
The United Nations will do everything possible to realize our vision of a mine-free world. Toward this end, I wish you great success.”
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