ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center Regional Workshop 2018

The Executive Director will present on ARMAC’s background, mandate and functions, achievements and next steps.

The CEO will showcase new technology being developed by Demine Robotics which could contribute to the removal of landmines and save lives.

The 2030 Agenda provides a structure for mine action to demonstrate its catalytic and accelerating role in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets and in building resilience in mine-affected countries.

While SDGs are of a global nature, SDG nationalisation processes are opportunities for national mine action authorities to mainstream mine action into national development efforts, sectoral plans and country-specific UN development frameworks.

• H.E. Mr. Ly Thuch, Senior Minister and CMAA First Vice President
• Mr. Nick Beresford, Country Director, UNDP Cambodia

• H.E. Mr. Hidehisa Horinouchi, Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia
• Mrs. Carin Salerno, Director of Cooperation / Development Counselor, SDC / The Embassy of Switzerland
• Mr. Simon Buckley, First Secretary, Embassy of Australia in Cambodia
• Drs. Ilja M. Bonsen, President, CBRNe Society

The Integrated Approach to Victim Assistance consists of two main branches made up of; broader multi-sector efforts to reach casualties, survivors and indirect victims, and specific efforts deployed by mine action stakeholders and other actors in charge of coordinating victim assistance to fill gaps in service provision and facilitate broader support for casualties, survivors and indirect victims in a non-discriminatory manner.

• Mr. Tu Lai, Research Fellow, The Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies, The Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam
• Ms. Edith van Wijingaarden, Country Director, HI

• Mr. Bounpheng Sisawath, Deputy Director, National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action Sector in Lao PDR
• Flt. Lt. Chotiboon Anukulvanich, Interpreter, Special Affairs Brach, TMAC
• Mr. Ny Nhar, Deputy Director of Victim Assistance Department, CMAA
• Mr. Tun Channareth, Ambassador to ICBL/ Outreach Coordinator of CCBL/ JRS, CCBL/ JRS
• Ms. Chhim Ratana, Weapon Contamination Program Officer, ICRC

Mine Risk Education (MRE) involves effective communication among and between different individuals and communities to build awareness of the dangers of mines/ERW and avoid risky behaviour. In mine/ERW affected ASEAN Member States (AMS), MRE has been an ongoing process and has led to a significant reduction in mine/ERW casualties.

• Lt. Col. Pattana Bouttichak, Deputy Chief of General Staff Department, Ministry of National Defense (Lao PDR)
• Mr. Robert White, Advisor, Strategic Management and Residual Contamination, GICHD

• Mr. Dara Seng, Deputy Director of Public Relations Department, CMAA
• Col. Wishnu Chbartong, Assistant Director General, TMAC
• Mr. Doan Huu Minh, Chief of Division, Ministry of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs, Vietnam
• Mr. Aksel Steen-Nielsen, Country Director, NPA

All the activities will take place at CMAC Demining Unit 4. CMAC will showcase its training activities of mine detection animals and other demining tools. A presentation of CMAC’s work and a tour of CMAC’s peace museum will also be included.

Introduction of land release methodology has been a breakthrough that has improved the efficiency of releasing mine/ERW contaminated land for productive use through the application of technical surveys and non-technical surveys when compared to traditional clearance methods.

• Maj. Gen. Kanit Chomanan, Deputy Director General, TMAC
• Mr. Stanislav Damjanovic, Advisor, Land Release and Operational Efficiency, GICHD

• Mr. Wanhthong Khamdala, Deputy National Programme Director, Lao National UXO Programme
• Mr. Zlatko Vezilic, Programme Manager, Humanitarian Disarmament, NPA
• Mr. Prum Suonpraseth, Senior Director, CMAC
• Mr. Mikael Bold, Head of Operations Development Team, MAG
• Mr. Damian O'Brien, Programme Manager, Halo Trust

Gender mainstreaming in mine action is the process of integrating the impacts on and perspectives of men, women, boys and girls into the design, implementation, clearance operations, and monitoring and evaluation of mine/ERW programmes and policies.

• Dr. Rany Pen, Head of Programme and Results Unit, UNDP Cambodia

• Ms. Arianna Calza Bini, Director, GMAP
• Ms. Douangsamone Dalavong, Director General, Lao Women's Union
• Mr. Aksel Steen-Nielsen, Country Director, NPA
• Mr. Nhong Bona, Data/ GIS Manager, Halo Trust
• Ms. Edith van Wijingaarden, Country Director, HI

Research and development are instrumental to improving the efficiency and effectiveness of mine action operations. The panelists will present from two main perspectives:

1. Viable technologies (MAG, Apopo, Golden West, NPMEC)
2. Social science and humanities (CKS, UBB, RSIS)

• Mr. Gregory Crowther, Deputy Director of Programmes, MAG
• Mr. Natharoun Ngo, Director, CKS

• Mr. Michael Heiman, Program Manager, APOPO
• Mr. Simon Morton, PSSM Technical Advisor, Golden West Humanitarian Foundation
• LTG. Ken Sosavoeun, Deputy General Director, NPMEC
• Dr. Seng Ratha, Dean, Faculty of Sociology and Community Development, UBB
• Mr. Julius Cesar Trajano, Research Fellow, RSIS

Both Directors will share their rich experience in international cooperation and assistance. The presentation will incorporate an overview as well as the status of these respective conventions and their contribution to global mine action.

• Mr. Juan Carlos Ruan, Director, APMBC ISU
• Ms. Sheila N. Mweemba, Director, CCM ISU

• Assessment of the needs and resources to develop training programmes
• Assessment of the needs and resources to support mine action programmes in the ASEAN Region

The session will discuss Cambodia’s support as host country to the effective operationalisation of ARMAC and the collaboration between Cambodia and ARMAC in mine action.

• H.E. Prum Sophakmonkol, Secretary General, CMAA

• Mr. Heng Sarith, Director of APSC Department, MFAIC
• Mr. Ly Panharith, Executive Director, ARMAC

Highlight key discussions and results of the workshop.