Human Rights, Humanitarian Assistance,Refugees
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs ERI’s Attendance at the TICAD 9 Thematic Event “Toward a Mine-Free Africa: Launch Event of the Africa Mine Action Platform”
On August 21, Ms. ERI Arfiya, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, attended the TICAD 9 (the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development) thematic event entitled “Toward a Mine-Free Africa: Launch Event of the Africa Mine Action Platform.” The event was hosted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and co-hosted by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC). Parliamentary Vice-Minister ERI delivered remarks at the event.
- In her remarks, Parliamentary Vice-Minister ERI stressed that mine action, including efforts to remove landmines and unexploded ordnance, is essential for protecting lives and advancing cooperation for recovery and development. She stated that, through the newly established “Africa Mine Action Platform” – created to further strengthen collaboration among mine action organizations such as JICA, CMAC, and UNMAS – Japan will provide its fullest support to the efforts of African countries to achieve a “Mine-Free Africa.”
- She also mentioned that Japan is chairing the 22nd Meeting of States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention this year, and that Japan will host the Ukraine Mine Action Conference in October, and emphasized that Japan intends to promote mine action through public-private partnership and cooperation, in collaboration with the international community.
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The Africa Mine Action Platform established by Japan, in collaboration with UNMAS and CMAC, provides training and other programs in Africa aimed at sharing mine clearance technologies and expertise with mine action personnel from African countries engaged in demining efforts.