79^th session, UNGA Third Committee, Agenda Item 60: Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, questions relating to refugees, returnees and displaced persons and humanitarian questions

Joint Statement by the Member States (Burkina Faso, the Netherlands, Slovenia (Chair) and Zambia) of the Committee on Victim Assistance, Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, delivered by Ambassador Samuel Žbogar

Madam Chair,

I have the honor to take the floor on behalf of the Committee on Victim Assistance of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, which Slovenia has the pleasure of Chairing and working with representatives of Burkina Faso, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Zambia.

It is a great privilege to address the Third Committee for the first time on the critical topic of Victim Assistance, a key provision under the Convention, as we celebrate its 25th anniversary since entry into force. Furthermore, it is a special honor to engage for the first time in a dialogue with the High Commissioner/UNHCR.

The Convention not only seeks to eliminate the use, stockpiling, and production and transfer of anti-personnel mines but also recognizes an obligation to assist victims — many of whom suffer lifelong injuries and impairments – and seeks to ensure that mine survivors, affected families and communities receive holistic support, on equal basis with other members of their society. The States Parties have made significant progress in this sense, including by recognizing the rights of mine survivors for the first time in history of disarmament conventions and by embracing human rights based and non-discriminatory approach.  

Today, the Committee on Victim Assistance wishes to reaffirm the importance of comprehensive mine action and victim assistance for the safety, dignity, and rights of refugees, particularly those in conflict-affected areas where landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and other explosive remnants of war pose persistent threats. As millions of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) seek to rebuild their lives, mine action plays a critical role in ensuring that they can do so without fear of physical harm.

In a few weeks, we will convene in Siem Reap, Cambodia, for the 5th Review Conference of the Convention. This will serve as a critical opportunity to assess our progress and renew our collective commitment to the eradication of landmines and to the impactful victim assistance.

Madam Chair,

Allow me to present a few areas, where mine action and victim assistance directly support the interests and well-being of refugees:

Clearing landmines in areas, where refugees are returning or resettling is essential to ensuring their safe passage. As many displaced persons return to their homes or relocate to new areas after conflict, mine action enables them to do so without risking injury or death from hidden explosives. This not only facilitates their physical safety but also provides a foundation for rebuilding their lives. By eliminating the physical threats posed by landmines, we help create an environment in which refugees and host communities can live free from fear, thus contributing to broader peacebuilding and reconciliation efforts.

For many refugees, survival depends on agriculture and access to vital resources such as water and land. Minefields, however, pose a significant threat to these activities. Through effective mine clearance, refugees can engage in livelihood activities like farming, grazing or tourism without fear, ensuring their self-sufficiency and contributing to economic recovery in their communities. Mine clearance is essential to rebuilding critical infrastructure – homes, schools, hospitals, and roads – which enables refugees to return to safe environments or settle in new areas. This contributes directly to the reconstruction of communities and the long-term socio-economic development of post-conflict regions.

We are particularly concerned for refugees who have been injured by landmines, for their family members and affected communities. Refugees who have been affected by landmine accidents must be given the tools to heal physically and emotionally, including access to prosthetics, rehabilitation services, mental health and psychosocial support, and opportunities for social and economic reintegration, so they can lead dignified and fulfilling lives despite their injuries. These programs are essential in ensuring that affected refugees are treated with respect and provided with opportunities to restore their quality of life, aligning with the core principles of refugee protection and human rights.

Madam Chair,

Mine action and victim assistance are vital not only for the physical protection of refugees but also for upholding their human rights to safety, health, and dignity. We believe that by continuing to integrate mine action into humanitarian assistance and refugee protection and support programs, we can offer refugees a safer path to rebuilding their lives and contributing to the recovery of their communities.

As we prepare for the 5th Review Conference of the Convention in Siem Reap we look forward to working closely with the UNHCR and all relevant partners to ensure that the goals of the Convention continue to be realized and that no refugee has to suffer the devastating consequences of landmines.

Thank you.

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