UNDP consultant: Demining contributes to many Sustainable Development Goals

Mine action contributes to many of the Sustainable Development Goals, Report informs, citing David Hewitson, a UNDP consultant from the UK.

“The mine clearance aims at stimulating other activities. Once the areas are cleared of mines, people will be able to return and economic activity will begin. This encourages many activities that contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. UNDP is supporting the government of Azerbaijan by addressing mine clearance issues in a priority and safe manner," David Hewitson said.

Today, Baku is hosting an international conference on the topic "Humanitarian demining and sustainable development goals."

The agenda of the conference covers topics such as improving cooperation mechanisms to enhance global demining efforts, the joint participation in this process of government organizations, the international community, the private sector, and civil society, the application of best practices, and innovative methods and technological innovations.

About 120 participants from 30 countries of the world take part in it, including 20 officials of structures specialized in the field of demining from the UK, Serbia, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Angola, Cambodia, Jordan, Sudan, etc. Among the participants were also members of parliaments of foreign countries, representatives of international organizations, and embassies.