Siem Reap: H.E. Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP), called for actions to renew commitments, mobilize greater resources, and enhance international cooperation to sustain and expand mine action efforts globally at the Siem Reap-Angkor Summit on a Mine-Free World held in Siem Reap province.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Siem Reap-Angkor Summit on a Mine-Free World is the Fifth Review Conference (5RC) of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and on Their Destruction, also known as the Ottawa Convention. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will remain out of reach for affected communities if the landmine threat is not fully addressed, Ms. Alisjahbana emphasized.

The United Nations has been actively supporting countries in their mine action efforts through various agencies, funds, and prog
rams. This support includes technical and financial assistance in mine clearance operations, risk education, victim assistance, livelihood restoration, and other areas. Ms. Alisjahbana highlighted the importance of consistent, long-term financing and the need to address funding gaps. She urged global, regional, and national entities to join forces to identify and mobilize additional funds to sustain and expand this critical work.

“In the face of new and ongoing conflicts, we must ensure that our commitments translate into practical, sustained support for countries in need,” she stated. Ms. Alisjahbana called on Member States, development partners, and relevant stakeholders to strengthen collaboration and forge new partnerships to fulfill the promise of the Ottawa Convention.

The Siem Reap-Angkor Summit aims to review the operation and status of the Convention, consider the need for future meetings of the States Parties, take decisions on submissions of States Parties as per Article 5, and adopt necessary co
nclusions related to the Convention’s implementation. The United Nations is prepared to reinforce and expand its support to mine-affected countries, with the ultimate goal of achieving a world free from landmines and a prosperous future for all.

The Summit will conclude with the adoption of three key substantive documents: a Review document on the status of the Convention’s implementation, the Siem Reap-Angkor Action Plan 2025-2029, and the Siem Reap-Angkor Political Declaration.