00:00My personal experience is 30, 35 years working in MindAction across the globe,
00:07in Afghanistan, in Mozambique, in Somalia, in Angola, in Cambodia.
00:12So lots of experience across the world, but also working in the international forum,
00:17bringing voices together, learning from each other,
00:20and learning how MindAction can best be used.
00:30For people returning to former conflict zones, rebuilding homes and roads is possible only once the land itself is safe.
00:36Part of the process is to remove mines and unexploded ordnance left behind by conflict.
00:41In Baku, international experts met to discuss procedures to ensure safe resettlements.
00:47Up to now, we have cleared the territory of almost 300,000 hectares of high-priority land
00:54for further reconstruction and rehabilitation activities.
00:56The overall territory that is estimated to be contaminated equals to more than 11.6,000 square kilometers.
01:07We have found and destroyed more than 260,000 pieces of landmines and other explosive remnants of war.
01:15Mine clearance has taken place alongside large reconstruction programs here in Azerbaijan.
01:21Preparation is key.
01:22It's imperative that land is cleared before any construction for homes, roads, agriculture and other infrastructure begins.
01:30There are 4200 kilometers in Bosnia and Herzegovina under mines, which is about 8%.
01:38As you know, the land that has more than 100 kilometers square kilometers is built in mines.
01:45Bosnia and Herzegovina have about 750 kilometers under mines, which means that we have more than 80% of our
01:54land are freed from mines.
01:56The fourth International Mine Action Conference has offered a platform to specialists to discuss the challenges surrounding humanitarian demining and
02:06resettlement.
02:07Discussions have offered a wide range of topics for leaders and experts to decide how to better share best practices
02:15for their countries to make them safer either during a conflict or indeed post-conflict.
02:24Safety comes first, and so it becomes a much bigger issue because it's wonderful to build houses, but then you
02:33need to have access to areas beyond houses.
02:36And this is how we approach this issue.
02:39I know that people are willing to come back.
02:41They're eager to come back.
02:42But of course, we have to help them to create this safety net that would allow them to be there
02:48and feel safe.
02:50As well as the reconstruction challenges that countries face following a conflict coming to the fore, discussions also allowed the
02:58sharing of good practices and advice.
03:00We have 400 representatives from over 60 countries participating in the event.
03:08I think it's a great opportunity for mine action practitioners, for policymakers to gather together and exchange their ideas, share
03:20their experiences and discuss opportunities for future cooperation.
03:25The conference has allowed certain countries to explain how the problems with demining have left serious problems for decades.
03:34Because we have mined since the Second World War, especially on the borders with Libya and Egypt, and it's not
03:42cleared yet.
03:43Those are all challenges to get the people back to their lives, to their houses, and start living again.
03:50Demining is a lengthy process, and not simply about finding and removing explosives.
03:57Teams must map out contaminated areas, work with specific equipment, and verify that the land is safe before being handed
04:05back.
04:06And that work can take years.
04:09The forum allows decision makers to understand how other leaders are handling the challenges.
04:17We cannot work alone, so my action is that in every country we have a different concept, different situation.
04:25But that we cannot stand alone to suffering, to dealing with situations by victor, half the cooperation among the others.
04:33So it's very important that working with the others, learn from others, and where we can get from the experience
04:40that they can fill the gap.
04:41For many former conflict zones, making that land safe is the first step towards bringing communities back.
04:48And the conference has allowed us not only to understand the latest technologies, but also pave the way for higher
04:55standards.
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