SMAC Participation at the World Urban Forum Side Event “Clearing the Path for Post-Conflict Recovery: Innovations and Challenges in Demining”SMAC Participation at the World Urban Forum Side Event “Clearing the Path for Post-Conflict Recovery: Innovations and Challenges in Demining”

At the invitation of the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Belgrade, SMAC Director, Mr Bojan Glamočlija, participated as a panelist at the World Urban Forum side event entitled “Clearing the Path for Post-Conflict Recovery: Innovations and Challenges in Demining”, which was held on November 8 in 2024 in Cairo, Egypt, organized by the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA).

The Conference was organized to improve understanding of the critical role of mine action in post-conflict recovery efforts and to highlight innovative approaches to addressing the complex challenges associated with demining operations. In addition, to point out the link between sustainable development goals and mine action, create conditions for building new partnerships and resource mobility to rapidly achieve a mine-free world, including ongoing efforts in advocating the new sustainable development goal of mine action.

Humanitarian mine action is of great importance for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It facilitates recovery in a post-conflict environment and plays an important role in enabling long-term sustainable development.

SMAC Director, Mr Glamočlija, presented mine action in the Republic of Serbia – results, challenges and opportunities with special reference to the achievement of sustainable development goals through mine action, i.e.clearing the land of explosive remnants of war (mines, cluster munitions, aerial bombs and other unexploded ordnance).

He underscored interaction of mine action and infrastructural development in the context of the current expansion of construction and the need to create conditions for the safe execution of infrastructure projects, both on land and underwater.

He also presented the work plans of the SMAC Innovation and Educational Park, in which training programs are conducted according to the International Mine Action Standards, and indicated the possibility of cooperation and exchange of experiences of the SMAC with various subjects of mine action interested in conducting training in this field according to international standards.

This event brought together a wide range of practitioners, policy makers and international organizations offering a strategic opportunity to discuss the challenges and reality of mine action for peace and sustainable development.

Experts in the field of mine action, representatives of donors, representatives of international humanitarian organizations, UN, NATO, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Mines Advisory Group (MAG) participated at this event.