Participation of the Centre in the 29th International Meeting of National Mine Action Directors and United Nations Advisers in Geneva
The 29th International Meeting of National Mine Action Directors and United Nations Advisers (NDM-UN29) was held from 22 to 24 April 2026 at the International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG).
The event was organized by the United Nations Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action (IACG-MA), in cooperation with the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), with the support of the Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.
Photo: Antoine Tardy for GICHD
Photo: Antoine Tardy for GICHD
The Mine Action Centre of the Republic of Serbia (SMAC), in cooperation with the ITF Enhancing Human Security, GICHD, and international non-technical survey adviser Helen Gray, co-organized a side event entitled “Addressing the remaining mine contamination: practical lessons learned from non-technical survey in the Republic of Serbia”, held within the framework of the 29th International Meeting of National Mine Action Directors and United Nations Advisers in Geneva.
During the discussion, the Republic of Serbia’s experience in implementing the Non-Technical Survey Project in the Municipality of Bujanovac was presented, with particular emphasis on the importance of applying this methodology to achieve a more accurate assessment of the level of mine contamination and to improve the efficiency of humanitarian demining planning activities.
On this occasion, the Information Management System for Mine Action – IMSMA Core, developed for the needs of the Mine Action Centre of the Republic of Serbia, was also presented. Within the framework of the project, the system represents a key tool for data collection, analysis, and information management in the field of mine action.
While addressing the significance of this and other projects successfully implemented by ITF in the Republic of Serbia, participants emphasized the importance of cooperation between national institutions, donors, and expert organizations, as well as the need to further strengthen partnerships.
Special emphasis was placed on the fact that the Government of the Republic of Serbia is the only government in the region allocating dedicated budget funds for mine action activities, demonstrating a clear commitment to the global objectives of humanitarian demining.
Photo: Antoine Tardy for GICHD
On the margins of the event, a meeting was held with Ms. M. Režimbal, Head of the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs in Geneva, during which issues related to the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA) were discussed.
