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Swiss Armed Forces' Contributions to Humanitarian Mine Action

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Deployment of Experts

The DDPS will continue to deploy experts of the Swiss Armed Forces to UN field programmes and – as far as feasible – the OSCE. These experts will support field programmes and local authorities in the management of their activities and structures, in carrying out field tasks in a safe and efficient way and in providing up-to-date know-how and skills. The support will be given to programmes led by the corresponding UN agencies: the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF).

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For these operations, the Swiss Armed Forces rely on volunteers from their militia personnel as well as civilian and military professional employees. Militia personnel are engaged in the fields of logistics, finances and information management. Almost all civilian and military professional employees come from the Centre of Competence for Unexploded Ordnance Disposal of the armed forces. These specialists are engaged in operations where their specific expertise is required.

Material and Financial Assistance

The DDPS supports the activities of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) and to this end continues to sit on the Centre's Board of Trustees. Together with the GICHD and partners from the UN, the DDPS conducts training courses within the framework of the Partnership for Peace (PfP).

In addition, the Swiss Armed Forces remain prepared to support delicate clearance activities of mine action programmes by providing the SM EOD-system free of charge. The SM EOD is a system for selective and contact-free disposal of mines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and IEDs that are lying underground or underwater.

The executive department of the Humanitarian Mine Action Unit provides information on mine clearance jobs. Applications in the fields of logistics, finance, management and information management are accepted by the Swiss Armed Forces International Command (SWISSINT).


20 years fighting against anti-personnel mines:  Successes and challenges

20 years fighting against anti-personnel mines: Successes and challenges

20 years ago, the Ottawa Convention on the comprehensive ban of anti-personnel mines came into force. To date, 164 countries have ratified the Convention. Switzerland was one of the first signatories and has since been active in the fight against anti-personnel mines.

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Armed Forces Staff International Relations
Humanitarian Mine Action
Papiermühlestrasse 20
3003 Berne
Tel.
+41 58 464 49 75
Fax
+41 58 463 36 03

E-Mail

Armed Forces Staff

International Relations
Humanitarian Mine Action
Papiermühlestrasse 20
3003 Berne