Myanmar

Myanmar made no concrete progress in 2022 towards the establishment of a fully functioning mine action programme. With the possibility to conduct technical survey, clearance, or explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) spot tasks stymied, humanitarian demining operators have been limited to non-technical survey (NTS), risk education, and victim assistance. A March 2023 resolution of the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council called on the Myanmar military to halt all use of anti-personnel (AP) mines.Human Rights Council Resolution 52/31, adopted without a vote on 4 April 2023, operative para. 12.

• Myanmar’s armed forces and armed ethnic organisations should halt the use of AP mines, including victim-activated mines of an improvised nature.
• Myanmar should accede to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) as a matter of priority.
• Relevant authorities in Myanmar should grant permission to humanitarian mine action organisations to undertake surveys to identify and mark mined areas using conventional marking systems, particularly where returns of internally displaced persons (IDPs) are planned.
• Mine action non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and their implementing partners should develop standards for implementing and reporting permitted activities, including community-based assessments and NTS.

Click here to download the "Clearing the Mines 2023" report for Myanmar.