The 5th Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty (RevCon5), also known as the “Siem Reap-Angkor Summit on a Mine-Free World,” took place from November 20-24, 2023, in Siem Reap, Cambodia. This milestone event brought together governments, NGOs, mine action organizations, and advocates to reaffirm global efforts toward eliminating landmines.
A March for Unity in Mine Action
Before the conference officially began, participants gathered for a symbolic 4 kilometer march through Siem Reap, beginning at Angkor Wat Temple and concluding at the historic Elephant Terrace. This event brought together mine action organizations, survivors, and advocates to symbolize the shared commitment to eliminating landmines worldwide. APOPO proudly joined the march alongside our partners.
Cambodia hosted RevCon5 as it currently holds the presidency of the Mine Ban Convention, with Senior Minister H.E. Ly Thuch, First Vice President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), serving as President of the conference. As one of the treaty’s earliest signatories, Cambodia has consistently demonstrated leadership in advocating for a world free of anti-personnel mines.
Additionally, Cambodia’s history with landmines and its transformation into a global leader in mine action made it a powerful symbol for the conference. Over the past three decades, Cambodia has cleared more than 4 million landmines and pieces of unexploded ordnance with the help of NGOs and international partners. The country’s experience, advocacy, and commitment to addressing the long-term consequences of landmines make it a beacon of progress in the global mine action community.
Innovation in Humanitarian Mine Action – The View from Ukraine
During RevCon5, our Head of Mine Action, Michael Heiman, participated in a panel discussion titled “Innovation in Humanitarian Mine Action – The View from Ukraine.” This session, organized in partnership with the Ukrainian Ministry of Economy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), focused on the critical role of Technical Survey Dogs (TSDs, aka HeroDOGs) in advancing mine clearance efforts in Ukraine.
Ukraine faces immense challenges with landmine contamination due to ongoing conflict. APOPO has deployed 32 TSDs in the region, trained to detect explosive residues with precision and speed. Michael shared our plans to expand these operations significantly by 2025 to address the urgent need for extensive demining in affected areas.
Our TSDs, trained to identify explosives over large areas, enable demining teams to release land faster and more efficiently. This method, refined through our years of work, particularly in Angola and Cambodia, is now being adapted to meet the specific challenges of Ukraine. By integrating the dogs’ capabilities with advanced technologies like drones and geographic information systems (GIS), we are creating scalable solutions for large-scale demining operations.
Cambodia: From Receiving to Contributing
At the side event “From Receiving to Contributing to Global Mine Action: The Cambodia Story,” APOPO’s Cambodia Program Manager, Michael Raine, spoke about the country’s journey from being a recipient of mine clearance aid to becoming a global leader in mine action.
Michael highlighted how our Mine Detection Rats (MDRs, aka HeroRATs) and TSDs have been instrumental in clearing Cambodia’s mine-contaminated land, helping the country transition to a role where it now shares its expertise with other nations.
Cambodia’s progress has been supported through partnerships with clearance operators such as APOPO, Halo Trust, Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA), and Mines Advisory Group (MAG). These collaborations demonstrate how innovation and cooperation can empower countries like Cambodia to play a leading role in global mine action efforts.
Minefields to Rice fields: Innovative Financing in Action
At the Innovative Finance Side Event, APOPO’s U.S. Director, Charlie Richter, presented the “Minefields to Rice fields” project, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This initiative is part of the Mine Action Development Impact Bond (MADIB) and shows how innovative funding models could transform mine action.
Charlie explained how the project converts mine-contaminated land into productive farmland, creating sustainable opportunities for communities affected by landmines.
The MADIB is designed to attract funding by focusing on measurable outcomes. This ensures that resources are used efficiently, delivering maximum benefit to mine-affected communities and aligning mine clearance with long-term development goals.
Engaging with Stakeholders
Throughout the conference, we welcomed key donors and stakeholders to our exhibition and to the APOPO Visitor Center in Siem Reap, and discussed our work with leaders from around the world.
- Prime Minister Dr. Hun Manet of Cambodia: Recognized Cambodia’s support for innovative demining methods and its role in fostering partnerships with organizations like APOPO.
- Belgian Delegation: Toured our Visitor Center and explored how Belgium’s funding through the Directorate-General for Development Cooperation (DGD) is helping to transform mine-affected communities.
- U.S. State Department Representatives from the Weapons Removal and Abatement (WRA) Office: Learned about our Victim Assistance Program and our use of TSDs for Cluster Munition Remnants Surveys in Eastern Cambodia.
These interactions highlighted the vital role of our donors in driving our mission to create safer, mine-free communities and to develop innovative solutions to solve the challenges of global mine action.
Leading the Way Toward a Safer Future
APOPO’s presence at RevCon5 reflected our commitment to innovation and collaboration in mine action. From our pioneering use of Mine Detection Rats and Technical Survey Dogs to transformative projects like “Minefields to Rice fields,” we are creating opportunities for growth, safety, and prosperity in mine-affected regions.
