The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action reminds us how far we have come in clearing the world of explosive remnants of war – and how far we still have to go.

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Exactly thirty years ago, civil society activists came together to launch the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

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Within five years, the Mine Ban Convention was opened for signature.

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Today, more than 160 states have signed the Convention and landmines have become almost universally unacceptable.

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Over 55 million mines have been destroyed, more than 30 countries across the world have been declared mine-free, and casualties have dramatically decreased.

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But the world is still rife with millions of stockpiled landmines and over 50 countries remain contaminated with these abhorrent weapons.

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Mines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices continue to kill or injure thousands of people every year – many of whom are children.

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We must do more to protect people living under the shadow of explosive ordnance, from Syria, Somalia and Afghanistan to Myanmar, Cambodia, and beyond.

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In Ukraine, the legacy of a single month of war – in the form of unexploded ordnance, landmines, and cluster munitions – will take decades to tackle, threatening lives long after the guns fall silent. Already today, they restrict emergency humanitarian aid delivery and prevent people fleeing to safety.

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I call on all states to accede to the Convention without delay. Permanent members of the Security Council in particular have a special responsibility.

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Mine action is an investment in humanity. It is a prerequisite for humanitarian relief efforts and the foundation of lasting peace and sustainable development.

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On this International Day, let us build on past progress and rid the world of the scourge of landmines once and for all.