Background -
UNMAS
United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is a division of t...
Background -
UNMAS
United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is a division of the Office of
Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) in the Department of
Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). UNMAS is mandated by the United Nations General
Assembly (RES/68/72) to ensure an effective, proactive and coordinated response
to the problem posed by a wide range of explosive hazards. Legislative mandates
also recognize UNMAS technical expertise in responding to threats posed by
unsecured and unsafe conventional weapons and ammunition stockpiles. As an
office within DPKO, UNMAS supports peacekeeping and special political missions
in accordance with Security Council mandates.
Background –
UNMAS Iraq
The United Nations
Mine Action Service (UNMAS) was established in 1997, by the General Assembly,
and as per the UN Policy on Mine Action and Effective Coordination (A/53/496,
1998) is the established coordinator of mine action within the United Nations
system. UNMAS supports the UN's vision of "a world free of the threat of
landmines and unexploded ordnance, where individuals and communities live in a
safe environment conducive to development, and where mine survivors are fully
integrated into their societies."
UNMAS is a unit
within the Office of Rule of Law and Security Institutions (OROLSI) within the
Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO). UNMAS main headquarters is in the
UN Secretariat, New York with a sub-office in Geneva. UNMAS provides direct
support and assistance in the areas of Explosive Hazard (EH) mitigation to 18
countries/territories/missions, has a standby rapid response capacity and
global technical advisors in the field of Improvised Explosive Devices and
(IED) Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM).
The UNMAS Iraq
programme was formally established in June 2015, at the request of the UN
Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) and the Special
Representative of the Secretary General for Iraq, to lead the UN efforts to
mitigate explosive threats in the country, as well as to support the
enhancement of national and regional mine action capacities. UNMAS is
supporting multiple layers of operations under the UNMAS Iraq Strategic Plan
which focusses on three main components:
1. Explosive Hazard Management; 2.
Capacity Enhancement, and 3. Risk Education.