The International Conference on “Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future” was held in Zangilan and Baku, Azerbaijan on 30-31 May 2024. The Conference was jointly organized by the Government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with the aim to garner collective support for mitigating the multifaceted environmental impact of landmines. The event served as a precursor to the next United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29), which will be hosted by Azerbaijan in November 2024.
The Conference brought together more than 300 experts, senior-level policymakers, leadership of international organizations, researchers and other stakeholders from around the globe. ECO Deputy Secretary-General Ambassador Hüseyin Avni Bıçaklı’s intervention in the panel discussions on resource mobilization, policy integration and green sustainable development characterized the environmental impact of landmines as a significant challenge that needs bolder collective action at the global and regional levels. He further called for enhanced ownership with adequate means of implementation, including proportionate financial and technical resources to address this pressing issue.
On the margins of the Conference, the ECO Deputy Secretary-General held bilateral interactions and exchanges with the international partners.
