Baldwin Leads Bipartisan Resolution Recognizing International Day for Mine Awareness

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced a bipartisan resolution designating today, April 4, 2024, as International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. The resolution acknowledges the global impacts of landmines and reaffirms the United States' role in eliminating landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) to keep civilians safe.

“I’ve met with landmine survivors in Vietnam and seen the devastating consequences of our legacies of war throughout Southeast Asia. While the fighting in places like Vietnam and Southeast Asia are long done, the carnage has continued, and we have a moral responsibility to do more to clear the remnants of our conflicts to keep these communities safe,” said Senator Baldwin. “I am proud to work with my Democratic and Republican colleagues to reaffirm that the United States is committed to eliminating our legacies of war.”

“Eliminating landmines and unexploded devices is a crucial step in restoring stability to areas impacted by conflict,” said Senator Moran. “This resolution reaffirms the United States’ commitment to clearing dangerous remnants of war to protect innocent civilians around the world.”

“Landmines and other UXO continue to kill and maim thousands of innocent men, women, and children around the world. These weapons, which are triggered by the victim, should be universally banned. Brave people risk their lives to assist in demining efforts, and our increased support for those efforts is imperative to ensure that these indiscriminate, deadly devices are safely removed,” said Senator Welch. “This resolution builds off the legacy of my predecessor, Senator Leahy, and reaffirms America’s commitment to eradicating landmines and UXO to protect lives and limbs, facilitate infrastructure development, and promote peacebuilding.”

This resolution recognizes April 4, 2024, as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, and:

• Reaffirms the leadership of the United States in eliminating landmines and unexploded ordnance;
• Acknowledges the global impacts of landmines and highlights the United States role in clearing landmines, cluster bombs, and other munitions;
• Affirms the Senate’s commitment to support international humanitarian efforts to eliminate landmines and unexploded ordnance;
• Calls upon the U.S. Government to continue providing funding necessary to support international humanitarian demining activities; and
• Reaffirms the goals of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

“Landmines and other unexploded ordnance continue to harm and kill civilians in over 60 countries - and children make up nearly half of all landmine casualties,” said Chris Whatley, Executive Director of HALO Trust, a humanitarian organization working to clear landmines and other explosive devices left behind by conflicts. “As innocent people in Ukraine, Angola, the Solomon Islands and beyond continue to live near explosive threats, it's critical that the United States continue lead the global effort to eliminate these deadly devices once and for all. This International Mine Awareness Day, we are proud to endorse Senator Baldwin, Senator Welch, and Senator Moran's resolution recognizing the ongoing threat of landmines and reaffirming the United States' leadership in keeping civilians safe around the world.”

Senators Baldwin and Moran lead the bipartisan Legacies of War Recognition and Unexploded Ordnance Removal Act to remove landmines in Southeast Asia and support the establishment of victim support programs for those affected by remnants of war. The legislation also recognizes the contributions of the many communities and Diasporas from Southeast Asia who supported and defended the United States Armed Forces during the war in Vietnam.

Text of the resolution is available here.

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