MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Gambaro
Australia's Special Representative on Mine Action and Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Teresa Gambaro will visit Laos and Cambodia from 3 June to look at further strengthening the Australian Government's mine action commitments in the region.
The visit follows the recent launch of Australia's five year $75 million Mine Action Strategy, reinforcing the Government's commitment to mine action activities.
In Laos, Ms Gambaro will explore mine clearance operations, mine risk education programs and the issue of unexploded ordnance contamination.
'Laos has been one of the most heavily bombed countries in the world, with more than two million tons of ordnance, including 80 million cluster bombs dropped during the 1960s and 1970s. This trip will enable us to broaden our understanding and approach to these issues which continue to have a devastating social and economic impact on the livelihoods of Lao people,' Ms Gambaro said.
In Cambodia, Ms Gambaro will gain an insight into the physical rehabilitation of landmine survivors and integrated mine action programs. Cambodia is heavily affected by both anti-personnel mines and other explosive remnants of war after almost three decades of conflict.
Ms Gambaro will also use her visit to promote the merits of the Mine Ban Convention.
'I will compare approaches to tackling the landmine problem between Cambodia which is one of the earliest signatories to the Mine Ban Convention, and will urge the Lao Government both to adhere to the humanitarian aims of the Convention, and to join it as soon as possible.'
'Australia is taking a leading role in advancing the work on international mine action and the implementation of the Mine Ban Convention and this visit will serve to highlight the good work which is being done,' Ms Gambaro said.
The Australian Government's Mine Action Strategy is available at www.ausaid.gov.au
Media contacts:
Damien Cocks (Parliamentary Secretary's Office): 0438 171 330
AusAID (Public Affairs): 0417 680 590