India International Forum on Mine Action and Safety Symposium
Event Overview
The India International Forum on Mine Action and Safety (IIFOMAS), organized by the Horizon Safer World Foundation (HSWF), held a symposium in New Delhi on November 14. The event, themed “Mine Action: Pathways to a Safer World,” gathered global leaders, humanitarian organizations, and experts to discuss mine action and India’s contributions to demining and post-conflict rehabilitation.
Horizon Group’s Achievements
Founded in 2001, the Horizon Group has cleared over 125 million square meters of landmine-contaminated land in countries like Sri Lanka, Jordan, Azerbaijan, and Kuwait. They have disposed of more than 150,000 hazardous devices, showcasing their commitment to global safety.
India’s Involvement
India’s involvement in mine action began with operations in Sri Lanka in 2003 and continues through support of UN peacekeeping efforts. The Horizon Safer World Foundation’s activities have reinforced India’s global standing and commitment to humanitarian causes.
Event Highlights
The symposium featured panel discussions, expert talks, and an exhibition of demining technologies. Chief of Defence Staff, General Anil Chauhan, emphasized collaboration in humanitarian demining and praised Horizon’s work. Messages from UN and Indian representatives were delivered, and Colonel Navneet MP Mittal shared insights on mine action.
Impact and Future Initiatives
The event highlighted the humanitarian and socioeconomic impact of mine action, focusing on victim assistance and international collaboration. Over 150 participants attended, setting the stage for future initiatives aimed at stability and development in conflict zones.
Doubts Revealed
CDS -: CDS stands for Chief of Defence Staff. It is a high-ranking military position in India responsible for coordinating the different branches of the Indian Armed Forces.
General Anil Chauhan -: General Anil Chauhan is a senior officer in the Indian Army who holds the position of Chief of Defence Staff. He plays a key role in overseeing India’s military operations and strategies.
Mine Action -: Mine action refers to activities aimed at reducing the threat and impact of landmines and explosive remnants of war. It includes clearing landmines, educating people about the dangers, and helping communities recover after conflicts.
Symposium -: A symposium is a meeting or conference where experts discuss a particular topic. In this case, it was about mine action and safety.
Horizon Safer World Foundation -: The Horizon Safer World Foundation is an organization that works on making the world safer by clearing landmines and helping communities affected by them.
Demining -: Demining is the process of removing landmines from an area to make it safe for people to live and work there.
Post-conflict rehabilitation -: Post-conflict rehabilitation involves helping communities recover and rebuild after a conflict, including clearing landmines and providing support to affected people.
Horizon Group -: The Horizon Group is an organization involved in clearing landmines and making areas safe for people. They have cleared a large amount of land globally.
Humanitarian impact -: Humanitarian impact refers to the positive effects on people’s lives, such as making areas safe from landmines, which helps communities live without fear and rebuild their lives.
Peacekeeping -: Peacekeeping involves helping maintain peace and security in areas affected by conflict, often through international efforts to prevent violence and support recovery.