We support initiatives to amend the legislation on mine action.

Last week, representatives of the Ukrainian Demining Agency LLC participated in the conference "Institutional Reform in the Field of Mine Action", organized by the Ukrainian Business Council and the Ukrainian Association for Humanitarian Demining and Remediation.

The participants of the event discussed changes to legislation, insurance for industry professionals, financial instruments, public engagement, ways of cooperating with local communities, and a number of other important issues that determine the effectiveness and pace of mine clearance in Ukrainian territories.

Coordinator of the Ukrainian Association for Humanitarian Demining and Restoration Andriy Savarets presented a model of a new architecture in the field of mine action and proposed creating a single responsible regulator - the National Agency for Mine Action, which will take care of humanitarian demining and coordinate actions with other industry participants. According to him, this will help introduce personal responsibility, a single vision of the development of the industry and a systemic approach to management, as well as avoid duplication of functions between agencies currently dealing with demining issues. It is important to note that the National Agency plans to create a Public Council, whose representatives will exercise public control over the activities of the institution.

Oleksiy Botnarenko, First Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian National Association for Humanitarian Demining, supported this proposal and noted that today it is necessary to distinguish between operational, combat and humanitarian demining. The new draft law is concise and provides for a clear division of functions, workload and responsibility between the National Agency, the Operational Demining Center under the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Combat Demining Center, which is subordinate to the Ministry of Defense.

During the discussion, one of the most important issues was discussed - insurance. ASB representative Oleksandr Bondar drew the attention of those present to the unequal insurance conditions between demining specialists working for private operators and employees of state structures (SES and SSTS). He emphasized the need to return to the legislation the norm on mandatory life and health insurance of demining specialists, which was canceled after the recent changes. This will help ensure fair conditions for all specialists in the industry.

We thank the organizers for the invitation, and our colleagues and partners for the productive discussion. There are currently many pressing issues in the field of humanitarian demining, and we are ready to join in the further search for solutions at the state level. At the same time, we continue to develop cooperation at the international level with donors who invest in the safe recovery of Ukraine.