International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action

Humanitarian Mine Action Matters

April 4th marks the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. This day is a powerful reminder that the legacy of war doesn’t end with peace treaties. It lingers in villages, on farmland, and in the fields where children play. Landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and explosive remnants of war (ERW) continue to take lives and slow the development of nations.

From Cambodia to Kosovo, Zambia to the Marshall Islands, Golden West Humanitarian Foundation (GWHF) works in close partnership with U.S. government agencies, like minded Humanitarian NGO’s and local governments to build safer, more stable societies.

“Safe Futures Start Here”

More than 60 countries remain affected by landmines and UXO. The contamination doesn’t just represent a physical danger; it represents an ongoing economic, political, and psychological barrier to peace and prosperity. Land that can’t be farmed. Roads that can’t be travelled. Children who can’t safely attend school. Communities that can’t rebuild.

The theme for 2025, “Safe Futures Start Here,” captures the heart of our mission. Mine action is about removing the threat, restoring hope and enabling growth. Every safe acre cleared, every safe storage site built, and every national team trained brings us one step closer to peace.

A Sustainable Model

We believe that success isn’t measured by how long we stay, but by how soon we can responsibly leave. Our model is centered on capacity building. We don’t just remove the threat; we train the host nation’s own teams to do the work themselves. Whether we’re guiding national partners through IMAS-based EOD curriculum or assisting in Physical Security and Stockpile Management (PSSM) according to International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG), our mission is to make them independent.

This approach reduces long-term costs to donors and ensures that mine-affected countries aren’t locked into a permanent cycle of foreign dependence. Instead, we help our partners build their own national standards, their own instructors, and their own strategies for ERW management.

Innovation and Impact

Innovation remains at the core of our DNA. From explosive harvesting programs and EOD training tools to drone-based detection technologies and new demolition methods, we are actively finding better, safer, and faster ways to neutralize threats.

Our programs today span Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Pacific. We work with partners like the Dept. State PM/WRA, MARFORPAC, U.S. EUCOM, INDOPACOM, and national governments to embed long-term solutions where they’re needed most.

Commitment to Our Mission

On this day, we recognize and honor the courage of the global humanitarian mine action community. Our thoughts are with survivors who continue to rebuild their lives, and we reaffirm our commitment to our mission of “Saving lives through innovation”.

We are proud to be part of the global mine action community and will continue to work to make the world safer.