OEA - CP - Resolución CP CSH 2372

PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE OEA/Ser.G

ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES CP/CSH-2372/26 3 February 2026

COMMITTEE ON HEMISPHERIC SECURITY Original: Spanish

REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM

OF ACTION AGAINST ANTIPERSONNEL MINES (AICMA)

(Submitted by the Department of Public Security, in preparation for the Committee meeting scheduled for February 12, 2026) This report is being submitted pursuant to the provisions set forth in the Structure for the consideration of substantive issues during regular meetings (2025-2026) , document CP/CSH/INF.602/25.  Introduction................................................................................................................................2  Activities to support member states' efforts to eradicate anti-personnel mines and strengthen local implementation capacity..................................................................................3  Other initiatives on the subject ..................................................................................................5  Status of financing for the AICMA Program.............................................................................5  Mandates – The Americas as an antipersonnel-landmine-free zone (20212025) ...................62Introduction Further to the request made by the Chair of the Committee on Hemispheric Security in document CP/CP/INF. 602/25, the Department of Public Security (DPS) is pleased to forward herewith, for the information of the delegations, a brief overview of the activities undertaken in 2025 by the OAS Program for Comprehensive Action against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA/OAS). Implementation of the AICMA Program falls within the scope of Project Evaluation Committee (PEC)-approved projects – SMS1805 and SMS2503 – responding to the mandates approved by the General Assembly. Since 1993, AICMA/OAS has been assisting OAS member states with implementation of the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of AntiPersonnel Mines and on their Destruction, in pursuit of the common goal of a mine-free H emisphere. Backed by broad member state support (32 member states have signed and ratified the Convention) and by General Assembly mandates, this commitment translates into ongoing support for those countries still affected by mine contamination, notably Colombia, in their efforts to consolidate peace, security, and sustainable development in the affected territories. Throughout the Program's history, seven countries have completed the destruction of their stockpiles of anti-personnel mines, with one million mines destroyed in the process. Seven countries have been declared mine-free; furthermorewith over 200,000 mines and unexploded ordnance cleared - five of them with assistance from the AICMA/OAS Program. AICMA/OAS has had a solid track record of supporting antipersonnel mine action in Colombia since 2003. As an impartial and trusted partner, AICMA implements a system for accrediting operational capabilities and external monitoring to enhance quality management of humanitarian mineclearing operations by verifying that organizations performing these tasks adhere to domestic and international standards. Owing to its close collaboration with local technical counterparts, AICMA/OAS is in a strategic position to help Colombia gradually assume full responsibility for these quality management functions, thereby contributing to the consolidation of domestic leadership while ensuring the integrity and soundness of operations. AICMA/OAS also engages the authorities in dialogue and monitors progress in the other two countries of the region that are still affected. Ecuador has made steady progress – through CENDESMI (the national mine action authority) – to fulfill its obligations under the Ottawa Convention, although unforeseen circumstances led to its deadline being extended to 2027, with a continued commitment to rid the country of all anti-personnel mines. Peru still faces challenges that have led it to seek an extension until 2029, subject to the proper execution of planned activities and timely access to the necessary assistance. Against that backdrop,

AICMA/OAS has reaffirmed its commitment to support the country by mobilizing technical and financial assistance, with the aim of helping Peru achieve a mine-free territory by 2029. Significant progress has also been made coordinating with the Peruvian government and Norwegian People's Aid (NPA), with a view to embarking on a series of specific actions in 2026 toward achieving this goal.- 3Activities to support member states' efforts to eradicate anti-personnel mines and strengthen local implementation capacity The AICMA/OAS technical assistance activities detailed below were executed thanks to financial and in-kind contributions from international donors (United States, Norway, and Switzerland) and the Colombian government itself, as well as with a small contribution from the Colombian State, reflecting its own commitment to the Program's sustainability. These initiatives also received technical assistance from the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB).  Colombia As the member state hardest hit by anti-personnel mines and explosive ordnance contamination, Colombia continues to be the member state receiving the most assistance from IACMA/OAS operations. The Program assists the Government of Colombia through the Office of the Special Envoy for Peace (OCCP) Mine Action Group, which functions as the technical secretariat to the National Mine Action Authority. The primary role of AICMA/OAS is to act on behalf of the Government of Colombia, as the entity responsible for the External Quality Management of all humanitarian demining activities in the country – a function that builds confidence in organizations conducting the operations; and in the lands declared free of suspected mine contamination, while helping to ensure safer interventions. To date, none of the AICMA/OAS-supervised demining operations has resulted in accidents. This is a significant and rare achievement at the international level, especially considering that the explosive devices found in Colombia are improvised nature and highly complex.

In the first half of 2025, AICMA/OAS activities were affected by the suspension of the program's main source of funding, forcing the termination of contracts for most local staff in Colombia, as this Committee was previously told. Operations were restored in the second half of 2025, thanks to contributions from Norway, Switzerland, and United States, which enabled the partial rehiring of staff in Colombia. Despite this temporary suspension of activities, in 2025 demining operations were conducted in 19 of the country's 32 administrative departments and in 80 municipalities. Seven humanitarian demining organizations (two state/military entities and five local and international non-governmental organizations) carried out demining activities in Colombia, with support from AICMA/OAS. AICMA/OAS assessed the operational capacity of all organizations and personnel engaged in demining operations, and recommended that 66 individuals be certified and 30 Standard Operating Procedures be evaluated. It also conducted 279 monitoring visits and performed quality controls on 47,266 m² of land, as a sample of a total of 469,326 m² cleared. In 2025, AICMA/OAS provided the Colombian Navy Marine Corps’ Amphibious Demining and Engineering Battalion (BDIAN) with technical, financial, and logistical assistance. With this support, BDIAN was able to perform humanitarian demining and land clearance in the Montes de María region and on the Colombian Pacific coast, with an emphasis on assisting affected communities in coastal and riverside areas, where access is mainly limited to waterways.- 4In addition, AICMA/OAS carried out Explosive Hazard Education and community outreach activities, undertaking 228 activities with local authorities and communities, benefiting 3,926 people, including 2,590 children, who were engaged through self-protection awareness activities. On a strategic level, considerable progress was made in 2025 in terms of skills transfer to the

Government of Colombia, with the aim of achieving full local ownership of the external quality management functions of humanitarian demining. In keeping with Colombia's obligations under the Ottawa Convention and its commitment to building full institutional capacity to coordinate and implement all pillars of mine action, domestic authorities have expressed their intention to gradually assume external quality management functions. This process of transition started gradually in 2021, with the support of AICMA/OAS and other cooperation partners. In 2025, AICMA/OAS and its local counterpart jointly put together a transfer and ownership plan for coordinating external quality management. This plan lays out in detail the activities, roles, responsibilities, timeline, and monitoring indicators, the objective being to get the Colombian State to take over coordination of quality management activities by the end of 2026. However, state institutions will still need operational support from AICMA/OAS to execute these activities (which will involve an organizational redesign of AICMA/OAS starting in 2027, subject to the availability of funds and the new institutional role). The Plan was shared with the pertinent government agencies, without objection, and marks a key step toward institutionalization and sustainable local oversight. Its implementation, which began in November 2025, addresses the need to strengthen technical and institutional capacities, reduce dependence on international assistance, and ensure land clearing operations are sustainable, legitimate, and high-quality. By 2025, significant progress had already been made in putting the Plan into action, particularly as regards revising the external monitoring model, in which context Colombia's model for external monitoring was reviewed in order to identify any modifications needed to ensure long-term local ownership. Furthermore, significant progress was made in developing the Information System with the creation of a centralized platform that integrates data management, display, and capture modules. These improvements enhance operational monitoring, information traceability, and evidencebased decision-making, thereby laying the groundwork for more efficient and sustainable oversight of

demining activities. As a sign of Colombia's commitment to local ownership, a cooperation agreement was signed with the Administrative Department of the Office of the President (DAPRE), whereby the Colombian government provided resources, albeit modest, for AICMA/OAS to support the implementation of the Transfer and Ownership Plan in 2025. Moreover, a new agreement is expected to be signed in 2026 to double this contribution. The 2025–2030 Operational and Financing Plan, presented as part of the request for an extension of the deadline to comply with Article 5 of the Ottawa Convention, recognizes this transfer process as a priority. At the December 2025 meeting of the Convention's member states, AICMA/OAS, represented by Steven Griner, Director of the Department of Public Security, reaffirmed its support for Colombia's request for an extension and urged member states, permanent observers, international organizations, and the international community to maintain and expand their technical and financial support, so as to consolidate local ownership, advance the clearing of land, and help Colombia become an anti-personnel landmine-free country.- 5 -  Ecuador At the December 2025 Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention, held in Geneva, AICMA/OAS reaffirmed its commitment to helping Ecuador fulfill its obligations to clear its territory of landmines. In doing so, it fully endorsed Ecuador's request for an extension, made the AICMA/OAS Program technical expertise available, and urged the international community to support Ecuador in the final stage toward its goal of becoming an anti-personnel mine-free country by 2027.  Peru In Peru's case, several coordination efforts were undertaken in 2025 to support actions the country has been taking to fulfill its commitment to declare its territory anti-personnel mine-free by

2029. These steps included participation in cooperation meetings and, in December 2025, a meeting

with representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and national authorities to agree on technical and logistical support activities, in collaboration with Norwegian People's Aid (NPA). Similarly, as part of the December 2025 Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention, held in Geneva, the OAS reaffirmed its commitment to helping Peru meet its obligations to remove landmines. Against that backdrop, it endorsed the progress report presented and invited the international community to continue supporting the country as it seeks to fulfill its commitments to eliminating anti-personnel mine contamination from its territory. Other initiatives on the subject AICMA/OAS also strives to enhance coordination among local and international stakeholders, improve information analysis and dissemination capabilities, and promote deeper regional cooperation. This includes collaboration among affected member states and promotion of triangular cooperation initiatives to share experiences and best practices. These efforts are recognized as holding enormous potential, not only for the Americas but also for other regions seeking practical solutions to similar challenges. Collaboration with the Department of Information and Technology Services (DOITS) also started in 2025, to develop a set of geographic information tools to view, analyze, and share information on the status of compliance with the Ottawa Convention in the Americas. Status of financing for the AICMA Program It was a particularly critical year for the Program in 2025, stemming from the suspension of funding from international cooperation, resulting in the temporary interruption of operations in Colombia and staff cuts, as noted above. Given this scenario, a quick fundraising strategy was launched. After six months of partial suspension of the Program's operations, the strategy enabled its activities in Colombia to be fully reactivated. The progress made thus far would not have been possible without the generous support of our donors, notably the U.S. Department of State, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Bogotá in 2025.

Despite the efforts undertaken, the AICMA Program still faced significant funding gaps, which limited the extent of support to the three member states that have been prioritized. The cut in available funds has restricted the Program's operational capacity, resulting in a decrease in the number of activities that can be carried out. Specifically, AICMA/OAS currently lacks the resources to continue6its risk education activities in Colombia, which ended in 2025; or to reactivate victim assistance activities. Funds are also lacking to meet Peru's request for specific technical assistance, although some activities may be carried out in cooperation with NPA, drawing on the organization's own resources. However, sufficient funding is available for quality management activities in Colombia to cover program costs through October 2026. At the same time, dialogue has been embarked on with the main donors, to mobilize fresh resources to ensure this component can continue until the end of 2026, when coordination will be transferred to the Colombian government; and to secure funding for the logistical and operational support expected from AICMA during 2027. Although the affected states continue to allocate domestic resources to deal with the mine contamination-related challenges, they still face significant constraints that hinder a fully self-sufficient response. AICMA/OAS therefore encourages member states, permanent observers, international organizations, and the international community at large to maintain and– as far as possible expand–their technical and financial support for ongoing initiatives in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, thereby contributing to the shared goal of advancing toward the first region free of anti-personnel mines. Mandates – The Americas as an antipersonnel-landmine-free zone (20212025): 2024: AG/RES. 3031 (LIV-O/24)

24. To reaffirm the commitment to promote an antipersonnel-landmine-free zone in the Hemisphere, with a special focus on Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to promote peace and development in affected territories.

25. To request that the SMS, through the DPS: a. continue to strengthen implementation capabilities and support to member states in the eradication of antipersonnel landmines. This will include technical support to national

Hemisphere, with a special focus on Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to promote peace and development in affected territories.

25. To request that the SMS, through the DPS: a. continue to strengthen implementation capabilities and support to member states in the eradication of antipersonnel landmines. This will include technical support to national mine action authorities, training in mine risk education, comprehensive assistance, and economic reintegration for landmine survivors and their families, as well as reclamation of mined areas. This support should include an ethnic and gender perspective; and b. submit a report to the CSH, during the first half of 2025, on the activities carried out through the Comprehensive Action against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) program. That report should include progress in implementing the mandate contained in operative paragraph 13 of resolution AG/RES. 2970 (LI-O/21), focused on the identification and securing of voluntary financial resources for comprehensive mine action programs directed by member states requesting technical assistance and cooperation. It should also include detailed information on activities carried out by AICMA in support of member states that have sought such assistance.

26. To take into consideration the needs of survivors of landmines and other explosive devices, as well as support mine-affected communities, to ensure their full participation in society.

28. To request that the IADB continue its active participation in meetings, forums, and seminars on humanitarian demining, and continue to provide AICMA missions with technical advisors and/or quality assurance monitors when so requested.- 72022: AG/RES. 2986 (LII-O/22)

8. To consider the contributions made by comprehensive antipersonnel mine action in the Hemisphere to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and how it can play a key role in facilitating the triple nexus of humanitarian, development, and peace initiatives.

9. To take into consideration the needs of landmine survivors and affected communities, and to support member states’ efforts to ensure their equal participation in society.

10. To urge member states, permanent observers, and collaborating partners to consider increasing their technical and financial assistance to the Governments of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to

9. To take into consideration the needs of landmine survivors and affected communities, and to support member states’ efforts to ensure their equal participation in society.

10. To urge member states, permanent observers, and collaborating partners to consider increasing their technical and financial assistance to the Governments of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to support their efforts to continue with humanitarian demining in their territories, considering the commitment to eliminate mined areas by 2025, to the extent possible, aligned with the objectives and principles of the Ottawa Convention. 2021: AG/RES. 2970 (LI-O/21)

11. To reaffirm the objectives of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Ottawa Convention), and to urge States Parties, under the Oslo Action Plan, to intensify their efforts to rid their territories of mined areas, to the extent possible, by 2025.

12. To recognize the efforts of the Governments of Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru to make progress with humanitarian demining actions within their territories, and to urge member states and permanent observers to provide technical and financial assistance so that those countries can continue to implement their respective programs.

13. To request that the General Secretariat, through the Program for Comprehensive Action against Antipersonnel Mines (AICMA) of the Department of Public Security (DPS) of the Secretariat for Multidimensional Security (SMS), continue reaching out to member states, permanent observers, other States, and donor organizations, with a view to identifying and securing voluntary financial resources for comprehensive mine action programs to be executed by member states requesting technical assistance and cooperation to continue their efforts in humanitarian demining, explosive-ordnance risk education for affected populations, physical and psychological rehabilitation of victims and their families, and socioeconomic recovery of areas cleared of mines.