In the absence of a national authority for mine action, the United Nations established the UN Mine Action coordination Center in February 2002. UNMACC’s headquarters is located in Kinshasa, and also has five regional offices in Mbandaka, Kisangani, Goma, Kalemie and Kananga. UNMACC’s area of intervention is defined by several resolutions of the Security Council:
- RCS 1291 (2000) – Support to the Mission and Coordination of Mine Action in DRC1 ;
- RCS 1856 (2008) – Security Sector Reform, Stabilisation in the East, Preparation of the transition UN - Government;
- RCS 1906 (2009) – Protection of civilians ;
- RCS 1925 (2010) – Assist the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in enhancing its demining capacity.
The United Nations Inter-Agency Mine Action Strategy is the reference document and states the role of UNMAS (United Nations Mine Action Service) in terms of management, coordination and accreditation of operators.
The overall objective of the programme is to reduce the risks and the constraints associated with mines and ERW, in term of security, humanitarian, and socio-economic development. It is divided into three strategic objectives:
- Provide an operational response for MONUC, UN agencies and humanitarian organizations that are impacted by the presence or perceived presence of mines/ERW in DRC;
- Mitigate the risk to community livelihoods in all mine/ERW affected communities in DRC;
- Assist the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo in enhancing its demining capacity.
The UNMACC vision is “Democratic Republic of Congo free from the threat posed by mines and ERW, where individuals and communities live in a safe environment conducive to development and where the needs of mine/ERW victims are met and fully integrated within the community.”
Mine action is part of the initiatives toward peace consolidation and development in order to contribute to the stabilisation of the country:
- The national strategies for economic growth and poverty reduction
- Initiatives for peace reduction :
- Peace Consolidation Programme
- Peace and reconstruction Programme (Programme de Stabilisation et de Reconstruction des Zones sortant des conflits armés - STAREC)
- International Security and Stabilisation Support Strategy (ISSSS)
- Humanitarian Action Plan
Mine Action contributes to the reduction of risks faced by the population, humanitarian and development actors. It allows lifting obstacles link to the presence of mines or ERW, limiting the access to resources, infrastructures and basic socio-economic services.
1S/RES/1291 (2000) 7. i) to deploy mine action experts to assess the scope of the mine and unexploded ordnance problems, coordinate the initiation of mine action activities, develop a mine action plan, and carry out emergency mine action activities as required in support of its mandate.