AKP Phnom Penh, July 21, 2025 --

Cambodia continues to demonstrate its steadfast commitment to the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines, actively implementing the treaty domestically and internationally since becoming a full member in 2000.

In a statement this afternoon, H.E. Heng Ratana, Director-General of Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), reported that Cambodia has successfully cleared and destroyed more than 4.46 million landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). This significant achievement has played a crucial role in enhancing the safety and fostering development within communities across the nation.

"Cambodia has confirmed that all parties to past conflicts used an estimated 4–6 million anti-personnel mines across the country," H.E. Heng Ratana stated. "To date, we have removed and destroyed over 1.2 million of these, primarily found in the country's interior, thereby ensuring the safety of our people and supporting national development."

He underscored Cambodia's ongoing obligations under Article 5 of the Ottawa Treaty. This article mandates that each State Party undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control, as soon as possible but not later than ten years after the entry into force of this Convention for that State Party.

H.E. Heng Ratana further emphasised that the treaty requires each State Party to make every effort to identify all areas under its jurisdiction or control in which anti-personnel mines are known or suspected to be emplaced and shall ensure as soon as possible that all anti-personnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control are perimeter-marked, monitored and protected by fencing or other means, to ensure the effective exclusion of civilians, until all anti-personnel mines contained therein have been destroyed.

Cambodia's persistent progress in mine clearance not only fulfills its international treaty obligations but also significantly boosts public safety and facilitates socio-economic development in previously contaminated regions.

This ongoing effort truly underscores the nation's unwavering dedication to achieving a mine-free future.

By K. Rithy Reak