Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture: Discussion held in Kyiv on improving legislation in the mine action sector

Misinterpretation of current legislation in the field of mine action, as well as insufficient understanding of the sector’s specifics by certain state bodies, may create serious problems for humanitarian demining operators – particularly when projects that have already been completed and verified by the state become the subject of additional investigations.

These challenges in the application of legislation in the field of mine action and possible ways to improve it were discussed by representatives of demining operators, the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, the legal community and specialised organisations during a roundtable organised by the Ukrainian National Bar Association and the Ukrainian National Humanitarian Demining Association.

The event was attended by Ihor Bezkaravainyi, Deputy Minister of Economy, Environment and Agriculture, who stated: “Humanitarian demining is not only about fieldwork. It also involves work on legislation, standards and procedures. The mine action sector in Ukraine has already grown into a large-scale system, and therefore its regulatory framework also needs further development and improvement. It is important that the state, operators and lawyers speak the same language and work together on solutions that will help return land to safe use more quickly.”

During the discussion, humanitarian demining operators shared practical experience from project implementation and outlined a number of challenges facing the sector.

Participants also discussed the responsibility of land users, the use of potentially contaminated territories without following legally required procedures, the need to inform farmers about the risks and legal consequences of such actions, and countering so-called “black demining”.

Representatives of the legal community emphasised that humanitarian demining is a relatively new area for Ukrainian law enforcement practice. Among the priorities they highlighted were increasing legal certainty for certain procedures, eliminating legislative conflicts, improving control and monitoring mechanisms for completed works, and developing unified approaches to assessing possible violations in the field of mine action. At the same time, the lawyers expressed their readiness to contribute to the development of solutions for the growth of the sector and the improvement of the regulatory framework, taking into account the practical experience of operators and state bodies.

“The issues raised today by humanitarian demining market participants must be transformed into practical solutions – from legislative changes to their real-world application. This is how an effective system is built that meets the actual needs of the sector,” noted Volodymyr Martynenko, Deputy Chairman of the Ukrainian National Bar Association’s Legal Practice Committee.

Following the roundtable, participants agreed to continue cooperation between state bodies, humanitarian demining operators and the legal community. This includes both the development of amendments to the regulatory framework and the formation of a common understanding of procedures, standards and the limits of responsibility for all parties involved.

Humanitarian demining remains one of the key elements of Ukraine’s recovery. The speed at which land can be returned to safe use, economic activity restored, and people’s safety ensured depends on the quality of the regulatory framework and the effectiveness of its implementation.