Reflections from the 4th International Mine Action Conference in Baku
From cleared land to economically independent communities
During the 4th International Mine Action Conference in Baku, co-organized by ANAMA and the United Nations in Azerbaijan on –, I spoke with Adriana Aristizabal, founder and CEO of iVoice Communications, a Roots of Peace board member and a former war correspondent in Colombia. Our discussion explored what follows clearance: rebuilding communities and helping returning families become economically independent. She praised Azerbaijan’s progress in restoring villages and essential services, enabling people to return home.
Aristizabal emphasized that governments cannot carry this responsibility alone. She called for NGOs and wider civil society to support practical programmes that help communities develop the skills and livelihoods needed to thrive after resettlement. Reflecting on the conference, she highlighted the value of learning from other countries, including discussions about Ukraine. Her central message was that mine action should create the conditions for lasting recovery, with safe land, functioning communities and a path towards self-reliance.
