On December 19, 2023, the Group of Inter-American Humanitarian Demining Monitors in Colombia (GMI-CO), a mission of the Inter-American Defense Board (IADB) in support of the Comprehensive Action Program against Antipersonnel Mines of the Organization of American States , participated, in Bogotá, in the farewell ceremony for members of the Mission of Instructors and Advisors in Humanitarian Demining in Colombia (MIADH-CO), created in 2015 following a bilateral agreement between Brazil and Colombia.
Since 2006, with the creation of the GMI-CO, Brazil has sent soldiers to Colombia to support training and quality management of humanitarian demining, allowing the exchange of knowledge in the removal of improvised explosive devices and antipersonnel mines.
At the ceremony, the Head of the GMI-CO, Captain (Brazilian Marine) Leonel Mariano da Silva Júnior, awarded 6 soldiers from the Army and 2 from the Brazilian Navy, who acted as advisors or instructors in military organizations Colombians, the IADB's Humanitarian Demining Expert badge, in recognition of the professional capacity they have demonstrated, contributing to saving lives and liberating lands.
For the Head of the MIADH-CO, Colonel (Brazilian Army) Sergio Roger Arrais Torres, one of those who received the badge, “This honors us, representing important recognition by the IADB to the work in favor of human security in Colombia.” . For Sergeant Major (Brazilian Marine) Rogerio Arruda Ribeiro, who has also been honored, “this mission was the consolidation of the knowledge acquired in years of our military career, where we were able to do our best to save lives.”
Since its creation, the GMI-CO has supported the efforts of the OAS and the Colombian authorities to reduce the effects of explosive devices and antipersonnel mines, which have penalized the population of this country for six decades. Currently, the Group is made up of officers from the Brazilian Navy, the Brazilian Army and the Mexican Army.
