From October 21 to November 2, 2024, the Inter-American Group of Monitors for Humanitarian Demining in Colombia (GMI-CO), a mission of the Inter-American Defense Board in support of the Comprehensive Action Program against Antipersonnel Mines of the Organization of American States (AICMA-OAS), was deployed in Colombian territory, acting in evaluations for the accreditation of operators of civil organizations Humanity and Inclusion (HI) and Danish Refugee Council (DRC).
The operational evaluations took place in the towns of Remedios (Antioquia) and San José del Fragua (Caquetá), accrediting 30 Colombians (17 men and 13 women) to operate as Deminers, Team Leaders, Non-Technical Study Assistants (for tasks of delimitation of suspicious areas), or Experts in Explosive Ordnance Disposal.
Lieutenant Captain (Brazilian Marine) Leandro Gomes Ferreira, one of those who supported the assessments, said: “Such action is essential to ensure the safety of the teams and contribute to the goal of a mine-free Colombia, promoting a safer and more hopeful future for all.”
Since 2006, the GMI-CO has supported the efforts of the OAS and Colombian authorities to reduce the effects of antipersonnel mines and improvised explosive devices, which have penalized the population of this country for six decades. Currently, the Group is made up of officers from the Brazilian Navy, Brazilian Army and Mexican Army.
