From September 16 to 27, 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, monitoring the training of the Demining and Amphibious Engineering Battalion (BDIAN) of the Colombian Navy and supporting the accreditation of civilians trained by the Colombian Campaign Against Mines (CCCM).
The monitoring of the BDIAN Humanitarian Demining Supervisors Course took place at the Peacekeeping Operations Training and Capacity Building Center in Coveñas (Department of Sucre). The operational evaluation of the CCCM took place in the town of Carepa (Antioquia). In total, the GMI-CO, with officers from the Brazilian Navy, Brazilian Army and Mexican Army, supported the training evaluation of 24 Colombians to operate against the scourge of antipersonnel mines.
Brazilian Army Major Luã Mascarenhas de Carvalho, one of those who participated in the activities, said that they are also “excellent opportunities to share lessons learned and verify good practices that can be used by other organizations in Colombia.” Since 2006, GMI-CO has supported the efforts of the OAS and the Colombian authorities to reduce the effects of antipersonnel mines and improvised explosive devices, which have plagued the population of this country for six decades.
