The Establishment of Regional Victim Assistance Network “Enhance Victim Assistance Programme in the ASEAN Member States”

12 May 2022

hanoi, Viet Nam - 4 May 2022, the ASEAN Regional Mine Action Center (ARMAC) in collaboration with the Vietnam Mine Action Center (VNMAC), under the project “Enhance Victim Assistance Programme in the ASEAN Member States” with support from the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), hosted a one-day National Consultative Meeting in Hanoi, Viet Nam. The Meeting is the second of the 5 national consultative meetings planned in 2022 to promote the establishment of a Victim Assistance Network (VAN) in the Southeast Asian region.

Using the International Mine Action Standard (IMAS) 13.10 and integrated approach to victim assistance, the participants mapped out roles, responsibilities, coordination mechanisms in promoting the establishment of Network (VAN).  Throughout the discussions, common challenges identified include the lack of clear division of roles and responsibilities for multiple government authorities with disabilities responsibilities, the need for funding to support national institutions to implement services for landmine/ERW victims/survivors, and the lack of an integrated data platform that contains relevant information on victims/survivors. The meeting also presented some personal experiences of ERW survivors/victims who provided a vivid picture of the challenges faced by victims themselves.

The Meeting brought together participants from Humanitarian Mine Action sector including relevant national/international networks and key stakeholders who are working with and/or supporting victims of landmine/ERW, and landmine/ERW survivors/victims to discuss challenges, best practices and share knowledge on victim services implementation.

Keynote speakers include Mr. Nguyen Hanh Phuc, Deputy Director General, VNMAC, and Mr. Wee Joon Seok, Counsellor, Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Viet Nam. ARMAC ED Mr. Prum Suonpraseth led ARMAC’s delegation.