President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has issued a proclamation declaring Thursday, April 4, 2013 as International Mine Awareness Day to be observed throughout Liberia as a Working Holiday.

The proclamation calls on the entire citizenry to join the African Union Liaison in Liberia (AUIOL), the United Nations Mission In Liberia (UNMIL,), the European Union Delegation to Liberia (EU) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to support and organize appropriate programs befitting the occasion.

The proclamation observes that in spite of several treaties which have been put in place to address issues of manufacturing, stockpiling, use destruction of landmines, the scourge has continued.

The proclamation maintains that Liberia as a founding member of the United Nations and other international organizations is committed to every effort exerted by the United Nations General Assembly to curtail the dangers that landmines pose to the general populace across the world.

According to the release, landmines and other ERWs have been used all around the world in conflict situations by both the state and non state actors with devastating consequences, including the death and loss of limbs by innocent individuals during and after these conflicts.

The United Nations General Assembly declared December 8, 2005 as International Mines Awareness Day to be observed on the 4TH of April each year with the aim of promoting greater awareness of the danger of mines and other Explosive Remnants of War (ERWs), the proclamation highlights.