Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining

Landmine removal organisation

Logo Director Ambassador Stefano Toscano Foundation In 1998 by the Swiss government as a non profit foundation Staff 60 Headquarters Maison de la paix,Geneva,Switzerland Website www. gichd. org Location
The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD; ) is an international organisation working in mine action and explosive ordnance risk reduction, with a focus on landmines, cluster munitions and ammunition stockpiles. Based in the Maison de la paix in Geneva, it is legally a non profit foundation in Switzerland. It was established by Switzerland and several other countries in April 1998. In March 2003, the GICHD concluded a status agreement with the Swiss Government guaranteeing its independence and freedom of action. The Centre has over 60 staff members and is financially supported by  more than 30 governments and organisations.

The GICHD enables its partners to reduce risks to communities from explosive ordnance by furthering knowledge, promoting norms and standards, developing capacities, and facilitating dialogue and cooperation.

The GICHD is an international centre of expertise and knowledge, operating in line with humanitarian principles, supporting approximately 40 affected states and territories every year. Its work focuses on four main areas: facilitating dialogue and cooperation, providing technical support and training, advancing research on mine action and ammunition management and supporting the development and implementation of international norms and standards. The Centre's areas of competence include anti personnel mines, all other types of mines and explosive ordnance in a broad sense of the term, including all forms of mines, booby traps, unexploded ordnance (UXO) including cluster munitions, and abandoned ordnance (AXO). The GICHD responds across the full spectrum of emergency, reconstruction, peace keeping, disarmament, reconstruction and development. It does so by respecting the primary responsibility of affected states for mine action, and by placing emphasis on local ownership and capacity building.

The Centre’s main partners are national governments, international and regional organisations, local and international non governmental organisations, research centres and commercial companies working in the area of mine action and explosive ordnance. Its sister organisations are the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces and the Geneva Centre for Security Policy.

The GICHD, in partnership with others, strives to provide capacity development support, undertake applied research and develop standards, all aimed at increasing the performance and professionalism of mine action. In addition, the GICHD supports the implementation of relevant instruments of international law. : The GICHD has observer status at the States Parties meetings of the Convention. Since 1999, the GICHD has supported the implementation of the Convention, primarily by hosting meetings of the Standing Committees established by the Convention’s States Parties. In September 2001, the States Parties mandated the GICHD to provide enhanced support to their efforts through the establishment of an Implementation Support Unit (ISU). The ISU's duties include providing support and advice to the Presidency of the Meetings of the State Parties and to Standing Committee Co chairs, communicating information about the Convention and its implementation, and developing and maintaining a Documentation Centre. On behalf of a group of donors, the GICHD administers its sponsorship programme. In addition, on an ongoing basis, the GICHD provides expert advice to the States Parties on mine clearance, mine risk education, and stockpile destruction. It shares the building with the Graduate Institute, the Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), and the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF). It is the main element of the campus de la paix (the campus of peace).