Over the past few weeks, MAG has attended the autumn conferences of the UK’s largest political parties – the Labour Party, the Conservative Party, and the Liberal Democrats.
The conferences took place against a backdrop of rising conflict around the world, which is affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. MAG’s work has never been more important, and we spoke to Members of Parliament and other delegates about the urgent action needed to tackle the impacts and drivers of conflict and armed violence.
Currently, around a quarter of the world’s population lives in conflict-affected areas, and more countries are engaged in conflict than at any time since World War II. When conflict breaks out, it is civilians – especially children – who pay the highest price.
Increasing conflict is having profound impacts on communities. Tens of thousands of people are being killed and injured. People are being displaced in their millions. And the widespread presence of landmines and unexploded ordnance is preventing access to land and exacerbating food insecurity, worsening these humanitarian crises.
That’s why we have been speaking to parliamentarians across the political spectrum and urging the new UK Government to go further in supporting communities affected by conflict.
Liberal Democrat Conference, 14-17 September, Brighton
At the Liberal Democrat Conference in Brighton, MAG’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Najat El Hamri, spoke on a panel alongside Monica Harding MP and our partners at United Against Malnutrition and Hunger and Action Against Hunger, about the strong links between conflict and malnutrition.
Conflict is a major driver of food insecurity, and explosive remnants of war continue to block access to fertile land years after a ceasefire. Clearing unexploded ordnance left behind by conflict in places like Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria is vital for future safety, food security, and development.
Labour Party Conference, 22-25 September, Liverpool
This year’s Labour Party Conference was the first since the new UK Government took office. We were honoured to welcome the Minister for International Development, Rt Hon Anneliese Dodds MP, as the keynote speaker at an event co-hosted by MAG.
At the event, Tackling Conflict in a Volatile World, hosted in collaboration with The HALO Trust, Labour Foreign Policy Group and Labour Campaign for International Development, the Minister spoke about the transformative impact of the UK’s Global Mine Action Programme, which supports mine action in ten countries.
We were also joined by Hamish Falconer MP (Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State – Middle East, North Africa, Afghanistan and Pakistan), Jessica Toale MP (Parliamentary Private Secretary, FCDO), David Taylor MP, Laura Kyrke-Smith MP, Calvin Bailey MP, Fred Thomas MP, Fabian Hamilton MP, and Mike Tapp MP, who all spoke passionately about the need to tackle conflict around the world.
MAG’s Senior Community Liaison Advisor, Myriam, also addressed the audience, sharing her own personal story of surviving conflict in Lebanon and why hope is so important in times of turmoil. Through clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance, MAG brings hope every year to people living with this daily threat.
Conservative Party Conference, 30 September – 2 October, Birmingham
The third and final conference we attended was the Conservative Party Conference. MAG’s Advocacy Manager, Lizzie Humphreys, spoke on a panel hosted by the Coalition for Global Prosperity, discussing how conflict and armed violence around the world is a major driver of global displacement.
We met with Shadow Ministers and senior Conservative MPs to continue building cross-party support for our work in mine action and armed violence reduction.
MAG’s work saves lives, improves food security, enables economic growth, and safe access to education. It allows communities to return safely after conflict and rebuild their livelihoods.
This work is needed more than ever as conflict rages on in many parts of the world, including the Middle East, Myanmar, Sudan, and Ukraine.
Through diplomatic leadership and practical initiatives like the Global Mine Action Programme, the UK should continue to play a leading role in tackling impacts and drivers of conflict, now and in the years to come.
