Maintenance of international peace and security: Mine action and sustaining peace: Stronger partnerships for better delivery Format Statement of the International Committee of the Red Cross to the United Nations Security Council. Thank you for convening this important discussion today. It offers an opportunity to rekindle the attention and resources to global mine action, an area in which the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has direct experience as a humanitarian organization and in its expertise in international humanitarian law. Landmines, cluster munitions as well as more broadly explosive remnants of war have distinct catastrophic effects on conflict-torn societies. The price in civilian casualties is not only felt during active hostilities but it lingers for many years, even decades, after the end of hostilities. In 2020, the United Nations recorded 4,663 civilian casualties from landmines, cluster munitions and explosive remnants of war, comprising 80% of total casualties from these weapons. Children were particularly affected - 25% of child casualties in armed conflicts were caused by these weapons. Beyond the deaths and life-changing injuries, these weapons cause long-term trauma, psychological and physical rehabilitation needs, and socio-economic impact.