This week, MAG joined the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool to engage with ministers, MPs and partners on the UK’s role in tackling conflict, insecurity and humanitarian need around the world.
The Conference provided a valuable opportunity to discuss some of the defining challenges facing the UK and the wider world, and how Britain can respond to them.
Across the Conference, MAG took part in several events alongside The HALO Trust, the Labour Foreign Policy Group, the Coalition for Global Prosperity, ONE Campaign, International Rescue Committee UK and a range of other organisations.
At a reception hosted with The HALO Trust and the Labour Foreign Policy Group, titled Conflict, Recovery and Britain's Role in a More Dangerous World, speakers reflected on rising global conflict and the increasing strain on the international rules designed to protect civilians.
Kirsty McNeill MP, Minister of State for Development and Africa, highlighted the importance of preventing atrocities and upholding international humanitarian law at a time when conflicts increasingly appear to be shedding the constraints and protections that generations have worked to build. Her remarks set a hopeful tone, with a clear message that humanitarian action, development and peacebuilding have strong advocates within government.
Elsewhere at the Conference, Darren Cormack, MAG CEO, chaired a panel co-hosted by BB Partners, a policy advisory firm, bringing together Uma Kumaran MP, Fabian Hamilton MP, Dr Sam Rushworth MP, Adrian Lovett of ONE Campaign and Flora Alexander of International Rescue Committee UK.
The panel discussed how Britain can make the case to the public for continued international engagement, and how development, peacebuilding and humanitarian action can reflect public values around responsibility, solidarity and a better future for the next generation.
MAG also joined the Coalition for Global Prosperity for an event titled Security in a Fragmented World: Rethinking Defence and Development, with panellists Calvin Bailey MBE MP, Fred Thomas MP, Laura Kyrke-Smith MP and Fiona Crack.
The panel recognised the vital role of humanitarian mine action in recovery and development. Communities cannot rebuild, infrastructure cannot be restored and livelihoods cannot recover while land remains contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance. The conversation also explored the opportunities offered by emerging technologies, the importance of resilience and the growing challenge of disinformation.
Next year marks 30 years since the signing of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, which followed the leadership of a Labour Government and a global movement of campaigners, survivors and organisations including MAG.
Three decades on, the commitment to protecting civilians and building a mine-free world remains as important as ever. At a time when international humanitarian law faces growing challenges, it was encouraging to hear ministers, MPs and partners speak strongly about the need to uphold the rules that protect civilians and help prevent future harm.
Humanitarian mine action, armed violence reduction, and weapons and ammunition management help create the conditions for stability, recovery and economic growth. They enable families to return home, farmers to work their land, children to go to school and communities to plan for the future. In this way, they are an important part of building lasting security and peace.
We look forward to continuing these conversations with the Labour Government, working together to help communities affected by conflict build safer futures.
Photos 1, 2, 3 and 4 by Danny Fitzpatrick
Photo 6 by Coalition for Global Prosperity (CGP)
