Representatives of Ukrainian civil society, including the Ukrainian Deminers Association (UDA), who are currently visiting Baku, visited the International Eurasia Press Fund. During the meeting, the sides discussed prospects for cooperation in humanitarian demining, mine risk education, assistance to victims, and the exchange of experience between organizations from Azerbaijan and Ukraine.
Prior to the meeting, the Ukrainian delegation participated in a traditional international demining conference jointly organized by the Mine Action Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ANAMA) and the United Nations Office in Azerbaijan.
The Ukrainian side was represented at the meeting at the International Eurasia Press Fund by Timur Pistryukha, Chairman of the Board of the Ukrainian Deminers Association.
During the meeting, representatives of the Ukrainian side shared the organization's practical experience and presented modern educational and digital solutions in the fields of Mine Risk Education and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE).
Particular attention was paid to working with children. The Ukrainian Deminers Association has developed digital educational tools aimed at teaching children how to behave safely when encountering mines and other explosive ordnance.
According to representatives of the organization, the use of modern gaming technologies makes education more accessible, understandable, and engaging for children.
The sides also discussed inclusive approaches to mine risk education. In particular, the Ukrainian side presented materials designed for people with visual and hearing impairments, including educational materials in Braille and training sessions using sign-language interpretation.
Another key topic of the meeting was the exchange of practical experience between organizations from the two countries.
Timur Pistryukha spoke about the peer-to-peer approach, which involves direct cooperation between specialized organizations, mutual visits, the exchange of knowledge, and learning about partners' work directly in the field.
According to him, this approach not only allows organizations to adopt successful practices but also to adapt them to the specific conditions and needs of each country.
The Ukrainian side also expressed interest in studying Azerbaijan's experience in humanitarian demining, mine risk education, and the rehabilitation of territories cleared of mines and other explosive ordnance.
For their part, representatives of the International Eurasia Press Fund emphasized the importance of international experience-sharing in mine action and expressed their readiness to further develop cooperation with Ukrainian partners.
Following the meeting, the sides agreed to continue cooperation and decided to prepare and sign a Memorandum of Understanding. The document is intended to provide a foundation for long-term cooperation between the organizations, including the exchange of experience and knowledge, the implementation of joint initiatives, the organization of educational activities, and the development of cooperation in humanitarian demining and mine risk education.
It should be noted that the International Eurasia Press Fund actively participates in international cooperation in the field of mine action and the implementation of humanitarian projects in Azerbaijan.
The Ukrainian Deminers Association (UDA) is a non-governmental organization working in the field of mine action and humanitarian demining. The Association participates in the survey and clearance of territories contaminated by mines and explosive ordnance, provides mine safety education to the population, implements Mine Risk Education and Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) programs, and provides assistance to people affected by mines and other explosive ordnance.
Another area of the organization's work is the development of educational programs for children, including the use of digital and gaming technologies, as well as inclusive materials for people with visual and hearing impairments. The organization also promotes international cooperation and the exchange of professional expertise in humanitarian demining.
