Delegates from 45 countries and regions attended the third global conference on assistance to landmine victims in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. This important event took place from 17-19 October 2023 and concluded with a commitment to carry out actions and policies to improve the lives of survivors and affected communities.

Exceed Worldwide, as a leader in the provision of Prosthetic and Orthotic education and service provision in lower resource settings, had a stand at the Conference alongside our partners from Regal Prosthesis. This attracted a lot of interest from high-level delegates, including Deputy Prime Minister H.E Dr Neth Savoeun who was welcomed by Sisary Kheng, Cambodian Country Director for Exceed Worldwide and Lim Eng, a person with disability and long-term community support worker with Exceed.

Cambodia was an appropriate venue for the event, as it is one of the countries worst affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERWs). According to the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority’s (CMAA) latest report, landmine and ERW explosions killed almost 20,000 people and injured or amputated over 45,000 others from 1979 to 2023.

Despite these challenges, Cambodia is committed to achieving a mine-free goal by 2025 and, in a closing speech, Ly Thuch, senior minister and first vice-president of CMAA, said that ‘Together, we can build a world where these survivors have access to the care, support and opportunities they deserve.’