Representatives of more than 150 countries are gathered in Colombian coastal city Cartagena where on Sunday the Summit on a Mine-Free World kicked off.
The summit was opened by Colombian Vice President Francisco Santos who called on the international community to join his country’s call to illegal armed groups to stop the use of landmines.
Colombia has the highest number of landmine victims in the world as guerrilla groups like the FARC are using landmines to protect the production of coca and obstruct the country’s army.
“I let the voice of thousands of Colombian homes martyred by violence come here. In their name I ask you to join our demand to illegal armed groups to stop laying mines now and in the future. No more mines. Stop the violence against our people,” Santos told the officials.
The summit will last until December 4.
