On 50th Anniversary of Vietnam War, Baldwin Leads Resolution Honoring 2025 International Day of Mine Awareness
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) introduced a Senate resolution honoring April 4, 2025, as International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action and recognizing April 30, 2025, as the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War.
“The Vietnam War left a lasting mark across Southeast Asia, and it’s our responsibility to continue working hand and hand with our allies to protect civilians from the legacy of this conflict,” said Senator Baldwin. “50 years after Americans withdrew from Vietnam, unexploded mines still kill and injure men, women, and children who had no part in this fight every year. I’m proud to recognize this anniversary and International Day of Mine Awareness to remember this critical work to protect innocent civilians continues well beyond the end date of the Vietnam War.”
In 2005, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared that April 4 of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. On April 30, 1975, North Vietnam captured Saigon, effectively ending the civil war. Vietnam remains one of the world’s most impacted countries with respect to uncleared mines and other unexploded ordnance (UXO). Since the war ended, 40,000 people have been killed by UXO and 60,000 injured. At least 25,000 people have been killed or injured by explosives in Laos, and at least 65,000 people in Cambodia since 1979.
Senator Baldwin leads the bipartisan Legacies of War Recognition and Unexploded Ordnance Removal Act to remove landmines in Southeast Asia and support the establishment of victim support programs for those affected by remnants of war. The legislation also recognizes the contributions of the many communities and Diasporas from Southeast Asia who supported and defended the United States Armed Forces during the war in Vietnam.
In addition to recognizing April 4, 2025 as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action and recognizes April 30, 2025 as the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War, the resolution also:
- reaffirms the leadership of the United States in eliminating landmines and unexploded ordnance;
- acknowledges the global impacts of landmines and highlights the United States role in clearing landmines, cluster bombs, and other munitions;
- recognizes the U.S. Servicemembers and the Southeast Asian Communities that supported them during the Vietnam War;
- recognizes the ongoing humanitarian harm caused by unexploded ordnance remaining in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia;
- recognizes additional humanitarian priorities caused by the use of landmines, cluster bombs, and munitions in Ukraine, the Middle East, and elsewhere;
- affirms the Senate’s commitment to support international humanitarian efforts to eliminate landmines and unexploded ordnance;
- calls upon the U.S. Government to continue providing funding necessary to support international humanitarian demining activities; and
- reaffirms the goals of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
“We at The HALO Trust are grateful for the leadership of Senator Tammy Baldwin in introducing a resolution to recognize International Mine Awareness Day. Demining programs provide life-saving support across the globe while making America safer, stronger, and more prosperous. This legislation is critical to reaffirming the U.S. commitment to demining and honors the tireless efforts of deminers who work every day to make communities safe,” said Chris Whatley, Executive Director, The HALO Trust (USA).
"As the daughter of a surgeon who treated survivors of landmines and cluster munitions, I’ve seen the lasting impact of these weapons. I’m deeply grateful for Senator Baldwin’s resolution recognizing April 4, 2025, as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. It honors the courage of survivors, deminers, and medical professionals—and reaffirms our duty to act. Thanks to strong U.S. leadership, we’ve made real progress but millions still live in fear. I urge continued U.S. leadership and funding to rid the world of these deadly legacies of war once and for all,” said Sera Koulabdara, CEO, Legacies of War and Co-Chair of the War Legacies Working Group.
Full text of this resolution is available here.
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