On the 18th of June, DLS Inc. Mechem had international visitors who had come for the GICHD (Geneva International Center for Humanitarian Demining). The group held the first day of the conference at DLS in the Auditorium. The second day was spent at Paardefontein on the CSIR Testing Grounds where the various organisations involved in humanitarian activities exhibited their products and services. The guests were even treated to an exciting ride on the Casspir vehicle.

The GICHD is a neutral organisation sponsored by the Swiss Government and the UN and is the “neutral standard setter” for all humanitarian and commercial demining. The organisation is the custodian of the International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) which all demining has to adhere to. The International Campaign to Ban the Landmine (ICBL) as well as a number of similar conventions such as the Convention against Cluster Ammunition are all managed by the GICHD. This technology workshop is the first to take place outside of Geneva and is co-hosted by the UN Mine Action Services (UNMAS) which falls under the UN Dept of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO).

In the words of Ashley Williams, General Manager of Mechem: “This workshop has been held every second year since 2002 and this was the first time that it was held outside of Geneva. The feedback received from all the participants as well as the GICHD staff was overwhelmingly positive and everyone was impressed by our beautiful country as well as the hospitality of the DLS staff. The program also ran smoothly and everyone was more than satisfied with our facilities (I wonder what they will say if they see DLS in a year’s time?) and their functionality. However things don’t just go smoothly by chance, people must make it happen! Please allow me to thank each and every one of you sincerely for your contribution, however big or small, in making this workshop such a huge success. I do believe we did ourselves proud and our guests left with a positive impression of DLS as a company”.  

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