Photo Exhibition at the Atrium, City Hall of The Hague

In the picture H.E. Mr. Heinz Walker-Nederkoorn, Ambassador of Switzerland to the Netherlands.

The Swiss Embassy in the Netherlands presented Life of  Mine, a  photo exhibition curated by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) to mark the International Day of Mine Awareness  (April 4) in the Atrium of the City Hall of The Hague. 

During his speech, Ambassador Walker-Nederkoorn remarked: When my colleagues in Switzerland offered us the possibility of presenting this exhibition, my Deputy Mirko Zambelli and I immediately thought that The Hague, City of Peace of Justice, would be the perfect location.  It is perhaps a way to show the complementarity of Geneva and The Hague as two international cities hosting organisations engaged to promote human rights, sustainable development, safe migration, peace and justice. It is also important to note that this year marks the 70^th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions. The mine action we are promoting today relates directly to the humanitarian spirit embedded in these conventions.

A series of photographs by Johannes Müller showed to hundreds of visitors the manifold impact that the explosive remnants of war have on communities, shedding light on the people whose lives have been impacted by explosive hazards and those who dedicate their lives to eliminating them. 

“For almost 10 years I have been covering conflict areas, war zones and combat theaters as a freelance photographer, working on documentaries on some of the most gruesome, brutal and inhuman conflicts of our time. Cease-fire or even liberation don’t necessarily mean that you are safe. In fact, this is – in most conflicts – the most dangerous phase for human beings. A phase that can stretch over decades.” Johannes Müller, photographer.

The exhibit with the main purpose of giving mine action a human face, runed from April 9 to 30 at the Atrium Den Haag (The Hague’s City Hall). Life-sized portrait photos allow viewers to truly “encounter” the subjects via their stories, at a very emotional and human level, to provide a deep, empathy-generating insight into mine action. The images were taken in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lebanon and Colombia.

The GICHD works toward keeping communities safe from the risks stemming from explosive ordinance. It supports its partners around the world to save lives and restore livelihoods.

By offering workshops and training courses, developing concepts, methods and tools, promoting open dialogue, sharing knowledge and promoting the effective and efficient use of resources,  the Centre supports the ultimate goals of mine action: saving lives, returning land to productive use, and promoting development.

Switzerland is fully committed to a world without new victims of mines, cluster munitions, and explosive remnants of war, and is a founding member of the GICHD.

For more information about the International Day of Mine Awareness, please visit Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining – GICHD and www.lifeofmine.org. #togetheragainstmines

Ms Dagmāra Skudra joined Eurojust on 1 May. She replaced Gunars Bundzis, who was National Member for Latvia from May 2004 until his retirement in April 2019.

Ms Skudra has had a career in public service for more than 20 years. She started at the Information Centre of the Ministry of the Interior in 1997, and switched to the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Latvia in 1999, starting as Assistant to the Prosecutor.

She was promoted to Prosecutor in 2001, and became active in the International Cooperation Division in 2002. In April of this year, when she left the Prosecutor General’s Office, she was Deputy Prosecutor General and Head Prosecutor of the Department of Analysis and Management.

From 2004 to 2013, Ms Skudra was, in addition to her duties in the Prosecutor General’s Office, also Deputy to the National Member of Latvia at Eurojust. Since 2012, she has been a European Judicial Network Contact Point. She has also represented Latvia on the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors since 2017.

Ms Skudra graduated from the Faculty of Law of the University of Latvia in 2000, and also holds an LL.M. from the University of Augsburg.

Upon her arrival at Eurojust, Ms Skudra said: ‘I am pleased to be joining my colleagues in the College as National Member for Latvia. My association with Eurojust goes back a long way, and I look forward to continuing the good work of my predecessor, who served from the very beginning of Latvia’s membership in the European Union. My familiarity with Eurojust and the EJN, as well as my many years in international cooperation, have prepared me for this next step in my career.’ 

Mr Christian Lange, the German Parliamentary Secretary of State for Justice and Consumer Protection, visited Eurojust, the EU’s Judicial Cooperation Unit. Mr Lange met with Mr Ladislav Hamran, President of Eurojust, and Mr Klaus Meyer-Cabri, Vice-President of Eurojust, to discuss Germany’s invaluable contribution to fighting cross-border crime in the European Union, and how Germany can further support Eurojust’s efforts towards a safer Europe.

The discussions centred on enhancing judicial cooperation within the European Union and beyond, as well as on promoting the use of Eurojust’s cooperation tools and instruments. Eurojust’s President and Vice-President emphasized the bridge-making role of Eurojust in bringing together prosecutors from 28 different national jurisdictions and 30 legal systems, and stressed the need for appropriate funding for Eurojust’s fight against cross-border crime. 

State Secretary Lange praised the progress made by Eurojust and the German Desk since his first visit in July 2015 in the fight against cross border-crime. He underlined Eurojust’s importance in quickly and effectively coordinating transnational investigations and prosecutions of serious crime, including terrorism, thus ensuring criminal justice across the European continent.

Mr Lange stressed: ‘Eurojust plays a key role in the effective prosecution of cross-border crime in the European Union. German prosecutors frequently exchange information with their European partners via Eurojust. Joint investigation teams, for example, are a major success factor in the investigation of cross-border crime. The further development and strengthening of Eurojust are therefore important to the German Federal Government. In November 2018, the Ministers of Justice of Belgium, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Luxembourg and the Netherlands agreed to reinforce Eurojust and step up their efforts to share findings on criminals and terrorist activities. Germany, particularly the Federal Prosecutor General’s Office, is heavily involved in these efforts, and is eager to contribute in this regard.’

Mr Hamran stated: ‘We warmly welcome the visit of the German Secretary of State as it demonstrates Germany’s important commitment to enhancing our successful collaboration. Eurojust’s successful work is based on European values, with respect for due process and the fundamental rights of European citizens. This work is also an inspiration for States outside the European Union. Only together can we create and sustain an area of freedom and security in Europe. I strongly believe that we can set an example for other countries to join the Eurojust family.’

Mr Meyer-Cabri pointed out: ‘Achieving coordinated investigations through Eurojust’s coordination role is a key element to successfully fight cross-border crime. German prosecutors have fully recognised this potential. In the last four years alone, the support asked by them from the German Desk at Eurojust has risen by 350%. The second visit to Eurojust of the State Secretary shows the full political support of the German Federal Ministry of Justice and Consumer Protection for our work.’