Life-saving landmines charity wins major prize

The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) is a global humanitarian and advocacy organisation

A Manchester-based charity that clears landmines has been selected as the winner of an acclaimed humanitarian award, making it only the fourth British organisation to win the prize.

Mines Advisory Group (MAG) has been announced as the 2025 recipient of the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize.

Since 1989, the Mines Advisory Group has helped more than 23 million people in more than 70 countries rebuild their lives after war.

UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said it was "a source of great pride to see a UK-based organisation receive this prestigious prize".

"Landmines kill indiscriminately and remain lethal long after conflicts are over, so I was privileged to see how the MAG are tackling this critical issue first-hand during my visit to Laos last year," he said.

"Their expert teams not only clear landmines but also run life-saving educational programmes for returning communities to reduce the risk of injury or death."

The charity has hundreds of staff working across more than 30 countries to clear landmines and unexploded ordinance while helping communities recover from their effects.

Efforts are concentrated in places like Cambodia and Laos due to the scale of the problem of mines there.

MAG also provides education programmes, particularly for children

Darren Cormack, chief executive of the MAG, said he was honoured to receive the prize "in recognition of the tireless and courageous work of our global staff".

He said: "Our hope is that this spotlight can help underscore the fundamental human right to live free from the fear of landmines and armed violence.

"Every landmine cleared is a life saved, a community restored, and a future reclaimed."

Since 1996, the Hilton Humanitarian Prize has awarded £34.5m ($46.5m) to 29 non-profit organisations working in some of the world's most challenging environments.

Peter Laugharn, president and CEO of the Conrad N. Hilton Foundation, said: "Through its extraordinary efforts to help communities return to safety and prosperity after conflict, the MAG exemplifies the kind of humanitarian excellence our prize has sought to celebrate and inspire over the last three decades."