The Mines Advisory Group (MAG) is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), which assists people affected by landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO) and SALW (Small Arms Light Weapons).
MAG takes a humanitarian approach to landmine action. This means that they do not focus on metrics such as land area cleared or numbers of landmines removed. Instead, they focus on the impact of their work on local communities. This approach recognises that although the number of landmines in an area may be small, the effect on a community can be crippling. Targets are therefore determined locally, in response to liaison with affected communities, and local authorities.
MAG field operations are managed and implemented by nationals of the affected countries, with MAG expatriate staff taking a monitoring and training role. MAG provides work for many members of affected communities, with families of landmine victims taking an active role.
MAG is based in Manchester, UK and has a sister organisation, MAG America in Washington, D.C., USA. As part of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, MAG was co-laureate of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize.
