It felt “more different to images than people expected.”

In this episode of Silent Killers, David Peck interviews Erin Hunt, the Executive Director of Mines Action Canada, discussing her journey into activism, the importance of public engagement, and the role of youth in disarmament efforts. They explore the Mind Action Fellows Program, which empowers young advocates to engage in international diplomacy and share survivor stories. The conversation highlights the challenges faced in the fight against landmines, the importance of celebrating small wins, and the hope for a future free of landmines through collective action and support from decision-makers. Erin Hunt is the Executive Director of Mines Action Canada. She has been doing public education on the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines since 2003 and working in humanitarian disarmament in various capacities since 2006. Erin's areas of expertise include the humanitarian impact of indiscriminate weapons, victim assistance, gender in disarmament and Canadian disarmament policy. She contributes to the work of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, the Cluster Munition Coalition, the International Campaign to Abolish nuclear weapons and Stop Killer Robots. Erin contributes to the Women, Peace and Security Network - Canada and to national and international working groups on feminist and gender sensitive approaches to foreign policy and mine action. During the 2017 process to negotiate the Treaty on the Prohibition of nuclear weapons, Erin was a member of the International Campaign to Abolish nuclear weapons negotiating team which was awarded the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize. Prior to joining Mines Action Canada, Erin worked on victim assistance programs for landmine survivors in Uganda, implemented sport-based peacebuilding programs for youth in a post-conflict setting and worked in child welfare. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from the University of Victoria and a Masters Degree in Human Security and Peacebuilding from Royal Roads University. www.minesactioncanada.org

One of the most devastating diseases finally has a treatment that can slow its progression and transform lives, tearful doctors tell BBC.