Global Leaders Call for an End to the Production and Use of Land Mines
World leaders, including U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Pope Francis, have issued a strong call for nations to halt the production and use of land mines, even as their global deployment increases.
Speaking at the fifth review of the International Mine Ban Treaty in Cambodia, Guterres warned that despite the treaty’s 25-year anniversary, some countries have resumed using anti-personnel mines, and several parties are failing to meet their commitments to destroy existing stockpiles.
“I call on states parties to meet their obligations and ensure compliance with the convention, while addressing humanitarian and developmental impacts through financial and technical support,” Guterres urged, adding that a world without anti-personnel mines is within reach.
Pope Francis, represented by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, echoed the call for an immediate end to land mine use, emphasizing the severe and lasting harm caused to civilians, particularly children. The Pope’s statement highlighted the ongoing suffering caused by “treacherous devices” left behind after conflicts.
The Ottawa Convention, signed in 1997 and ratified in 1999, has been adopted by 164 nations, but key producers and users, such as the United States, China, Russia, India, Pakistan, and South Korea, remain outside its scope.
A report from the Landmine Monitor revealed that countries like Russia, Myanmar, Iran, and North Korea continue to use land mines, while non-state armed groups in Colombia, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, and the Gaza Strip also deploy these deadly devices.
In 2023 and 2024, at least 5,757 people were reported killed or injured by land mines and unexploded ordnance, with civilians accounting for the majority of casualties, one-third of whom were children. The report also noted that Russia’s extensive use of anti-personnel mines in Ukraine, alongside U.S. plans to supply such mines to Kyiv, has raised significant concerns.
Cambodia, once one of the world’s most mine-affected countries, has made significant strides in demining, clearing over 200 square kilometers of land in 2023 alone, along with Croatia. The efforts have reduced casualties from over 4,300 in 1996 to fewer than 100 annually in the past decade. Prime Minister Hun Manet praised the global support for Cambodia’s demining efforts and called for more nations to join the Mine Ban Treaty.
“The tragic history of Cambodia has turned into a powerful lesson for the world,” said Hun Manet, emphasizing the importance of global cooperation in advocating for a mine-free world.
Source: Africanews with AP
