The fifth review conference of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, held recently in Siem Reap, Cambodia, spotlighted the persistent global threat of land mines. Known as the Ottawa Convention, this 1997 treaty aims to halt the production and deployment of land mines worldwide. Despite progress, land mines remain a pressing issue, as highlighted by both United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres and Pope Francis.
Guterres noted significant advancements achieved under the Convention, including the destruction of over 55 million anti-personnel devices across more than 13,000 square kilometers in 60 countries. However, he warned of ongoing threats arising from renewed use by some parties and countries lagging in their commitments to dismantle these weapons. His detailed remarks underscored the importance of sustained international vigilance and cooperation.
Pope Francis emphasized the humanitarian dimensions of the issue, urging global reflection on conflict’s role as a fundamental breakdown of universal human family ideals. His message articulated a compelling moral argument against ongoing land mine deployment, lamenting that all of humanity suffers losses when lives are endangered by these devices.
The conference was in alignment with the release of the Landmine Monitor‘s 2024 report, which reveals that land mines injured or killed 5,757 individuals in 2023, with 84 percent of victims being civilians and a significant proportion being children. The report casts a spotlight on the exacerbated land mine crisis following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, highlighting Russia’s non-participation in the Mine Ban Treaty and its use of land mines on Ukrainian territory, a recognized party to the treaty.
Moreover, the report identifies mine production and use by governments in Myanmar, Iran, and North Korea, together with non-state actors in Colombia, India, Pakistan, and Palestine between mid-2023 and October 2024. This ongoing issue underscores the necessity for renewed efforts and commitments from countries worldwide to eradicate land mine use and mitigate the humanitarian fallout they perpetuate.
Further details of the conference and related discussions can be explored in the full article available on JURIST.