United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has launched a life-saving campaign aimed at reinforcing global commitment to mine action, in light of growing concerns over the weakening of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.
The 1997 treaty also known as the Ottawa Convention prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. Since its adoption, it has significantly curtailed the global use and production of these weapons, leading to the destruction of over 40 million stockpiled mines, according to the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA).
Currently, 165 countries are party to the convention, with 133 having signed it. However, recent announcements by five European nations Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland—indicating their intent to withdraw from the treaty, have alarmed global peace advocates. These countries reportedly cite security concerns related to Russia as justification.
Without directly naming them, Guterres voiced his deep concern, warning that such decisions threaten to undermine decades of progress. “At a time when civilians face heightened risks from widening conflicts, it is imperative that we strengthen the frameworks that protect human life and dignity,” he said. “These announcements are particularly troubling, as they risk weakening civilian protection and undermining two decades of a normative framework that has saved countless lives.”
The Secretary-General called on all nations to uphold humanitarian disarmament treaties and urged the 32 countries that have yet to join the Ottawa Convention including China, Iran, Israel, Russia, and the United States to do so without delay.
The new campaign will focus on upholding humanitarian disarmament norms, accelerating mine action as a catalyst for human rights and sustainable development, and advancing the goal of a mine-free world. Over the next six months, the initiative aims to rekindle public support for disarmament and encourage tangible actions by states to strengthen mine action efforts.
Guterres concluded with a powerful reminder: “The urgency of this matter cannot be overstated. The protection of innocent lives depends on our collective action and commitment.”
