Latest news with #ProductionandTransferofAnti-PersonnelMinesandontheirDestruction
Scoop
an hour ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Adhering To Bans On Mines Only In Peace Time Will Not Work: UN Rights Chief
2 July 2025 Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine have taken or are considering steps to withdraw from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction – known also as the Ottawa Convention, after the Canadian city where the process was launched. 'These weapons risk causing persistent and long-term, serious harm to civilians, including children,' Volker Türk, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said in a statement. 'Like other international humanitarian law treaties, the Ottawa Convention was principally designed to govern the conduct of parties to armed conflicts.' 'Adhering to them in times of peace only to withdraw from them in times of war or for newly invoked national security considerations seriously undermines the framework of international humanitarian law.' A threat to civilians Anti-personnel mines are one of the two main types of mines and target people – as opposed to anti-vehicle mines. However, because both of these mines are triggered automatically, they result in huge numbers of civilian deaths, especially children. Their deadly risks linger long after hostilities end, contaminating farmland, playgrounds, and homes, and posing a constant threat to unsuspecting civilians. Agreed in 1997, the Ottawa Convention prohibits signatories from using, stockpiling, producing or transferring anti-personnel mines due to the threat that these weapons pose to civilians, especially children. In the two-and-a-half decades since it was passed, the Ottawa Convention has 166 States parties, has led to the a marked reduction in the use of anti-personnel mines. Trends reversing However, in recent years, these positive trends have begun to reverse with the number of civilians killed and injured by mines increasing by 22 per cent in 2024 – 85 per cent of the casualties were civilians and half of them were children. Despite progress, some 100 million people across 60 countries still live under the threat of landmines. In Ukraine, for instance, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) estimates that more than 20 per cent of the country's land is contaminated – amounting to 139,000 square kilometres. Similarly, landmines remain still a significant threat in Cambodia, decades after the end of the conflict and years of de-mining efforts. Uphold international law Mr. Türk urged all parties to the Ottawa Convention to uphold their international legal obligations regarding anti-personnel mines and on non-signatories to join the Convention. 'With so many civilians suffering from the use of anti-personnel mines, I call on all States to refrain from leaving any international humanitarian law treaty, and to immediately suspend any withdrawal process that may be underway.'
AsiaOne
3 days ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Ukraine on track to withdraw from Ottawa anti-personnel mines treaty, Zelenskiy decree shows, World News
KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday (June 29) he had signed a decree to pull Ukraine out of the Ottawa Convention banning the production and use of anti-personnel mines as a necessary step in view of Russian tactics in their 40-month-old war. Ukraine ratified the convention in 2005. Other countries bordering Russia, notably Finland, Poland and the three ex-Soviet Baltic states — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — have either withdrawn from the convention or indicated that they would do so. Zelenskiy said in his nightly video address that Russia had never been a party to the convention "and is using anti-personnel mines with utmost cynicism" along with other weapons, including ballistic missiles. "This is a hallmark of Russian killers. To destroy life by all means at their disposal... We see how our neighbours in Europe react to this threat," he said. "We also know the complexities of the withdrawal procedure when it is conducted during war. We take this political step and give a signal to our political partners on what to focus on. This concerns all countries that border Russia," he said. Anti-personnel mines, Zelenskiy said, are "often the instrument for which nothing can be substituted for defence purposes." Russia has used anti-personnel mines extensively in parts of Ukraine where its forces have been operating. Ukraine sees the clearing of such mines as a key element in post-war recovery. The decree appearing on the president's website calls for support for a Ukrainian foreign ministry proposal to "withdraw Ukraine from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction of Sept 18, 1997." A senior Ukrainian lawmaker, Roman Kostenko, said that parliamentary approval was still needed to withdraw from the treaty. "This is a step that the reality of war has long demanded. Russia is not a party to this Convention and is massively using mines against our military and civilians," Kostenko, secretary of the Ukrainian parliament's committee on national security, defence and intelligence, said on his Facebook page. "We cannot remain tied down in an environment where the enemy has no restrictions," he added, saying that the legislative decision must definitively restore Ukraine's right to effectively defend its territory. Russia has intensified its offensive operations in Ukraine in recent months, using significant superiority in manpower. Kostenko did not say when the issue would be debated in parliament. [[nid:719619]]
GMA Network
3 days ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Zelenskiy signs decree to withdraw Ukraine from anti-landmine treaty
KYIV — Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has signed a decree on the country's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the production and use of anti-personnel mines, the presidential website said on Sunday. Ukraine ratified the convention in 2005. "Support the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to withdraw Ukraine from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction of September 18, 1997," the decree, published on Zelenskiy's website, stated. A senior Ukrainian lawmaker, Roman Kostenko, said that parliamentary approval is still needed to withdraw from the treaty. "This is a step that the reality of war has long demanded. Russia is not a party to this Convention and is massively using mines against our military and civilians," Kostenko, secretary of the Ukrainian parliament's committee on national security, defense and intelligence, said on his Facebook page. "We cannot remain tied down in an environment where the enemy has no restrictions," he added, saying that the legislative decision must definitively restore Ukraine's right to effectively defend its territory. Russia has intensified its offensive operations in Ukraine in recent months, using significant superiority in manpower. Kostenko did not say when the issue would be debated in parliament. — Reuters
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Ukraine on track to withdraw from Ottawa anti-personnel mines treaty, Zelenskiy decree shows
KYIV - Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has signed a decree on the country's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, which bans the production and use of anti-personnel mines, the presidential website said on Sunday. Ukraine ratified the convention in 2005. "Support the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to withdraw Ukraine from the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction of September 18, 1997," the decree, published on Zelenskiy's website, stated. A senior Ukrainian lawmaker, Roman Kostenko, said that parliamentary approval is still needed to withdraw from the treaty. "This is a step that the reality of war has long demanded. Russia is not a party to this Convention and is massively using mines against our military and civilians," Kostenko, secretary of the Ukrainian parliament's committee on national security, defence and intelligence, said on his Facebook page. "We cannot remain tied down in an environment where the enemy has no restrictions," he added, saying that the legislative decision must definitively restore Ukraine's right to effectively defend its territory. Russia has intensified its offensive operations in Ukraine in recent months, using significant superiority in manpower. Kostenko did not say when the issue would be debated in parliament. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Rhyl Journal
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Rhyl Journal
UK commitment to landmine ban ‘unwavering' says minister as allies exit
Defence minister Lord Coaker restated the UK's support for the Ottawa Convention as the Government was pressed over whether it was considering following Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia in withdrawing from the treaty. The move by the nations bordering Russia comes amid growing fears about their belligerent neighbour following the invasion of Ukraine. Moscow has used landmines in its deadly onslaught. Lord Coaker said while the UK acknowledged the security concerns in the region and the right of countries to make this decision, it discouraged states from using anti-personnel landmines. He highlighted the important role played by the convention in protecting civilians from the harm caused by the indiscriminate weapons. His response comes amid concerns that the UK's international obligations are a barrier to bolstering the nation's defence. During a debate in the Lords earlier this year, former military chief Lord Stirrup warned over 'absolute prohibitions… especially when they are applied only to the defender'. Meanwhile, the newly published national security strategy warns Britain must actively prepare for a 'wartime scenario' on domestic soil 'for the first time in many years'. The document was released as the Prime Minister attended a Nato leaders' summit in the Netherlands, where allies were being asked to hike defence funding to 5% of national economic output. Responding to a parliamentary written question on the Ottawa Convention, Lord Coaker said: 'His Majesty's Government (HMG) has noted that Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have stated their intention to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention. 'The UK acknowledges and shares concerns about the security environment in the region as a result of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. 'We also acknowledge that it is the sovereign right of those countries to make this decision. 'The UK will work to mitigate impacts on vital arms control and disarmament norms, while continuing to engage bilaterally on the actions states plan to take.' He added: 'The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (also known as the Ottawa Convention) continues to play an important role in protecting civilians from harm caused by anti-personnel landmines. 'As a state party to the Ottawa Convention, the UK's commitment to it remains unwavering. 'We continue to encourage countries to join the Ottawa Convention, subscribe to its provisions and discourage states from using anti-personnel landmines.'
