A boy from Myanmar was seriously injured by a mine. Anti-personnel mines: UN Secretary-General warns of consequences of weakening the Ottawa Convention Peace and Security
The 22nd Meeting of States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, or Ottawa Convention, opens in Geneva this week. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the states participating in the treaty to reaffirm their commitment to a world without these deadly weapons.
The meeting is taking place against the backdrop of serious challenges for the Ottawa Convention, one of the key international instruments for humanitarian disarmament. A number of recent events including the withdrawal of individual countries from the treaty and statements of suspension of obligations (which are not provided for in the document) – highlight the need to update commitments and reaffirm the basic principles Treaty.
In a video message to the meeting participants, the Secretary-General expressed deep concern about the erosion of humanitarian norms aimed at protecting civilians from indiscriminate weapons. He called for both expanding the number of participants in the Convention and strengthening the commitment to its implementation among the countries that have already signed the document.
The danger of anti-personnel mines remains
“Anti-personnel mines belong to the most brutal and indiscriminate types of weapons. They continue to kill and maim people long after conflicts have ended. Four out of every five victims are civilians, often children,” the UN chief noted.
But those injured by mines face long-term health consequences as well as social isolation and financial difficulties due to disability. on recovery and economic development.
Need for a new impulse
Over the quarter century that the Convention has been in effect, the number of casualties has dropped significantly, millions of stockpiled mines have been destroyed, vast areas have been cleared, and a number of countries have declared themselves “mine-free.” Today, 166 states are parties to the treaty—more than three-quarters of the UN members. The recent accession of the Marshall Islands and Tonga confirms the relevance of the objectives of the Convention.
As part of its humanitarian disarmament and mine action campaign, which The UN Office for Disarmament Affairs and the UN Mine Action Service, with the support of the Inter-Agency Mine Action Coordination Group, the Secretary-General calls for the urgent strengthening of international humanitarian law, the development of partnerships in this area and ensuring that commitments undertaken by States have brought real benefits to people.
The Twenty-Second Meeting of the Parties to the Convention provides a chance to reaffirm its goals and give new impetus to efforts to end the use of anti-personnel mines around the world.
“We must renew our commitment to protecting human lives and upholding international law and return hope to communities that still live with threats min”, – stressed the UN Secretary General.