Almost 30 years ago, the world came together in an unprecedented movement to ban the use of landmines. Now, governments around the world want to bring these terrifying, indiscriminate weapons back into use.
Inspired by survivors and campaigners, including the late Princess Diana, world leaders in 1997 supported the Mine Ban Treaty. They recognised that anti-personnel mines are instruments of terror that do not distinguish between combatants and civilians.
Yet in November, the US decided to supply mines to Ukraine. Finland, also began discussions to re-equip its army with these weapons. Last month, the defence ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia announced their intention to withdraw from the Treaty. Poland is even talking about starting up production of new mines.
The human cost of landmines is enormous. Regardless of the type or technology used, the vast majority of victims of anti-personnel mines are civilians. In 2023, over 85% of casualties recorded were civilians, and 50% were children. These weapons have immensely damaging long-term social and economic impacts, destroying lives and economies for decades.
The Mine Ban Treaty has been an unprecedented success. It has saved hundreds of thousands of lives. It discouraged the production of new mines and established a taboo that has kept millions of people safe. But now that progress is under threat.
Please sign this urgent petition and join us to say NO to landmines! We banned them once and we must keep it that way to prevent innocent lives from being torn apart.
