Amid Global Instability, Upholding the Mine Ban Treaty is More Critical Than Ever

As the world marks the International Day for Mine Awareness on April 4, 2025, HI highlights the critical progress in banning anti-personnel mines while warning against alarming setbacks threatening decades of achievements. We call on the States to reaffirm their commitment to the treaty and the protection of civilians in armed conflict.

HI launched an appeal to governments to strengthen their commitment to fight against mines, condemning any use of these weapons, by anyone under any circumstances. States must also make every diplomatic effort to mobilize their partners and other States Parties to preserve the integrity of the Ottawa Treaty.

The 1997 Ottawa Treaty has been instrumental in reducing landmine casualties from approximately 25,000 per year in 1999 to fewer than 5,000 in 2023. The number of contaminated states and regions has also declined significantly, from 99 in 1999 to 58 in 2024. Similarly, the 2008 Oslo Treaty, which prohibits cluster munitions, has provided crucial protection for civilians in conflict zones. It is worth noting that the United States has not signed the Ottawa Convention.

The Importance of Protecting Civilians in the Current Context 

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), more than 120 armed conflicts are currently raging worldwide. From Gaza, where a year-long war between Israel and Hamas has devastated the enclave, to Sudan, where an 18-month conflict has displaced more than 11 million people, the humanitarian crisis is deepening. 

In a time of global tension, HI reaffirms the importance of reinforcing the norms that support the protection of civilians in armed conflicts, such as the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

HI calls on the States parties to these treaties to increase support for mine clearance, risk education, and victim assistance.  

Disarmament Treaties Under Threat 

The integrity of these treaties is now under threat. In November 2023, the United States announced the transfer of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine - a move that only a few of the 164 Ottawa Treaty signatories condemned. Discussions are currently underway within the Finnish and Polish governments regarding a potential withdrawal from the Mine Ban Treaty.

In 2023, the United States supplied another banned weapon, cluster munitions, to Ukraine, while Lithuania officially left the Oslo Treaty on March 6, which has banned cluster munitions since 2010. 

Few States Parties raised their voices to denounce such decisions, although it is part of their obligation to defend the treaty. It is another worrisome sign that the international norm to ban landmines and cluster munitions might currently be loosening.

Alma Taslidžan, HI’s Disarmament and Protection of Civilians Advocacy Manager and Chair of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines Board, states,

“We are witnessing a dangerous trend to normalise landmines and cluster munitions and a lack of resolute support from States Parties. For over 30 years, the devastating impact of these weapons on civilians has been undeniable. The erosion of these hard-won international norms puts countless lives at risk.” 

The End of U.S. Support of Humanitarian Mine Action  

The threat to the integrity of the Mine Ban Treaty also stems from the funding cut for Mine Action: The U.S. State Department has ordered an immediate halt to global mine-clearing programs. The decision affects vital operations in conflict-affected regions such as Ukraine, Iraq, Colombia, and Southeast Asia, where unexploded ordnance poses severe risks to civilian lives and food security. The U.S. has been the most prominent supporter of mine-clearing initiatives since 1993, but this pause marks a potential shift in its humanitarian commitments.

Anne Héry, HI Advocacy Director, affirms,

“Any delay in clearance prolongs the danger of contamination by explosive ordnance for affected populations. Clearance operations save lives, especially children, who are often victims of explosive devices. They also enable communities to use land for agriculture, construction, and other economic activities.” She continues, “This funding cut will further displace vulnerable populations who cannot return home due to contamination. It will also result in limited access to schools, healthcare facilities, and water sources in contaminated areas.”