No to the return of antipersonnel landmines

States failed to defend the Ottawa Treaty

At these Intersessional Meetings, it was the first time States gathered since 5 European members of the Ottawa Treaty – Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland and Poland – announced their withdraw from the treaty.

HI, together with other members of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, had been actively calling on States Parties to raise their voices against the announced withdrawals, and we expected a strong and united stance in defence of the Ottawa Treaty.

We welcomed the strong statements made by countries such as Norway, South Africa, and Mozambique, but the majority of states did not actively defend the treaty as they have in the past, or as we advocated that they should. 

Global Mobilization to Defend the Mine Ban Treaty 

A powerful wave of international mobilization has emerged during this event. In a strong and unprecedented move, 100 Nobel Peace Prize laureates issued an open letter urging Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland to reconsider their decisions, highlighting the grave humanitarian and legal consequences such withdrawals would entail. This call was further bolstered by a joint appeal from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), supported by dozens of prominent international figures, reinforcing the message that the global community must stand firm against any erosion of humanitarian disarmament norms. The United Nations Secretary-General, in a statement issued on 16 June 2025, echoed this concern, emphasizing that adherence to the Convention is vital not only for the protection of civilians but also for the credibility of international law. This coordinated pressure from civil society, Nobel laureates, and high-level UN officials is meant to send a clear signal: stepping back from the treaty would represent a historic regression, undermining decades of global progress in protecting civilians from indiscriminate weapons. 

The risk of domino effect

One country breaking with an international norm sets a dangerous precedent. It can create a domino effect and it is deeply concerning. What begins as a single exception can quickly weaken the integrity of the entire Ottawa Treaty, undermining decades of humanitarian progress.

The Ottawa Treaty has been a cornerstone of disarmament and civilian protection. If its norms are no longer respected, we risk seeing renewed landmine use, stalled clearance efforts, and fewer resources for victims -all of which would have devastating consequences on the ground.

Protection of civilians weakened

Anti-personnel landmines are indiscriminate weapons. Once placed, they cannot distinguish between an enemy soldier and a civilian. They also remain a deadly threat to civilians long after conflicts have ended.

Finland, Poland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who announce to withdraw from the Treaty, says they want to protect their border. But landmines offer little strategic value in modern warfare. Their use in border defense is limited and highly questionable. They do not stop a determined adversary, and they create long-term hazards that persist long after the conflict ends.

Far from offering true protection, they risk endangering the very population they are meant to defend—this time, from within their own borders. The minimal and short-term military advantage they may offer simply cannot justify the devastating and lasting humanitarian consequences they cause.

Alma Taslidžan - Disarmament and Protection of Civilians Manager: “HI and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) have been fighting to eliminate landmines, support victims, and uphold the global norm against the use of these indiscriminate weapons. We will continue to push back against any actions that threaten the treaty or the safety of civilians.”

The annual meetings of the Ottawa Treay 

The Intersessional Meetings took place 17-20 June 2025 at the Centre International de Conférence Genève (CICG) in Geneva, Switzerland, with the participation of hundreds of delegates representing States and international and non-governmental organisations.

It aimed at monitoring the progress and challenges of the Mine Ban Treaty, also called the Ottawa Treaty. This mid-year assessment was also an opportunity for States to prepare for the annual conference – gathering mine action experts and officials - to be held next December at the United Nations in Geneva. By then, HI and the ICBL will intensify advocacy efforts at all levels, raise public awareness, support survivors, and continue defending the Ottawa Treaty with unwavering determination.