Geneva: Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), cautioned that civilians will bear the consequences if the global commitment to ban landmines is allowed to weaken.
According to Emirates News Agency, Spoljaric issued this warning in a statement ahead of the intersessional meetings of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) set to begin in Geneva. She expressed concerns that the previously strong global consensus, which once deemed anti-personnel mines as symbols of inhumanity, is beginning to deteriorate.
Spoljaric highlighted a disturbing trend where states that previously advocated for disarmament are now contemplating withdrawal from the APMBC. She emphasized that this shift is not merely a legal issue but poses a significant risk to countless lives, potentially undoing decades of humanitarian progress.
The ICRC initially raised concerns about anti-personnel mines in the late 1980s when its medical teams treated increasing numbers of civilians affected by these weapons. At the time, the ICRC described the situation as a 'worldwide epidemic,' estimating that around 24,000 people, predominantly civilians, were killed or injured annually by landmines.
The adoption of the APMBC in 1997 marked a significant milestone, with 165 states joining the treaty. The results have been substantial: over 55 million stockpiled mines have been destroyed, vast land areas have been cleared, and the production and transfer of these weapons have significantly decreased. These efforts have led to a more than 75 percent reduction in casualties since the late 1990s.
The Convention also brought attention to mine survivors and the long-term consequences of these weapons. Over 80% of victims are civilians, many of whom suffer lifelong disabilities requiring services like prosthetics. A significant portion of the victims are children.
In Cambodia, for example, nearly 50 percent of patients visiting two ICRC-supported physical rehabilitation centers last year were mine survivors, despite hostilities ending over two decades ago. Similarly, in Afghanistan, ICRC teams provided care for over 7,000 mine victims in 2024, offering support such as prosthetic limbs and physiotherapy.
The APMBC is regarded as one of the most successful disarmament treaties ever negotiated. Weakening or abandoning it not only endangers lives but also undermines international humanitarian law.
As states convene in Geneva for the APMBC intersessional meetings, it is a crucial time to address these concerning trends, reaffirm commitment to the treaty, and oppose a return to weapons that cause indiscriminate harm.
Spoljaric concluded by urging states not to retreat but to reaffirm collective efforts to protect civilians and uphold humanitarian principles.