Landmines 'Counterproductive' -- United States Must Join the Mine Ban Treaty

Funding for mine clearance and victim assistance programs is essential, but is not enough to truly eradicate antipersonnel mines, said the Nobel Peace Laureate International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), on the occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. "All states should formally renounce the use of antipersonnel mines forever by joining the Mine Ban Treaty, if we are to really rid the world of this barbaric weapon," said Sylvie Brigot, Executive Director of the ICBL. A major global mobilization is underway to bring the United States on board the Mine Ban Treaty.

The United States initiated a comprehensive review of its landmine policy in late 2009. "The use of weapons that disproportionately take the lives and limbs of civilians is wholly counterproductive in today's conflicts where winning over the hearts and minds of local populations is key," said Zach Hudson, Coordinator of the United States Campaign to Ban Landmines. "The U.S. has not used antipersonnel landmines in 19 years and is the world's largest individual donor for mine action. It is already compliant with other core components of the Mine Ban Treaty. There is no real reason for the U.S. not to join."

March 2010 was marked by intensive efforts to get the U.S. to join the 80% of the world's states, including all NATO members, that have already renounced the use of antipersonnel mines. ICBL campaigners met to discuss the landmine ban with representatives from U.S. embassies in over 30 countries, including in Australia, Belgium, France, Norway, and the UK. Landmine and cluster munition survivors in Cambodia, El Salvador, Mozambique, Rwanda, Serbia, Tajikistan and Thailand pressed U.S. officials to ban the weapon and provide assistance to mine-affected communities.

In the U.S., leaders from 65 non-governmental organizations sent a letter sent to President Obama on 22 March urging that the policy review result in a decision to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty, and that the President submit the treaty to the Senate for its advice and consent before the end of the year.

Landmines still affect the daily lives of people in some 70 countries. Thanks to mine clearance efforts supported by mine risk education, casualties are declining steadily. "The Mine Ban Treaty is the means to ensure that all consequences of past use of landmines are addressed, and that survivors see their needs met and rights respected," said Margaret Arach Orech, ICBL Ambassador and a landmine survivor herself. Assistance to survivors, their families and communities is the area where the least progress has been made over the last decade.

The Mine Ban Treaty comprehensively bans all use, production, and trade of antipersonnel mines, requires destruction of stockpiled mines within four years, requires destruction of mines already in the ground within 10 years, and urges extensive programs to assist the victims of landmines.