ICRC President Warns Civilians Will Suffer If Global Commitment To Ban Landmines Weakens

Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), has issued a warning about the potential consequences if global efforts to ban landmines weaken. She emphasised that civilians would suffer if the commitment to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) falters.

The ICRC began highlighting the dangers of anti-personnel mines in the late 1980s. At that time, their medical teams were treating an increasing number of civilians injured by these weapons. The ICRC described it as a "worldwide epidemic," estimating that around 24,000 people, mostly civilians, were killed or injured by landmines annually.

Spoljaric noted a concerning shift where states once advocating disarmament are reconsidering their stance on the APMBC. "After decades of progress, we are witnessing a dangerous shift: states that once championed disarmament are now considering withdrawing from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC). This is not just a legal retreat on paper—it risks endangering countless lives and reversing decades of hard-fought humanitarian progress."

The adoption of the APMBC in 1997 was pivotal. Since then, 165 states have joined this treaty. Its success is evident: over 55 million stockpiled mines have been destroyed, large areas have been cleared, and production and transfer have significantly decreased. These efforts led to a more than 75 percent reduction in casualties since their peak in the late 1990s.

The Convention's momentum also highlighted mine survivors' plight and these weapons' long-term effects. Over 80% of victims are civilians, often left with lifelong disabilities needing services like prosthetics. Many victims are children.

For instance, in Cambodia last year, nearly half of those visiting two ICRC-supported rehabilitation centres were mine survivors—over two decades after conflicts ended. Similarly, in Afghanistan during 2024, ICRC teams assisted over 7,000 mine victims with prosthetics and physiotherapy.

Treaty Success and Future Commitment

The APMBC is one of history's most successful disarmament treaties. Weakening or abandoning it not only endangers lives but also undermines international humanitarian law's integrity.

This week’s intersessional meetings in Geneva offer a crucial opportunity for states to address these trends and reaffirm their commitment to the treaty. It is essential to resist returning to weapons causing indiscriminate harm.

Spoljaric concluded by stressing the importance of maintaining our collective commitment to protect civilians and uphold humanitarian principles.

With inputs from WAM