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Joint Civil Society Statement on Ukraine’s Unlawful Suspension of the Mine Ban Treaty

This statement has been signed by 5 humanitarian disarmament coalitions and 77 civil society organizations across 39 countries, including WILPF.

As civil society coalitions and organizations working to reduce the catastrophic impact of war through humanitarian disarmament, we are deeply alarmed by Ukraine’s decision to unlawfully suspend the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. Similar to the highly regrettable withdrawals by the Baltic States, Finland, and Poland, this step blatantly contradicts the treaty’s core humanitarian mission, which as set out in its preamble seeks “to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, that kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians and especially children….”

Importantly, the treaty does not permit suspension of its obligations, including during times of conflict. Allowing this unilateral suspension sets a dangerous precedent that could weaken respect for any instrument of international humanitarian law during armed conflict in any part of the world. We urge all countries to make clear publicly and as part of the final report of the next Meeting of States Parties, scheduled for December 1-5, that suspension is not permitted under the treaty. 

Ukraine’s decision not only undermines the Mine Ban Treaty’s humanitarian and lifesaving purposes; it jeopardizes nearly three decades of hard-won multilateral progress to protect civilians in conflict, achieved through the collective work of states, civil society, the United Nations, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. It also disregards the repeated pleas of mine victims and affected communities, who have consistently called on states to never return to these archaic and devastating weapons.

We condemn in the strongest terms the Russian Federation’s widescale and egregious disregard for the rules of international humanitarian law in its war against Ukraine. Russia’s actions have resulted in devastating civilian suffering across Ukraine. And it is civilians, especially children, who will pay the heaviest price for this suspension and withdrawals.

A frequently invoked justification for withdrawing from or suspending the Mine Ban Treaty is the claim of unprecedented geopolitical challenges. Yet, we have faced challenging times before, after which states responded not by dismantling norms, but by strengthening international humanitarian law and the rules-based order. It is therefore deeply troubling that some states are now choosing to weaken the very system created to protect humanity and promote peace.

It matters how wars are fought. It matters that humanitarian principles are respected. And it matters that the rules-based system endures.

Signed by the following humanitarian disarmament coalitions and international, regional, and national organizations:

Humanitarian Disarmament Campaigns

  • International Campaign to Ban Landmines-Cluster Munition Coalition (ICBL-CMC)
  • Control Arms
  • International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
  • International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW)
  • Stop Killer Robots

International and Regional Organizations

  • Arab Human Security Network
  • DanChurchAid
  • Danish Refugee Council
  • Human Rights Watch
  • Humanity & Inclusion
  • International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons (ICBUW)
  • Latin American Network of Associations of Survivors of Anti-Personnel Mines, Explosive Remnants of War and Other People with Disabilities (RED-LAT)
  • Mine Action Review
  • Red de Seguridad Humana para América Latina y El Caribe (SEHLAC)
  • Saferworld
  • Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF)
  • World BEYOND War

National Organizations

Afghanistan

  • Afghan Landmines Survivors Organization (ALSO)
  • Development and Ability Organization

Azerbaijan

  • Azerbaijan Campaign to Ban Landmines

Belgium

  • Anti-Persoonsmijnen Ontmijnende Product Ontwikkeling (APOPO)

Brazil

  • Dhesarme – Brazilian Action for Humanitarian Disarmament

Burundi

  • Cadre de Concertationdes Associations des Veuves au Burundi (CCAVB)
  • Femmes Unies pour la Paix dans la Region des Grands Lacs (FUP/GL)

Cambodia

  • Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions

Canada

  • Disability Rights and Disarmament Initiative
  • Mines Action Canada

Colombia

  • Campaña Colombiana Contra Minas

Egypt

  • PROTECTION

France

  • Action Sécurité Éthique Républicaines

Germany

  • Deutsche Friedensgesellschaft – Vereinigte KriegsdienstgegnerInnen (DFG-VK)

Ghana

  • Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom Ghana

Guatemala

  • ECPAT

India

  • Indian Institute for Peace, Disarmament & Environmental Protection

Iran

  • Ofogh NGO

Iraq

  • A World Without Chemical and Biological Weapons (WWW)
  • Kurdish Organizations Network Coalition for the International Criminal Court (KONCICC)
  • Kurdistan Without Genocide‎
  • Kurdistan Organizations Network to Abolish Nuclear and Mass Destruction Weapons-KONW
  • Life Campaign to Abolish the Death Sentence in Kurdistan Network
  • Organization against Weapons of Mass Destruction in Kurdistan
  • Organization of the Justice Campaign‏ (OJC)

Italy

  • Campagna Italiana contro le mine
  • Rete Italiana Pace Disarmo      

Japan

  • Association for Aid and Relief, Japan (AAR Japan)
  • Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines

Malawi

  • Peoples Federation for National Peace and Development (PEFENAP)

Mexico

  • Centro de Estudios Ecuménicos
  • Derechos de la Infancia y la Adolescencia
  • IGMX Consultoria e Investigación

Nepal

  • Ban Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL)
  • Women for Peace and Democracy Nepal

Netherlands

  • PAX

New Zealand

  • Aotearoa New Zealand Joint Working Group on Landmines and Cluster Munitions
  • Peace Movement Aotearoa

Nigeria

  • Youths Awaken Foundation

Norway

  • Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA)

Pakistan

  • Sustainable Peace and Development Organization (SPADO)

Paraguay

  • TEDIC

Philippines

  • Generation Peace Youth Network (GenPeace) Inc.

Poland

  • The Civil Affairs Institute

Rwanda

  • Actors Rwanda Organisation (ARO)
  • Organization of Landmine Survivors and Amputees in Rwanda (OLSAR)

Somalia

  • Somali Human Rights Association (SOHRA)

South Africa

  • Disarmament and Arms Control

Sudan

  • Elnafeer Charity Organisation for Social Development and Prosperity
  • Organisation for Saving Lives and Sustainable Development (OSL)
  • Sudan Campaign to Ban Landmines

Syria

  • Syrian Network for Human Rights

Turkey

  • The Initiative for a Mine Free Turkey

Uganda

  • Amputee Self-help Network Uganda (ASNU)
  • Uganda Landmine Survivors Association

United Kingdom

  • Action on Armed Violence
  • Article 36
  • Campaign Against Arms Trade
  • Conflict and Environment Observatory
  • The Mines Advisory Group (MAG)

United States

  • Arms Control Association
  • RootsAction
  • West Virginia Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Bombs

Yemen

  • Yemen Awareness Association (YMAA)
  • Yemeni Association for Survivors of Landmines and Unexploded Ordnance