UN chief urges international community to rid the world of deadly landmines

UN chief urges international community to rid the world of deadly landmines


Afghan woman putting her life at risk to rid her home of mines (UN Photo)

New York (UNA-OIC) – UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on the international community to recommit to the target of a mine-free world, urging efforts to “make this the last decade when we need to devote ourselves to this task”.

In a message commemorating the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, marked annually on 4 April, Guterres called on all nations that have not yet acceded to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention “to do so without delay”.

Having opened for signature in 1997, over 160 States are now parties to the treaty, formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction.

“We sometimes make progress on clearing mines only to see it rolled back, the UN chief said, stressing that “we cannot be content simply with advocacy and campaigning to create awareness of the dangers posed by landmines.”

“The United Nations Charter calls us to complete the work: to survey, clear and destroy these deadly devices,” he highlighted.

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