A World Without Landmines
Norwegian soldiers search for mines. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was set up in March 1978, following the Israeli invasion of Southern Lebanon, to ensure the withdrawal of Israel forces and to help the Lebanese Government restore its authority in the region. November 1990. UN Photo/John Isaac.
Today is April 4th, the Day for Mine Assistance and Awareness. I learned about landmines because of Princess Diana's iconic 1997 HALO Trust trip to Angola. Mine clearance organizations have worked tirelessly, but Landmine Free 2025 states that "more than 60 million people live in fear of being injured or killed by landmines." On top of that startling statistic, the U.S. government, a champion for landmine clearance since 1993, unfortunately changed their landmine policy in 2020.
WHAT ARE LANDMINES?
Landmines (also called anti-personnel mines) are devices, placed on or buried under the ground, designed to kill or maim. "Persistent" landmines are activated by victims and do not self-destruct. "Non-persistent" or "smart" landmines are designed to self-destruct or de-activate, but research shows that "smart" mines are fallible. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, "the suffering caused by anti-personnel mines is particularly horrific and war surgeons consider them among the worst injuries they have to treat."
ARE THEY SAFE FOR CIVILIANS?
Countries and militant groups, like Boko Haram in Nigeria, have not historically collected landmines when conflicts end. Landmines claim the lives and limbs of combatants during wars and children playing in those same fields generations later. As you will see in this World Vision story, landmines pose a hidden danger for decades, with children and farmers bearing the weight of that threat. Because of this grave harm, the U.S. Department of State has worked to "find and destroy remnant explosives in 100 countries since 1993 — a $3.4 billion effort."
WHAT GOVERNS MINE USE?
The 1997 Ottawa Convention, also known as the Mine Ban Treaty, is an international agreement to end the use of landmines around the world. As of 2018, 164 states are party to the treaty. Thanks to this treaty, even countries that are non-signatories (like the United States) are subject to international norms that strongly discourage the production, stockpiling, and use of mines.
WHAT IS THE 2020 U.S. POLICY?
On January 31, 2020, the United States government announced it was reversing a 2014 landmine policy, which banned landmines outside of the Korean peninsula. So, what has changed? The United States can now produce and use "smart" mines anywhere in the world. And, using landmines no longer requires presidential approval.
HOW HAVE PEOPLE REACTED?
This new policy was met with swift criticism throughout the United States and around the world. Sixty institutions, including Physicians for Human Rights, Amnesty International USA, and the Episcopal Church, issued this joint statement. Other NGOs, like UNICEF USA, released individual statements. The European Union and several Democratic candidates for president released statements as well.
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?
If you love digging deep on policies, check out the new policy. If you would prefer a fact sheet, check out this excellent Q&A by Human Rights Watch.
SOCIAL MEDIA ADVOCACY: Landmine Free 2025 is a social media campaign to "re-energise global support to landmine clearance and ensure people affected by landmines are not forgotten." Support the campaign by taking a photo with their logo and tagging your phone and message of support with #LandmineFree2025.
GOVERNMENT ENGAGEMENT: Contact your elected officials in Congress and tell them how you feel about the U.S. changing our landmine policies. You have a say in how the U.S. shapes and implements policies. Vote for candidates who understand why landmines, even the ones with new "smart mine" technology, can be detrimental to international development.
FUNDRAISING: According to Landmine Free 2025, only 0.2% of overseas aid is spent on clearing mines. The Washington Post notes that at the current rate, in Vietnam alone, it may take 300 years to clear munitions. Organizations need financial support to clear mines and support survivors. We recommend checking out the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) America and The Halo Trust. And remember: financial donations do not have to be sizable or recurring to be impactful. You could consider hosting a birthday fundraiser on Facebook or host a fundraiser as part of another personal event, like a bridal shower. Donating to a mine clearance organization on Princess Diana's birthday, July 1, would be a wonderful way to honor her legacy.