Amnesty International decries plans for Poland and Baltic countries to withdraw from antipersonnel mine treaty
Amnesty International is urging Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to “urgently reconsider” plans to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty, the international convention banning antipersonnel mines.
The rights group’s statement comes after defense ministers from the four countries made a joint announcement on Tuesday recommending they withdraw from the convention. “Military threats to NATO member states bordering Russia and Belarus have significantly increased,” the statement said.
We believe that in the current security environment it is paramount to provide our defence forces flexibility and freedom of choice to potentially use new weapons systems and solutions to bolster the defence of the alliance’s vulnerable Eastern flank.
“Despite our withdrawal, we will remain committed to international humanitarian law, including the protection of civilians during an armed conflict,” it added.
In a statement posted on social media, Amnesty International decried the joint proposal as “disastrous” and a potential threat to civilian lives. “Leaving would be a dangerous leap backwards and must be reconsidered,” the rights group said.
“Anti-personnel mines are victim triggered explosive devices & inherently indiscriminate weapons,” Amnesty added.
The proposed withdrawal abandons the global consensus aimed at minimizing civilian harm in armed conflict & undermines decades of progress on eliminating the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of inherently indiscriminate weapons.
The final decision on exiting the Ottawa Treaty will require the approval of the four countries’ respective parliaments.
