Landmine Treaty Faces Setback Amid Global Tensions

Ukraine’s Potential Withdrawal Sparks Concern for Landmark Pact

The global effort to ban landmines, a cornerstone of international humanitarian law, is facing significant challenges as Ukraine and other nations signal potential withdrawal from the pivotal 1997 treaty. This move has prompted deep concern among advocates who championed the pact.

A Fading Legacy

In December 1997, a historic gathering in Ottawa saw 122 countries sign the agreement that prohibited the production and use of anti-personnel landmines. Paul Hannon, who volunteered with Mines Action Canada at the time, recalled the event as a “magical moment.” However, nearly three decades later, this consensus is fraying.

Ukraine, along with five other countries, some of which are NATO members, is considering or has initiated withdrawal from the convention. Kyiv cites Russia’s escalating military threats and its alleged use of these weapons as the primary drivers for this stance.

Hannon, who dedicated 25 years as executive director of Mines Action Canada, expressed dismay at the treaty’s erosion. He argued that Canada, the country that brokered the landmark agreement, should take a more assertive role in preventing such withdrawals. “Once they’ve gone through that process and they’ve left, then people are going to start thinking, ‘Where are those countries that were calling for this treaty, where were the countries that were the big leaders?'” Hannon told CBC News.

The ‘Ottawa Process’ Legacy

The architect of the treaty was then-foreign affairs minister Lloyd Axworthy. His inspiration stemmed from a conversation with his son, who questioned why, as foreign minister, he couldn’t address the issue of landmines. Axworthy‘s approach, notably its inclusion of civil society groups, became known as the “Ottawa process.”

Human rights lawyer and former secretary-general of Amnesty International Canada, Alex Neve, highlighted the enduring global recognition of Canada’s role. “The degree to which other states have come to regularly call it the Ottawa Treaty or the Ottawa Convention — you hear both — is a real sign that the rest of the world recognizes Canada’s leadership as well,” Neve stated.

Precedent of Retreat

Last month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree to withdraw from the convention, pending parliamentary approval. The nation’s foreign ministry indicated that Russia’s use of anti-personnel mines provided an “asymmetric advantage for the aggressor.”

Neve cautioned that such actions set a dangerous precedent. “Anytime a nation shows the rest of the world that you can back away from your international obligations, you can retreat from your international obligations, it risks encouraging other governments to do the same thing,” he remarked.

Both Neve and Axworthy urged Canada to intensify diplomatic efforts to retain signatories. “We were one of the leaders in non-proliferation of weaponry,” Axworthy observed. “And we’re not playing that role anymore.”

A Better Memory for Ottawa

For Hannon, the potential unraveling of the treaty is a personal disappointment, particularly for a city that has a significant accomplishment to be proud of. “Everybody thinks that the world knows about us because of hockey or Wayne Gretzky. And I would say now most of the world knows about us because we were where landmines got banned. That was a really significant thing,” he said.

Hannon expressed a hope for this legacy to overshadow more recent events. “I would certainly like people to remember [the treaty] much more than this is the city where the convoy took over … for two weeks. I think that’s a much better memory to have and a much better claim to fame.”

According to the United Nations, over 110 million landmines remain in the ground in more than 60 countries, posing a persistent threat to civilians and hindering development. Canada’s role in brokering the Ottawa Treaty helped spur global action, but current events highlight the fragility of such international agreements.