To mark Poland’s official withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention or the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, Julia Głębocka, Human rights researcher for Amnesty International Poland, reflects on what the return of these indiscriminate weapons means for human rights in Europe.
Not so long ago, in 2020, the European Union was funding mine relief efforts in Lebanon and hoping to see an anti-personnel mine-free world within five years. HALO Ukraine, an EU-supported organization, had already been making tangible change, removing explosives from Ukrainian soil since 2016. In Chad, the EU-funded project PRODECO, was reintegrating anti-personnel mine victims into society through long-term medical care and rehabilitation, as well as supporting demining efforts.
Read more…
Source: Reliefweb News
Sign up for the Counter-IED Report Newsletters
The latest news and insights delivered right to your inbox
Related:
- Türkiye: Five workers dead in rocket and explosives factory blast in Ankara
June 10, 2023
At least five workers died on Saturday in an explosion at a rocket and explosives factory in Türkiye’s capital Ankara, according to the country’s National Defense Ministry. “An explosion occurred at the MKE Rocket and Explosives Factory in the Elmadag district of Ankara. As a result of the explosion, five of our workers have been martyred,” ...
- Poland: Two men charged following theft of ammunition from a train in Lower Silesia
June 9, 2023
Four boxes of ammunition were stolen on Sunday from a special train operated by American soldiers, which had a stop in Węgliniec. The police detained in this case three residents of the Zgorzelec county aged 26, 34, 39 years. According to the uniformed thieves, they did not know what they were stealing and for fear of ...
- UK: Man appears in court accused of making ‘explosive substance for unlawful purpose’
June 8, 2023
A man has appeared in court charged with making an explosive substance for an unlawful purpose. David Prior is accused of making an explosive substance – namely ‘improvised explosive devices’ – between January 1 and June 2 this year. The 50-year-old appeared at Manchester Magistrates’ Court today (June 8). He spoke only to confirm his name ...
- Ukraine dam’s destruction increases mines threat – Red Cross
June 7, 2023
The destruction of the Kakhovka dam in Ukraine will have a catastrophic effect on locating landmines in the affected region, the Red Cross warned Wednesday. “We knew where the hazards were,” said Erik Tollefsen, head of the Weapon Contamination Unit at the International Committee of the Red Cross. “Now we don’t know. “All we know is ...
- Ukraine expects to involve UNDP in demining
June 6, 2023
This was discussed during a meeting between First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Yuliia Svyrydenko and UNDP Mine Action Coordinator in Ukraine Paul Heslop, the press service of the Ministry of Economy reports, according to Ukrinform. It is noted that during the meeting, the parties discussed ways to optimise the work of non-governmental operators, ...
- Croatian RAK-SA-12 now actively used in Ukrainian Armed Forces
June 6, 2023
The SBGS shared photos on their Facebook account, highlighting the 128-mm multiple launch rocket systems transferred by Croatia as part of military defense assistance. These mini-MLRS can unleash a barrage of 12 shells of a 128 mm caliber in just 9.6 seconds, providing a formidable defense capability. The newly released images feature not only the MLRS ...
- Ukraine says destruction of Kakhovka dam and flooding will not derail its counter-offensive
June 6, 2023
Kyiv has vowed that the destruction of the huge Nova Kakhovka dam and flooding of frontline areas in southeastern Ukraine will not derail its planned counter-offensive as it accused Russia’s occupation force of destroying the facility on the Dnipro river in a “panic”. The Kremlin denied responsibility for the breach early on Tuesday morning, and accused ...
- UK: Man charged under Explosive Substances Act after ‘hazardous materials’ found in house
June 3, 2023
A man has been charged under the Explosive Substances Act after ‘hazardous materials’ were found in a house in Reddish. A major incident was declared following the discovery on Middleton Road on Thursday (June 1). Bomb disposal experts, police officers, paramedics and firefighters responded. Read more… Source: Manchester Evening News
- Ukraine: To liberate territory, Ukraine must smash fortified Russian defenses
June 2, 2023
As Ukraine prepares to launch a long-trumpeted counterattack, the first obstacle its soldiers must push through isn’t Russia’s defenses. It’s their own. Like Russia, Ukraine has laid thousands of mines along its front line. And to advance into occupied territory, its troops now need to get through these lines without tipping off the Russians, who would ...
- Northern Ireland: New IRA in Derry ‘planned to use gun with silencer in attack on police’
June 1, 2023
A gun and silencer seized during a search operation targeting the New IRA in Londonderry were to be “used in a violent attack on police”, a detective has said. Detectives from the PSNI’s Terrorism Investigation Unit (TIU) recovered the suspected munitions during raids targeting the dissident republican group on Tuesday. A quantity of suspected ammunition was ...
- From explosive quadcopters to flying bombs: How drone warfare is evolving during the war in Ukraine
May 31, 2023
The presence of pilotless vehicles fills the skies over Ukraine. Drones have become a ubiquitous part of the war in Ukraine. Both Russia and Ukraine are using drones in this war to remotely locate targets and drop bombs, among other purposes. From tiny quadcopters buzzing over frontline trenches with cameras and grenades to flying bombs lugging ...
- Ireland: Investigations continue as army bomb team declares fatal explosion site safe
May 30, 2023
The site of yesterday’s explosion in West Europe has been declared safe by the Army Bomb Disposal team that attended the scene last evening. Gardaí say continue to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the explosion in Brinlack, near Bunbeg, in which Stephen Montgomery, who was in his 40s, lost his life. Read more… Source: Highland Radio
- Drones hit Moscow high-rises as Kyiv struck for third day
May 30, 2023
A swarm of drones hit Moscow on Tuesday in an unprecedented attack, while Russian drones struck Kyiv for a third straight day as Ukraine gears up for a major offensive against Russian forces. The Russian defence ministry blamed Kyiv for the attacks that saw three drones crash into residential buildings in Moscow. Read more… Source: Yahoo! News
- Ireland: Armed gardai to be deployed amid violence fears over €1.7 million drug debt
May 29, 2023
Armed gardai are to be deployed amid fears of a major escalation in violence linked to a bitter feud centred on a €1.7 million drug debt. Officers in Tallaght, South Co Dublin, are on high alert following a spate of recent incidents and the discovery of a pipe bomb inadvertently brought into the local garda station ...
- Russia: Oil pipeline administrative building damaged by explosion in Pskov Region
May 27, 2023
An explosion occurred in Pskov Region’s Nevelsky District Saturday morning, damaging an oil pipeline administrative building, Governor Mikhail Vedernikov reported, adding that no one was injured in the incident. “According to preliminary information, the building was damaged in an attack of two drones. Final conclusions will be available after the investigative group provides its results,” the ...