The ICRC welcomes the changes to the United States anti-personnel landmine policy and its declared intention to be compliant with and ultimately accede to the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits their use.
This is a positive step for protecting people affected by conflict around the world as anti-personnel landmines continue to kill and maim even when a war is over. The ICRC strongly encourages the United States government to take concrete steps to accede to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention as soon as possible.
Anti-personnel mines are designed to incapacitate, injure or kill any person or persons coming into contact with them or within their proximity. In other words, they cannot distinguish between soldiers and civilians. Anti-personnel landmines leave a long-term legacy of death, injury and suffering, and it is mainly civilians who suffer the horrific consequences. Even non-persistent anti-personnel mines (so-called “smart” mines) indiscriminately endanger civilians while they are activated.
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Source: ReliefWeb