Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jul 24

#Ukraine's so-called suspension of its operation of the vital 1997 treaty banning antipersonnel landmines puts civilians at risk, undermines fundamental humanitarian & legal norms, and is contrary to public international law - @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/07...

Ukraine ‘Suspends’ Vital Mine Ban Treaty

On July 18, Ukraine formally informed the United Nations that it has suspended its operation of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, the landmark international treaty prohibiting antipersonnel landmines. The act...

www.hrw.org

7 6

Reposted by Mary Wareham

The New York Times @nytimes.com · Jul 8

Five European countries plan to revive the use of landmines, banned by treaty since 1999, hoping to fortify their borders with Russia.

Land Mines, a Cold War Horror, Could Return to Fortify Europe’s Borders

Five countries plan to revive the use of a weapon prohibited by treaty for more than a quarter of a century, hoping to strengthen their defenses against any Russian attack.

trib.al

10 22 75

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jul 10

"“Whoever they spot, they kill” - @972mag.com details how Israeli forces have learned from the Ukraine war & are adapting thousands of Chinese-made quadcopter drones & using them to drop grenades & other explosive weapons on civilians in Gaza www.972mag.com/drones-grena...

4 3

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jul 9

🇫🇮 Finland, 🇵🇱 Poland + 🇱🇹 Lithuania look set first to become the non-western countries to manufacture antipersonnel landmines in 27+ years www.reuters.com/business/aer... They are deliberately bringing back indiscriminate weapons that predominately harm civilians - @hrw.org hrw.org/news/2025/07...

Five European States Withdraw from Mine Ban Treaty

The withdrawal of five European countries from a longstanding and effective international treaty prohibiting antipersonnel landmines unnecessarily puts civilians at risk.

hrw.org

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jul 8

"The Cold War horror" making a comeback....
@nytimes.com explores the human suffering caused by antipersonnel landmines & negative consequences of Ukraine & 5 EU countries withdrawing from the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty www.nytimes.com/2025/07/08/world/europe/land-mines-treaty-russia-ukraine.html

Land Mines, a Cold War Horror, Could Return to Fortify Europe’s Borders

www.nytimes.com

3

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jul 4

Finnish lawmaker Veronkia Honkasalo calls political support for 🇫🇮 Finland's Mine Ban Treaty withdrawal "a repudiation of the new Finland that had been emerging from Russia’s shadow [as] a standard-bearer for human rights and the rule of law" www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe...

Land mine ban was a global triumph. Here’s why Finland is leaving.

Finland is withdrawing from an international treaty banning land mines, putting its fear of neighboring Russia above its commitment to humanitarian law.

www.csmonitor.com

1

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jul 4

⚠️ The means & methods of warfare are not unlimited...
🇫🇮 Finland can maintain its independence & territorial integrity without having to resort to producing & using 💥inherently indiscriminate weapons such as antipersonnel landmines @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...

Leaving the Landmine Ban Treaty Puts Civilians at Risk

Deputy Director Mary Wareham and Laura Lodenius, Executive Director at Peace Union of Finland, discuss the grave ramifications of states leaving the Mine Ban Treaty.

www.hrw.org

1 2

Reposted by Mary Wareham

The Kyiv Independent @kyivindependent.com · Jul 2

Ukraine looks to withdraw from a major international treaty on anti-personnel landmines to bolster its defense on the battlefield, where its troops are trying to hold off Russia's intensifying offensive.

Ukraine to exit mine ban treaty, citing war demands, realities on the ground

Ukraine looks to withdraw from a major international treaty on anti-personnel landmines to bolster its defense on the battlefield, where its troops are trying to hold off Russia's intensifying offensi...

kyivindependent.com

11 34 230

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jul 1

🇺🇦 Ukraine has begun to withdraw from the Mine Ban Treaty. Because Ukraine is in the midst of a war, this is effectively a symbolic move to gain political cover while disregarding the core prohibitions on developing, producing, and using antipersonnel mines - @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/07...

Five European States Withdraw from Mine Ban Treaty

The withdrawal of five European countries from a longstanding and effective international treaty prohibiting antipersonnel landmines unnecessarily puts civilians at risk.

www.hrw.org

1 1

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jun 26

Welcoming 🇹🇴 Tonga on board the 1997 treaty banning antipersonnel landmines #166 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

1 5

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jun 20

By joining the Mine Ban Treaty we hope to send a strong message. It is our moral obligation to the victims of antipersonnel landmines esp. the children. Be unequivocal in defending the progress made - newest State Party Marshall Islands tells #MineBanIM meeting

1 2

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jun 20

This a time when dedication to humanitarian principles of being tested. If more states start to backslide [and withdraw], what will the history books write about the Mine Ban Convention? - HRH Prince Mired

1 1 3

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jun 19

For more info, see this @hrw.org report detailing civilian harm from landmines & explosive remnants of war in Syria. We urge the transitional government to prepare to join the Mine Ban Treaty www.hrw.org/news/2025/04...

Syria: Landmines, Explosive Remnants Harming Civilians

Over a decade of conflict has resulted in Syria being extensively contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war, a major barrier to safe return and reconstruction efforts.

www.hrw.org

1 1

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jun 19

In addition to survey & clearance, Syria’s transitional government should urgently work to secure stockpiled landmines & weapons. It should issue an immediate directive prohibiting any new use of antipersonnel mines by any actor in the country - Ayman Sorour, ICBL

1 1 1

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jun 19

Scale of contamination from mines & explosive remnants of war in Syria is believed to be extensive. There’s some data from northeast of the country where MAG & others have operated for years but much more is needed.

1 1 3

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jun 19

“Mines don’t disappear with the end of hostilities.” Since December, 414 people were killed & 592 injured by landmines & explosive remnants of war in #Syria. 30% of the victims were children. - Raed Al-Saleh, Minister for Environment, Emergencies, Disaster Management #MineBanIM

1 2 5

Reposted by Mary Wareham

Oliver Meier @olivermeier.bsky.social · Jun 18

Great piece by @marywareham.bsky.social and Laura Lodenius on how European withdrawals from Ottawa Convention are "pushing the world to the precipice of a potentially slippery slope, where key legal and humanitarian norms might no longer be observed." 👇‼️

The European Leadership Network (ELN) @theeln.bsky.social · Jun 16

This week, Finland may vote to withdraw from the international treaty banning landmines, & Poland may soon follow. @marywareham.bsky.social & Laura Lodenius write that this puts civilians at risk, and these states should reconsider.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/l...

Leaving the Landmine Ban Treaty puts civilians at risk

This week, Finland looks set to vote a final time on withdrawing from the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines, and Poland may soon follow. Mary Wareham and Laura Lodenius write that t...

europeanleadershipnetwork.org

3 7

Reposted by Mary Wareham

Handicap International e.V. @hi-deutschland.bsky.social · Jun 16

Offener Brief: 📝 Gemeinsam mit @hrwdeutschland.bsky.social , @minefreeworld.bsky.social , @medico.de & @savechildrende.bsky.social fordern wir: Deutschland muss sich klar gegen den Einsatz von #AntipersonenMinen positionieren!

Zum offenen Brief 👇
www.handicap-international.de/sn_uploads/d...

Zwei Kinderschuhe, in einer steckt eine Beinprothese. Darüber steht: Minenverbots-Vertrag; Gemeinsam fordern wir: Deutschland muss handeln! Daneben sind mehrere Logos von teilnehmenden Organisationen.

7 13

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jun 17

Side event on civilian harm from antipersonnel landmines, starting now: us02web.zoom.us/j/8363598371...

2 4

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jun 17

Cambodian landmine survivor Tun Channereth received the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines & handed over the joint appeal from Nobel laureates to the Mine Ban Treaty president today in Geneva: icblcmc.org/api/assets/I...

1 4

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jun 17

101 Nobel laureates in chemistry, economics, literature, medicine, peace, & physics issue a joint statement defending the international ban on antipersonnel landmines as 5 European countries 🇪🇪 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇵🇱 move to withdraw from it: www.icblcmc.org/our-impact/n...

Nobel Laureates Back the Ban on Antipersonnel Landmines - ICBLCMC

International Campaign to Ban Landmines - Cluster Munition Coalition - Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor

www.icblcmc.org

1 1 4

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jun 17

101 Nobel laureates urge 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇱🇻 Latvia & 🇱🇹 Lithuania to stay in the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines & not withdraw from it: icblcmc.org/api/assets/I...

2 4 9

Reposted by Mary Wareham

Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor @minemonitor.bsky.social · Jun 17

Join us at 13:00 CEST for a side event on Civilian Harm from Antipersonnel Landmines, with @hrw.org and @hi-advocacy.bsky.social

In Room 4 at #MineBanIM

Also live streamed at: us02web.zoom.us/j/8363598371...

@minefreeworld.bsky.social @aymansorour.bsky.social @marywareham.bsky.social

4 4

Reposted by Mary Wareham

The European Leadership Network (ELN) @theeln.bsky.social · Jun 16

This week, Finland may vote to withdraw from the international treaty banning landmines, & Poland may soon follow. @marywareham.bsky.social & Laura Lodenius write that this puts civilians at risk, and these states should reconsider.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/l...

Leaving the Landmine Ban Treaty puts civilians at risk

This week, Finland looks set to vote a final time on withdrawing from the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines, and Poland may soon follow. Mary Wareham and Laura Lodenius write that t...

europeanleadershipnetwork.org

2 8 5

Mary Wareham @marywareham.bsky.social · Jun 12

Don't sweat this publication, few read it outside the Beltway

1