- Izumi Nakamitsu, in response to Anadolu, says shrinking demining budgets signal a worrying erosion of global 'solidarity' while mine contamination expands
GENEVA
The UN's top disarmament official warned on Tuesday that growing security concerns, particularly in Europe, cannot be used to justify undermining the global ban on anti-personnel landmines, as states parties confront the most serious challenge to the Ottawa Convention since its adoption.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 22nd Meeting of States Parties in Geneva, Izumi Nakamitsu, UN under-secretary-general and high representative for disarmament affairs, told reporters the treaty remains "definitely the most successful humanitarian disarmament treaties that the international community has ever adopted," but is now under mounting pressure.
Five European states -- Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Finland -- have taken steps to withdraw, and one, Ukraine, has formally notified the UN in mid-July of its intention to suspend key obligations, which was preceded by a decree signed on June 29, citing the "extraordinary pressures" of the conflict as the reason for the decision.
Nakamitsu made it clear that "the convention does not have any clause on suspension," underscoring that the treaty's legal framework offers no basis for halting obligations even in wartime. Several states, including Austria, Belgium, Norway, and Switzerland, have already lodged formal objections to Kyiv's request, and more delegations have signaled concern.
Responding to questions about why states facing war feel they cannot meet obligations, Nakamitsu acknowledged the "new security landscape," particularly in Europe, but said this does not justify turning to "indiscriminate weapon systems."
"We do acknowledge and recognize that increased security concerns of certain member states of the UN and the state parties of the convention, but we argue that protecting the integrity of the norms of the humanitarian disarmament framework is precisely needed when the security challenges are increasing," she said. "The reason is that this particular weapon systems ... are discriminate in nature."
Landmines, she stressed, "do not discriminate between soldiers on the move, kids going to school, farmers working on farmlands, and… humanitarian workers."
Responding to Anadolu's question on declining funding for mine action amid an increase in contamination, she warned that falling budgets across humanitarian, development, climate and demining sectors represent "a decline in, if you will, solidarity," and urged donor countries "not to further reduce" support for what she called a global "priority agenda."
"Any visible indication of erosion of solidarity will negatively impact our joint collective efforts to restore international order on the basis of international law and on the basis of solidarity," she warned.
Nakamitsu said the UN hopes this week's meeting will serve as "a very important opportunity and also a responsibility" for states to reaffirm the treaty's integrity and prevent a broader erosion of humanitarian disarmament norms. While the final decision on Ukraine's request will rest with states parties, she stressed that it remains unclear how the issue will be reflected in the meeting's concluding report.
"It is the time that we need those humanitarian considerations most," she said, calling on all governments, including those outside the treaty, to uphold the global norm against anti-personnel landmines.