Mines Action Canada is deeply disappointed that the Saeima, Latvia’s Parliament, has passed a bill withdrawing from the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines. The bill was voted on and passed mere hours after a committee heard strong arguments against the use of landmines from the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and the International Committee on the Red Cross. The speed of the parliamentary process implies this decision has been rushed. Reports indicate that Latvia has taken this action in order to be seen as “doing something” in response to legitimate security concerns following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. Doing something which undermines international humanitarian law, has little military utility and is known to cause civilian casualties will not make Latvia any safer.

“Latvia has legitimate and serious security concerns but landmines were banned in the 1990s because their humanitarian impact far outweighed any military utility. The security concerns of the 2020s will not be solved by the weapons of the 1990s. We know that anti-personnel landmines do not deter invasions; they kill civilians. Mines Action Canada urges Latvia to reverse course and stay inside the Ottawa Treaty.” Said Executive Director, Erin Hunt.