Mines Action Canada congratulates Lebanon for joining the Ottawa Treaty banning landmines!

If any state had an excuse to say "Maybe we won’t join today" it's Lebanon - and yet they did, reinforcing that landmines should never be used anywhere, under any circumstance. Despite the ongoing conflict between Hezbollah and Israel which has resulted in thousands of deaths and injuries, mass displacement, the occupation of Lebanese territory, and the destruction of some Lebanese communities, Lebanon moved forward with the ban on antipersonnel landmines. At a time when a small number of states have withdrawn from the Ottawa Treaty due to the threat of conflict, Lebanon’s courage to ban landmines despite ongoing conflict is to be celebrated!

Lebanon has lived wisdom after decades of cleaning up explosive hazards from previous armed conflicts which injured and killed its citizens long after the conflict was over. They deserve our respect for taking this bold step and we look forward to working with them as a new State Party!

It is time for a ceasefire and for efforts to clear the weapons contamination to start. The Ottawa Treaty will enter into force for Lebanon on November 1, 2026.

Lebanon, welcome to the Ottawa Treaty, and thank you for showing that humanitarian principles must hold even during armed conflicts!