ICRC criticizes some countries signing Mine-Ban Convention for failing to fulfil obligations

Some countries signing the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention had not fulfilled their promises, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Monday.

Some countries failed to comply with the requirement to destroy anti-personnel mines and failed to help improve the victims' living conditions, Peter Herby, head of the ICRC's Arms Unit, told the opening session of a six-day summit on a mine-free world, which started last Sunday in Cartagena, Colombia.

Anti-personnel landmines and other explosive war remnants continue to posed a threat, maiming or killing indiscriminately innocent people long after hostilities had ended.

"The ultimate objective of the Mine Ban Convention is to end the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines. It is important that States Parties remain committed to continue their efforts until this goal has been achieved," Herby said.

More than 1,000 participants from 156 signatory countries, international and non-governmental organizations attended the summit 10 years after Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, better known as Ottawa Convention, entered into force.

At the summit, participants are expected to redouble joint efforts to end permanently the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines.

Source: Xinhua