Report Finds Great Progress in Ridding World of Landmines

Wednesday, November 24th, 2010 VOA News Human rights groups are reporting progress toward banning the production and use of anti-personnel landmines.

A report issued Wednesday at the United Nations by Mines Action Canada, Human Rights Watch and other groups, says at least 3,956 people died last year from stepping on a landmine or other unexploded devices left behind in war.

The report said Burma, India and Pakistan are belived to be the only three nations still actively making the anti-personnel mines, and Burma is the only government confirmed to be using them.

Mark Hiznay, senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, said it is astounding

to see that 12 years after the landmark 1997 Mine Ban Treaty was negotiated, the level of activity and commitment by countries to eradicate this weapon is as strong as ever.

Hiznay said Russia has been removed from the list of countries using landmines for the first time this year.

Eighty percent of the world’s states, that is 156 countries, are party to the Mine Ban Treaty. Thirty-nine countries – including China, India, Pakistan, Russia and the United States – have not joined the treaty.

 

Some information in this story was provided by AP and AFP.