Mary Wareham
banner
marywareham.bsky.social
Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social
Arms Director, Human Rights Watch @hrw.org
#Ukraine's so-called suspension of its operation of the vital 1997 treaty banning antipersonnel landmines puts civilians at risk, undermines fundamental humanitarian & legal norms, and is contrary to public international law - @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/07...
Ukraine ‘Suspends’ Vital Mine Ban Treaty
On July 18, Ukraine formally informed the United Nations that it has suspended its operation of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, the landmark international treaty prohibiting antipersonnel landmines. The act...
www.hrw.org
July 24, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Reposted by Mary Wareham
Five European countries plan to revive the use of landmines, banned by treaty since 1999, hoping to fortify their borders with Russia.
Land Mines, a Cold War Horror, Could Return to Fortify Europe’s Borders
Five countries plan to revive the use of a weapon prohibited by treaty for more than a quarter of a century, hoping to strengthen their defenses against any Russian attack.
trib.al
July 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM
"“Whoever they spot, they kill” - @972mag.com details how Israeli forces have learned from the Ukraine war & are adapting thousands of Chinese-made quadcopter drones & using them to drop grenades & other explosive weapons on civilians in Gaza www.972mag.com/drones-grena...
July 10, 2025 at 11:55 AM
🇫🇮 Finland, 🇵🇱 Poland + 🇱🇹 Lithuania look set first to become the non-western countries to manufacture antipersonnel landmines in 27+ years www.reuters.com/business/aer... They are deliberately bringing back indiscriminate weapons that predominately harm civilians - @hrw.org hrw.org/news/2025/07...
Five European States Withdraw from Mine Ban Treaty
The withdrawal of five European countries from a longstanding and effective international treaty prohibiting antipersonnel landmines unnecessarily puts civilians at risk.
hrw.org
July 9, 2025 at 1:41 PM
"The Cold War horror" making a comeback....
@nytimes.com explores the human suffering caused by antipersonnel landmines & negative consequences of Ukraine & 5 EU countries withdrawing from the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty www.nytimes.com/2025/07/08/world/europe/land-mines-treaty-russia-ukraine.html
Land Mines, a Cold War Horror, Could Return to Fortify Europe’s Borders
www.nytimes.com
July 8, 2025 at 3:02 PM
⚠️ The means & methods of warfare are not unlimited...
🇫🇮 Finland can maintain its independence & territorial integrity without having to resort to producing & using 💥inherently indiscriminate weapons such as antipersonnel landmines @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/06...
Leaving the Landmine Ban Treaty Puts Civilians at Risk
Deputy Director Mary Wareham and Laura Lodenius, Executive Director at Peace Union of Finland, discuss the grave ramifications of states leaving the Mine Ban Treaty.
www.hrw.org
July 4, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Reposted by Mary Wareham
Ukraine looks to withdraw from a major international treaty on anti-personnel landmines to bolster its defense on the battlefield, where its troops are trying to hold off Russia's intensifying offensive.
Ukraine to exit mine ban treaty, citing war demands, realities on the ground
Ukraine looks to withdraw from a major international treaty on anti-personnel landmines to bolster its defense on the battlefield, where its troops are trying to hold off Russia's intensifying offensi...
kyivindependent.com
July 2, 2025 at 8:30 AM
🇺🇦 Ukraine has begun to withdraw from the Mine Ban Treaty. Because Ukraine is in the midst of a war, this is effectively a symbolic move to gain political cover while disregarding the core prohibitions on developing, producing, and using antipersonnel mines - @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/07...
Five European States Withdraw from Mine Ban Treaty
The withdrawal of five European countries from a longstanding and effective international treaty prohibiting antipersonnel landmines unnecessarily puts civilians at risk.
www.hrw.org
July 1, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Welcoming 🇹🇴 Tonga on board the 1997 treaty banning antipersonnel landmines #166 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
June 26, 2025 at 11:33 AM
This a time when dedication to humanitarian principles of being tested. If more states start to backslide [and withdraw], what will the history books write about the Mine Ban Convention? - HRH Prince Mired
June 20, 2025 at 8:23 AM
“Mines don’t disappear with the end of hostilities.” Since December, 414 people were killed & 592 injured by landmines & explosive remnants of war in #Syria. 30% of the victims were children. - Raed Al-Saleh, Minister for Environment, Emergencies, Disaster Management #MineBanIM
June 19, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Reposted by Mary Wareham
Great piece by @marywareham.bsky.social and Laura Lodenius on how European withdrawals from Ottawa Convention are "pushing the world to the precipice of a potentially slippery slope, where key legal and humanitarian norms might no longer be observed." 👇‼️
June 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Reposted by Mary Wareham
Offener Brief: 📝 Gemeinsam mit @hrwdeutschland.bsky.social , @minefreeworld.bsky.social , @medico.de & @savechildrende.bsky.social fordern wir: Deutschland muss sich klar gegen den Einsatz von #AntipersonenMinen positionieren!

Zum offenen Brief 👇
www.handicap-international.de/sn_uploads/d...
June 16, 2025 at 11:51 AM
Side event on civilian harm from antipersonnel landmines, starting now: us02web.zoom.us/j/8363598371...
June 17, 2025 at 11:28 AM
101 Nobel laureates urge 🇫🇮 Finland, 🇵🇱 Poland, 🇪🇪 Estonia, 🇱🇻 Latvia & 🇱🇹 Lithuania to stay in the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines & not withdraw from it: icblcmc.org/api/assets/I...
June 17, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Reposted by Mary Wareham
Join us at 13:00 CEST for a side event on Civilian Harm from Antipersonnel Landmines, with @hrw.org and @hi-advocacy.bsky.social

In Room 4 at #MineBanIM

Also live streamed at: us02web.zoom.us/j/8363598371...

@minefreeworld.bsky.social @aymansorour.bsky.social @marywareham.bsky.social
June 17, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Reposted by Mary Wareham
This week, Finland may vote to withdraw from the international treaty banning landmines, & Poland may soon follow. @marywareham.bsky.social & Laura Lodenius write that this puts civilians at risk, and these states should reconsider.
europeanleadershipnetwork.org/commentary/l...
Leaving the Landmine Ban Treaty puts civilians at risk
This week, Finland looks set to vote a final time on withdrawing from the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines, and Poland may soon follow. Mary Wareham and Laura Lodenius write that t...
europeanleadershipnetwork.org
June 16, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Reposted by Mary Wareham
We’ve launched a new action with @avaaz.org targeting Canada and its new PM, @mark-carney.bsky.social.

Canada once led the world in banning landmines. Now we need them to lead again.

Click the link below, and send an message urging Canada to protect the Mine Ban Treaty!

👉 Act now!
Write a message to protect lives from landmines!
💣 Landmines kill long after wars end. Canada helped ban them — now it must speak up again. Tell PM Carney: defend the global ban, protect kids, and stop these buried war crimes. ✍️ Add your voice now!
bit.ly
June 12, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by Mary Wareham
It was an honour to chat with the Honourable Dr. Lloyd Axworthy at an event discussing Canada’s leadership in banning landmines.

Listening to Dr. Axworthy, I was struck by how far Canada has strayed from a morally defensible and coherent foreign policy that prioritizes people over profit.
June 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
😱 📚 "A growing slew of AI-generated books [are] scamming would-be readers. They are released around the same time as a highly anticipated book and try to profit off the hype by getting people to download them accidentally" @thespinoff.bsky.social: thespinoff.co.nz/politics/09-...
A different kind of memoir? Five fake Jacinda Ardern books, read and reviewed
A noble quest to find out if AI can write a decent political memoir, from 'Leading Quietly' to 'Power with Kind Purpose'.
thespinoff.co.nz
June 10, 2025 at 7:47 PM
"Autonomous weapons systems raise moral, legal, and ethical concerns, but in Israel, debate over limits is nearly absent" - Aviv Bar Zohar: www.jpost.com/consumerism/...
Robots replacing soldiers: A futuristic vision becoming reality | The Jerusalem Post
Autonomous weapons raise moral, legal, and ethical concerns, but in Israel, debate over limits is nearly absent. These systems act without human contact - and without hesitation.
www.jpost.com
June 10, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Mary Wareham
A recent Human Rights Watch report documents how Russia is dropping landmines from drones in Ukraine, writes HRW’s Mary Wareham, part of a practice of landmine use causing other countries to move away from hard-won treaty protections.

www.justsecurity.org/114293/russi...
Russia’s Drone-Dropped Landmines Threaten Human Lives and Hard-Won Humanitarian Protections
Russian drone attacks have restricted civilian movement and blocked access to essential goods thereby violating the laws of war.
www.justsecurity.org
June 10, 2025 at 1:05 PM
☎️ “Call your allies when they violate the rules of war and demand that they stop. The moment to pick up the phone is now” @icrc.org president told Security Council today www.icrc.org/en/statement...
ICRC president: “It is possible to protect civilians in war”
www.icrc.org
May 22, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Tune in for today's virtual talk on @minefreeworld.bsky.social at 11:00am ET...
Hear how governments and civil society worked hand-in-hand to ban landmines 🚫 and what lessons we can carry forward.
 
🗓️ May 22 | 3PM UTC

🎙️ Featuring Jill Sinclair & Mary Wareham

🗣️ Live translation in Spanish & French

🔗 Register: fossilfueltreaty.org/events
May 22, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Broad interest in the first #UNGA meeting on autonomous weapons systems & substantive engagement shows why states should commit to open negotiations on a new international treaty to deal with the dangers - @hrw.org www.hrw.org/news/2025/05...
UN: Start Talks on Treaty to Ban ‘Killer Robots’
Global momentum to prohibit and regulate “killer robots” seems to be building, as evidenced by numerous countries’ participation in the first United Nations General Assembly meeting on autonomous weap...
www.hrw.org
May 21, 2025 at 11:43 AM