Poland Plans Exit from Ottawa Convention to Deploy Landmines

Poland has announced a fast-track plan to deploy landmines and signalled its intention to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, the international agreement banning anti-personnel landmines.

The move would clear the way for Poland to produce and deploy anti-personnel mines as part of its defence planning.

About the Ottawa Convention

Formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction:

• Concluded at Oslo on 18 September 1997.
• Opened for signature in Ottawa in December 1997.
• Entered into force on 1 March 1999 at the United Nations headquarters in New York.
• Prohibits use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines.

The treaty was signed by 133 countries, though some major states such as India, Pakistan and Russia are not signatories.

Types of Landmines

• Anti-personnel mines: Target individuals; banned under the Ottawa Convention.
• Anti-vehicle mines: Designed to damage vehicles; not universally banned.

Landmines have caused extensive civilian casualties long after conflicts end, which led to the global push for prohibition.