Mary Wareham

Mary Wareham

@marywareham.bsky.social

Arms Director, Human Rights Watch @hrw.org

1.8K followers246 following126 posts

Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

#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...

hrw.orgUkraine ‘Suspends’ Vital Mine Ban TreatyOn 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...
Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

🇫🇮 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...

hrw.orgFive European States Withdraw from Mine Ban TreatyThe withdrawal of five European countries from a longstanding and effective international treaty prohibiting antipersonnel landmines unnecessarily puts civilians at risk.
Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

⚠️ 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...

hrw.orgLeaving the Landmine Ban Treaty Puts Civilians at RiskDeputy Director Mary Wareham and Laura Lodenius, Executive Director at Peace Union of Finland, discuss the grave ramifications of states leaving the Mine Ban Treaty.
Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

Finnish lawmaker Veronkia Honkasalo calls political support for 🇫🇮 Finland's Mine Ban Treaty withdrawal "a repudiation of the new Finland that had been emerging from Russia’s shadow [as] a standard-bearer for human rights and the rule of law" www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe...

csmonitor.comLand mine ban was a global triumph. Here’s why Finland is leaving.Finland is withdrawing from an international treaty banning land mines, putting its fear of neighboring Russia above its commitment to humanitarian law.

Mary Wareham reposted

The Kyiv Independent
@kyivindependent.com

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.

kyivindependent.comUkraine to exit mine ban treaty, citing war demands, realities on the groundUkraine 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...
Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

🇺🇦 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...

hrw.orgFive European States Withdraw from Mine Ban TreatyThe withdrawal of five European countries from a longstanding and effective international treaty prohibiting antipersonnel landmines unnecessarily puts civilians at risk.
Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

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

Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

By joining the Mine Ban Treaty we hope to send a strong message. It is our moral obligation to the victims of antipersonnel landmines esp. the children. Be unequivocal in defending the progress made - newest State Party Marshall Islands tells #MineBanIM meeting

Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

“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

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Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

In addition to survey & clearance, Syria’s transitional government should urgently work to secure stockpiled landmines & weapons. It should issue an immediate directive prohibiting any new use of antipersonnel mines by any actor in the country - Ayman Sorour, ICBL

Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

For more info, see this @hrw.org report detailing civilian harm from landmines & explosive remnants of war in Syria. We urge the transitional government to prepare to join the Mine Ban Treaty www.hrw.org/news/2025/04...

hrw.orgSyria: Landmines, Explosive Remnants Harming CiviliansOver a decade of conflict has resulted in Syria being extensively contaminated by landmines and explosive remnants of war, a major barrier to safe return and reconstruction efforts.
Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

“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

Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

Scale of contamination from mines & explosive remnants of war in Syria is believed to be extensive. There’s some data from northeast of the country where MAG & others have operated for years but much more is needed.

Mary Wareham reposted

Oliver Meier
@olivermeier.bsky.social

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." 👇‼️

European Leadership Network (ELN)@theeln.bsky.social

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...

europeanleadershipnetwork.orgLeaving the Landmine Ban Treaty puts civilians at riskThis 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...
Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

101 Nobel laureates in chemistry, economics, literature, medicine, peace, & physics issue a joint statement defending the international ban on antipersonnel landmines as 5 European countries 🇪🇪 🇫🇮 🇱🇻 🇱🇹 🇵🇱 move to withdraw from it: www.icblcmc.org/our-impact/n...

icblcmc.orgNobel Laureates Back the Ban on Antipersonnel Landmines - ICBLCMCInternational Campaign to Ban Landmines - Cluster Munition Coalition - Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor

Mary Wareham reposted

European Leadership Network (ELN)
@theeln.bsky.social

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...

europeanleadershipnetwork.orgLeaving the Landmine Ban Treaty puts civilians at riskThis 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...

Mary Wareham reposted

International Campaign to Ban Landmines
@minefreeworld.bsky.social

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!

bit.lyWrite 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!

Mary Wareham reposted

Heather McPherson MP
@heathermcpherson.bsky.social

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.

Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

😱 📚 "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-...

thespinoff.co.nzA different kind of memoir? Five fake Jacinda Ardern books, read and reviewedA noble quest to find out if AI can write a decent political memoir, from 'Leading Quietly' to 'Power with Kind Purpose'.

Mary Wareham reposted

Just Security
@justsecurity.org

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...

justsecurity.orgRussia’s Drone-Dropped Landmines Threaten Human Lives and Hard-Won Humanitarian ProtectionsRussian drone attacks have restricted civilian movement and blocked access to essential goods thereby violating the laws of war.
Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

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...

hrw.orgUN: 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...

Mary Wareham reposted

Tamar Gabelnick
@tamargabelnick.bsky.social

Congratulations to #Tonga on joining the life-saving #MineBanTreaty! This is the leadership needed today to achieve a mine free world! talanoaotonga.to/tonga-joins-... @minefreeworld.bsky.social @minemonitor.bsky.social

talanoaotonga.toTonga joins ban on landmines in global disarmament push – TALANOA 'O TONGATonga has officially joined the Ottawa Treaty, committing to ban anti-personnel landmines. Deputy Prime Minister Hon. Dr Taniela Fusimalohi announced the ratifi

Mary Wareham reposted

Human Rights Watch
@hrw.org

Why are governments talking about killer robots? 🔊 ⤵️ Governments should seize the opportunity to adopt a new international treaty to address killer robots' threats to human rights. #StopKillerRobots

Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

“There are mines everywhere - on trees, on the ground, inside the houses, and all around them...It drives you crazy” - mother of an 18 yr old injured by an antipersonnel landmine after returning home in #Syria - @nytimes.com www.nytimes.com/card/2025/04... @hrw.org recs www.hrw.org/news/2025/04...

nytimes.comTackling a Deadly Legacy in SyriaSyrians are returning home to former frontline villages, only to find them riddled with landmines and unexploded ordnance.
Mary Wareham
@marywareham.bsky.social

New @hrw.org report looks at how autonomous weapons systems pose grave risks to fundamental human rights during war & peacetime: www.hrw.org/news/2025/04... Governments should negotiate a new international treaty to address the dangers.

hrw.org‘Killer Robots’ Threaten Human Rights During War, PeaceIn "A Hazard to Human Rights," Human Rights Watch details how autonomous weapons systems pose a grave risk to human rights during both war and peacetime. Governments should tackle the concerns raised ...