The UN’s top human rights official on Wednesday expressed grave alarm that six European countries are either in the process of or are considering withdrawing from the international treaty prohibiting anti-personnel mines.
It’s interesting in the case of Ukraine (also with cluster munitions): the problem is that they leave UXO which is then a danger to life and limb for decades after the war. But, so is being under the thumb of a murderous, genocidal dictator. So surely the standard should be not an outright ban, but a ban on using mines outside your own territory, or the territory of another country with their consent?
It gets difficult with territorial disputes but it also needs to be practical.
Chemical warfare? Cluster munitions? Bombing of population centers?
The point of international law on warfare is that they apply to everyone regardless of circumstances. What you’re suggesting is war crimes in self-defense.
If you have them and you feel you need them, you’ll use them. There is no way to effectively limit the use of existing weapons during a war, as by then most rules will be thrown out the window. The only way to prevent such weapons from being used, is by not producing them in the first place.
Mines however aren’t sophisticated technology either and building a factory or retrofitting one can be done in a war economy too.
It’s interesting in the case of Ukraine (also with cluster munitions): the problem is that they leave UXO which is then a danger to life and limb for decades after the war. But, so is being under the thumb of a murderous, genocidal dictator. So surely the standard should be not an outright ban, but a ban on using mines outside your own territory, or the territory of another country with their consent?
It gets difficult with territorial disputes but it also needs to be practical.
It should be a total ban.
Unfortunately for it to work, you have to get everyone on board. Russia is currently using mines in Ukraine.
I feel like Ukraine should be able to use any defensive weapons they want, especially as the US continues to screw them over
Chemical warfare? Cluster munitions? Bombing of population centers?
The point of international law on warfare is that they apply to everyone regardless of circumstances. What you’re suggesting is war crimes in self-defense.
Even more so when the invaders, the russians, have no issues with using cluster munitions or mines.
If you have them and you feel you need them, you’ll use them. There is no way to effectively limit the use of existing weapons during a war, as by then most rules will be thrown out the window. The only way to prevent such weapons from being used, is by not producing them in the first place.
Mines however aren’t sophisticated technology either and building a factory or retrofitting one can be done in a war economy too.