According to data collected by various institutions, between 15,000 and 20,000 landmine accidents happen around the world each year because of landmines and explosive remnants of war. These inflict great harm on the lives of individuals as well as the society, warns Damjan Bergant, Director of the ITF Enhancing Human Security.

Slovenian Foreign Ministry: Complete ban on landmines
The Slovenian ministry of foreign affairs issued a press release stating that “the only way to guarantee a world free of landmines and their victims is to impose a comprehensive and global prohibition on landmines”. “Our work will not be completed until all countries join the Mine Ban Treaty, until all landmines are destroyed, all minefields and mined areas are cleared and all victims rehabilitated. We are pleased to see the increasing number of parties to the Treaty, which currently amounts to 162,” emphasized the ministry.

The Slovenian Foreign Ministry also praised the U.S. for last year’s decision to ban the purchase and production of landmines on their territory. Slovenia was one of the first countries to sign the mine ban treaty, committing itself to a complete ban on the use, storage, production and sale of landmines, added the ministry.

A. Č.; translated by K. Z.