Nobel Peace Laureate Condemns Finland’s Shameful Move as Country Turns Its Back on Global Antipersonnel Landmine Ban
Press Release – For Immediate Release
Geneva 14 July 2025 - The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) strongly denounces Finland’s formal notification to the United Nations of its withdrawal from the Mine Ban Treaty. This move represents a dramatic reversal of Finland’s longstanding support for humanitarian disarmament and international law, and aligns Finland’s military with the practices of states like Russia and North Korea.
The Finnish government submitted its withdrawal to the United Nations on July 10. Under Article 20 of the treaty, the withdrawal will take effect in six months unless Finland is engaged in armed conflict at that time, in which case the withdrawal would be legally barred until the conflict ends. Finland also retains the right to retract its decision within that period.
“Finland’s decision defies military logic, humanitarian values, and international consensus, which all recognize that antipersonnel mines should never be used again. These indiscriminate weapons, which cannot be aimed at an enemy target, end up killing and maiming most civilians. Reintroducing them today is both reckless and shameful,” said Tamar Gabelnick, Director of the ICBL.
Finland acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 1 July 2012, and completed the destruction of its stockpile of 1,013,571 antipersonnel mines by August 2015. According to the Landmine Monitor Report, Finland has never used, exported, or produced antipersonnel mines since the early 1980s, though it currently retains 15,591 mines for training and research purposes as permitted under Article 3 of the treaty.
In official reports and defense assessments in 2022 and 2023, the Ministry of Defence and the Finnish Defence Forces repeatedly stated that antipersonnel mines are no longer considered a critical military capability, having been replaced by alternative systems including drones, heavy rocket launchers, and command-detonated mines, which are not victim-activated and therefore not banned by the treaty.
A May 2023 memo prepared by Finland’s foreign ministry again stated there was “no need to withdraw from the convention in terms of security or defense policy,” and warned that doing so “would call into question Finland's role as a consistent and long-term foreign policy actor. A withdrawal would also send a very negative signal in a situation where Russia and China are actively challenging existing conventions and seeking to cause rifts within the EU and NATO.” The memo also noted that no companies in Finland’s defense industry would support mine production due to reputational risks and financing barriers.
The Mine Ban Treaty, which entered into force in 1999, prohibits the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of antipersonnel mines, and requires the destruction of stockpiles and the clearance of mined areas. It also obliges assistance to landmine victims. Today, 166 countries are party to the treaty, including all European Union and NATO members, except the United States.
Finland’s move comes less than ten days after Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania submitted their notification to the UN of their withdrawal from the Mine Ban Treaty. Poland had also taken decisive steps on 25 June when its parliament approved withdrawal by 413 votes to 15, though the formal notification to the UN is still pending. In response, a wide range of former government officials, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, landmine survivors and human rights organizations have expressed deep concern, urging the countries to reconsider and recommit to the humanitarian norms the treaty upholds.
“Finland is turning its back on the commitment it solemnly undertook 13 years ago to protect civilians from these vile weapons, both in times of peace and – most critically – should Finland ever be engaged in an armed conflict,” said Gabelnick. “Like all other parties to the treaty, Finland recognized long ago that a strong defense of its people should not involve the use of antipersonnel weapons. Finland’s move is a massive step backwards, and the consequences will be measured in civilian lives, both in Finland and far beyond.”
The ICBL calls on Finland’s government to immediately reverse course and rejoin the community of states working to eradicate these indiscriminate weapons. Finnish civilians, like those in conflict-affected countries, deserve protection from weapons that do not distinguish between soldier and child.
END
Background
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) is a global civil society coalition of hundreds of organizations working for a world without landmines. In 1997, the ICBL was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize together with its founding coordinator Jody Williams. The campaign includes national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) across many disciplines including demining, human rights, development, refugee issues, and medical and humanitarian relief.
Additional Information
Why the World Banned Antipersonnel Mines
Illegal: Violate international humanitarian law, cannot distinguish between combatant and civilian.
Civilians = Main Victims: 85% of victims are civilians. 40% are children.
Enduring Harm: Mines stay active for decades, long after wars end.
Limited Military Value: Far outweighed by their humanitarian consequences.
About the Mine Ban Convention
Adopted in 1997, also known as the Ottawa Treaty
Bans use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of antipersonnel mines
Built through unprecedented partnership between states, civil society (ICBL), ICRC, and UN
165 countries are onboard, including every EU and NATO member except the U.S.
Led to a dramatic reduction in global landmine casualties, production, transfer, and use; advanced clearance of mined areas (30 countries became mine-free), and increased support for landmine victims
Current users: Russia, Myanmar, North Korea, Iran
Useful Links
www.icblcmc.org/about-icbl
Landmine Monitor 2024 Report
Nobel Laureates Back the Ban on Antipersonnel Landmines
Joint Appeal to Uphold the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-personnel Landmines and the Convention on Cluster Munitions
Banner on Broken Chair Protests Baltic States' Withdrawal from Mine Ban Treaty
Contact Details
Charles Bechara, Media & Communications Manager
International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)
Email: charles@icblcmc.org
Tel. +41 78 323 51 44
Tamar Gabelnick , Director
International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL)
Email: tamar@icblcmc.org
Tel. +41 78 323 51 44