This month it is 25 years since the Ottawa Treaty, representing the global community’s best efforts to end the use of landmines, entered international law. Over the last two and half decades over 30 countries worldwide have been declared landmine free. Yet today – in the space of barely two years – their use has multiplied, with Ukraine now the most heavily mined country on the planet. By some estimates a third of Ukraine’s territory is now infested with landmines, an area roughly the size of Florida.

When, finally, the Ukraine war is over the shadow of landmines will linger long afterwards. We know from other post conflict nations how societies suffer with a legacy of fear, injury, and socioeconomic hardship. Ottawa – for all its good intent - falls short in addressing the complex needs of victims and ensuring accountability for non-state actors. That is why at the 55th UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on 28 March, I proposed the establishment of a United Nations fund for victims of landmines inspired by the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture. This initiative aims to fill the gaps in the current framework by providing direct support to those affected. This International Landmine Awareness Day we need to summon the will to make it happen.

The Need for a Victim-Centric Approach

Landmines inflict devastating tolls on individuals and communities, causing not only immediate physical harm but also long-term psychological, social, and economic impacts. The rehabilitation and support of victims are therefore essential components of a holistic approach to the landmine problem. The proposed UN fund for victims of landmines seeks to adopt a victim-centred strategy, focusing on direct assistance and empowerment, akin to the methodologies employed by the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.

The UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture offers a proven model for the proposed landmine victims' fund. With its foundation in a General Assembly resolution, the Torture Victims Fund has successfully delivered direct assistance through medical, psychological, and legal support, emphasizing impartiality, universality, and a competitive grant-making process that ensures aid reaches those most in need.

Proposed Features of the Landmine Victims' Fund

1. Direct Assistance: Emulating the Torture Victims Fund, the landmine victims' fund would provide tailored support, including healthcare, psychological counselling, vocational training, and social reintegration services.

2. Accountability and Transparency: The fund would promote accountability by ensuring perpetrators of landmine use are held responsible, with a governance structure characterized by transparent resource allocation and decision-making.

3. Inclusive Governance: A wide range of stakeholders, including affected community representatives, NGOs, and experts in victim assistance, would participate in the fund's governance, ensuring its activities are closely aligned with victim needs.

4. Strategic Support: The fund would offer strategic, adaptive support to initiatives with clear, measurable outcomes, capable of addressing both immediate and long-term needs of victims.

5. Capacity Building: By sharing best practices and expertise, the fund would enhance national and local capacities for victim support, ensuring sustainability and efficacy.

Making the Fund Operational

To make this proposed fund operational, the Landmine Convention would require amendments to establish a clear legal and institutional framework. This process would entail defining the fund's objectives, mechanisms for funding and governance, and operational guidelines. Garnering international cooperation and securing support from state parties, private sector donors, and international organizations will be critical to ensuring the fund's viability and success.

The establishment of a UN fund for victims of landmines represents a necessary evolution in the international community's approach to addressing the legacy of landmines. By focusing on the needs of victims, this initiative not only aims to provide direct support but also to underscore the importance of accountability in conflict resolution and post-conflict recovery. The proposal, first put forward during a notable gathering at the 55th UN Human Rights Council, signifies a critical step toward realizing a more humane and effective strategy against the use of landmines.

As the global community continues to confront the challenges posed by landmines, it is imperative that we adopt a more victim-centred approach. The creation of a UN fund for victims of landmines would mark a significant advancement in our collective effort to mitigate the impact of these weapons. It would offer not just assistance and rehabilitation to those directly affected but also contribute to the broader goals of peace, security, and human dignity. By ensuring that victims' voices are heard and their needs are met, we can move closer to a future where the legacy of landmines is one of resilience and recovery, rather than despair and destruction.

Ben Keith is a British barrister specializing in international human rights law.