How Russian Landmines Ravage Ukraine: Daily Brief

Russian forces are using landmines in Ukraine that are causing civilian casualties and suffering, as well as disrupting food production. Russia is the only party to the conflict known to have used banned antipersonnel mines, while both Russia and Ukraine have used anti-vehicle mines. New research by Human Rights Watch details seven types of antipersonnel mines that Russian forces in Ukraine are known to have used since the February 24, 2022 all-out invasion. Russia has not joined the 164 countries that have ratified the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, which comprehensively bans antipersonnel mines, and requires destruction of stock, clearance of mined areas, and assistance to victims.

100 million people worldwide were forced to flee their homes according to latest data from the United Nations Refugee Agency UNHCR. The UN published detailed statistics for the end of 2021 claiming 89.3 million people were displaced by war, violence, persecution, and human rights abuses. However, the agency updated estimates to reflect latest developments such as the escalation in the Russia-Ukraine-War which has forced millions more to flee from the area.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres will soon name a new high commissioner for human rights. He should nominate someone who has the courage to publicly criticize the human rights records of China, the United States, and other powerful governments. The outgoing high commissioner, former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet, was widely and justifiably criticized by governments and rights groups after her recent visit to China for failing to condemn the Chinese government’s abysmal rights record, notably the persecution of Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang.

Australia’s new prime minister, Anthony Albanese, should adopt a human rights-centered foreign policy agenda and initiate urgent domestic rights reforms. The Albanese government should immediately impose targeted sanctions against senior military officials in Myanmar responsible for human rights violations following the February 2021 coup and Chinese officials responsible for crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other Turkic Muslims in Xinjiang. During the campaign and in opposition, Albanese committed to ambitious human rights reforms that should now be swiftly carried out.

Today is the African Union’s Day of the African Child with this year's theme “Eliminating Harmful Practices Affecting Children.” African governments should not tolerate or legally permit child marriage, denial of education, or other human rights abuses against girls. They should adopt stronger measures to protect girls from practices that violate their rights. Harmful practices are often rooted in discriminatory traditional, economic, religious, and legal conditions, and harmful societal views on the role of girls and women.