A Horrifying, New Development:
Biden Authorizes Anti-personnel Mines
Elizabeth Johnson Sellers / Humanity & Inclusion

(November 20, 20240 — It was reported by the Washington Post last night that the Biden administration plans to break from US policy — and universal norms — to send antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine. This morning, HI issued a statement condemning this decision.

As you know, landmines cannot distinguish between the footstep of a child or that of a soldier. These indiscriminate weapons disproportionately injure and kill civilians — and their presence makes it difficult for communities to grow and thrive — even decades after fighting ends.

Earlier today, I joined a call with our partners in the US Campaign to Ban Landmines and, frankly, we’re all shocked by this news. We are all working now to gather more information and urge the Biden administration to reconsider this decision that it will surely regret in the years to come.

If you’d like to join us in making our dissent known, please consider contacting the White House via this form. And if you haven’t already, please sign and share our petition urging the US to join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty.

Thanks for your unwavering support,
Elizabeth Johnson Sellers is the US Director of Communications & Development for Humanity and Inclusion.

ACTION ALERT: Stand Against Landmines
Call on President Joe Biden and his administration
to join the International Mine Ban Treaty.
Sign the petition to take a stand against landmines.

More than 70% of landmine victims are civilians

Landmines are outdated and inaccurate weapons of war that kill and maim thousands of innocent men, women, and children every year. In June 2022, the Biden Administration barred the United States’ use, production, stockpiling, and transferring of anti-personnel landmines, except on the Korean Peninsula, if necessary.

In November 2024, it was reported that the Biden administration will send antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine, contradicting US policy and undermining universal standards.

Sign this petition to tell President Biden and his administration to do better. 164 countries — including all members of NATO, except the US — have signed the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. The US participated in the Ottawa process to draft this international agreement to ban landmines, but never adopted or signed it. It’s time we join them.

Take a stand against landmines! Sign the petition to call on the Biden administration to join the International Mine Ban Treaty.

Humanity & Inclusion (HI) was founded in 1982 to treat and provide assistive devices for the victims of landmines. The organization has also been conducting demining operations for more than 25 years. In 1992, HI and five other organizations created the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997. HI advocates for States to join and implement the treaties banning landmines and cluster munitions, to put an end to the bombing of populated areas, and to assist victims.

Related News
“Biden moves to restrict military’s use of land mines,” Morgan Chalfant, The Hill, June 21, 2022. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/3530809-biden-moves-to-restrict-militarys-use-of-land-mines/