Colombia is second only to Afghanistan on the list of countries with the most child victims of anti-personnel landmines, with more casualties than Syria, according to the International Campaign to Ban Land Mines.
In 2013, 57 Colombian children were victims of anti-personnel landmines, making up some 35% of the total civilian casualty rate from the weapons. Some 165 civilians of landmines were counted last year.
Topping the list was Afghanistan with 487 child victims. Syria, Pakistan, and Yemen round out the top five, with 50,45, and 40 child child victims, respectively.
According to human rights watch, anti-personnel landmines are a violation of customary international law because they are “inherently indiscriminate.”
In 1997, Colombia signed the Mine Ban Treaty and set the goal to become mine-free in 2021. It has become an international and national chase to make this goal a reality.
Despite the high number, the Presidential Program for Comprehensive Action against Antipersonnel Mines (PAICMA) has said that landmine casualties actually decreased in 2013 by 28%.
MORE: 28% drop in landmine victims not enough for Colombia’s government
Security forces are the most frequent victims of landmines, accounting for some 202 victims in 2013, according to PAICMA. Land mines in Colombia killed 38 people and injured 321 last year.
Since 1990, there have been 10,610 landmine victims in Colombia, including 4,107 civilians – equivalent to an alarming 39% of all victims. Child victims accounted for 1,056 of the civilian number.
Sources
- Ficha Técnica – El Impacto de Las Minas Antipersonal y Los Remanentes Explosivos de Guerra Sobre Los Menores de Edad (International Campaign to Ban Landmines)
- Colombia es el segundo país con más niños víctimas por minas antipersonal (Campana Colombiana Contra Minas)
- Situación De Víctimas Colombia 1990 – Diciembre 31 Del 2013 (Presidential Program for Comprehensive Action against Antipersonnel Mines)