As war in Ukraine intensifies, five European countries – Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland and Poland – withdrew this year from the Ottawa Convention banning landmines and the Convention on Cluster Munitions – a move that is deeply concerning Tamar Gabelnick.

As Director of both the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and the Cluster Munition Coalition, she was in New York urging action to defend the conventions last week as world leaders addressed the General Assembly.

In an interview with UN News’s Cristina Silveiro she said considering Russia’s continuing invasion of Ukraine it made sense for nearby nations to focus on self defence – but anti-personnel landmines “remain the dumbest weapon in the world” and “it’s pure chance who they will strike.”