Finland
Mine Ban Policy
Mine ban policy overview
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Mine Ban Treaty status |
State Party |
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National implementation measures |
Penal Code amended |
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Transparency reporting |
Initial report submitted |
The Republic of Finland deposited its instrument of accession to the Mine Ban Treaty on 9 January 2012, becoming a State Party on 1 July 2012.[1]
The parliament approved the accession documents on 25 November 2011,[2] following a favorable opinion by the defence committee which concluded that banning antipersonnel mines was justified on the basis of the significant human rights and humanitarian problems caused by their use and stated that accession to the Mine Ban Treaty would strengthen Finland’s foreign and security policy coherence.[3]
On 22 December 2011, Finland amended its penal code to implement the convention’s provisions in domestic legislation, including penal sanctions for violations of a minimum of four months imprisonment to a maximum of six years.[4]
In its initial Article 7 report, Finland reported the following additional measures to implement the convention: Standard Operating Instructions from the Finnish Defence Command published on 3 April 2012; an Army Command decision on decommissioning of antipersonnel mines published on 24 February 2012; and a decision of the Finnish Defence Command on the approval of a plan of destruction of its antipersonnel mines published on 25 October 2010.[5]
In December 2012, Finland attended the Mine Ban Treaty’s Twelfth Meeting of States Parties in Geneva, its first meeting as a full State Party to the convention. At the meeting, Finland reaffirmed its commitment to complete the destruction of its stockpile of antipersonnel mines by the end of 2015. It reiterated its pledge to promote the universalization and implementation of the convention, and expressly recognized the work of NGOs alongside States Parties as “instrumental” for the universalization of the treaty. Finland also confirmed its intention to increase its funding for mine action, subject to parliamentary approval, to the level of €6 million (US$7.7 million) annually by 2014.[6]
At the intersessional Standing Committee meetings of the treaty in Geneva in May 2013, Finland reiterated its commitments to complete stockpile destruction within its stated 2015 deadline and to work towards the convention’s universalization.[7]
Finland submitted its initial Article 7 report prior to its 1 January 2013 deadline. The report covers the period from 1 July–31 December 2012.[8]
Finland is party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) and its Amended Protocol II on landmines. It is also a party to CCW Protocol V on explosive remnants of war.
Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling
Finland has stated on numerous occasions that it has never used antipersonnel mines and does not have any mined areas, has not produced antipersonnel mines since 1981, and has never exported antipersonnel mines.[9] Finland has not acquired any antipersonnel mines since the early 1970s. A 2003 European Union Joint Action has obliged Finland not to procure more antipersonnel mines.[10]
In 2010, information from the Ministry for Defence was released revealing for the first time the size and composition of Finland’s stockpile of antipersonnel mines.[11] This total was reaffirmed in mid-2012 when Finland disclosed that it stockpiled 1,029,763 antipersonnel mines banned by the treaty, comprising 801,618 Sakaramiina 65-98 blast mines as well as 228,145 Putkimiina 43-95 and Putkimiina 65-98 stake mines.[12]
In May 2013 and in its initial (2012) Article 7 report, Finland informed States Parties that it had destroyed 220,455 of its stockpiled antipersonnel mines. It stated that the remaining 809,308 antipersonnel mines would be destroyed by the Finnish Defence Forces before the end of 2015.[13]
Finland started destroying its stockpile in August 2012 by open detonation at a camp in Finnish Lapland.[14] From August until 31 December 2012, destruction continued at the Ähtäri army depot in central Finland and at Kittilä, an area in the north of the country which has been used for many years for the destruction of old ammunition and explosives. Finland reported that blast mines are to be destroyed by removing the fuze and metallic parts for recycling, with parts to be used during fire and explosion training. Stake mines are to be destroyed by open detonation.[15] According to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, stockpile destruction is expected to cost approximately €220,000 (US$291,742).[16]
Finland said a key factor obstructing its accession to the treaty was the difficulty of procuring alternatives to antipersonnel mines.[17] The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has said a replacement for antipersonnel mines must be procured between 2009 and 2016 in order to maintain a credible defense.[18] The procurement of replacement systems started in 2009.[19] Finland’s 2009 Security and Defense Policy Review stated that “it is possible to replace a part of the landmines’ purpose with special munitions, Claymore mines and ground surveillance sensors as well as modern anti-tank mines.”[20] The Defence Committee concluded that a total of approximately €300 million (US$398 million) would allow adequate substitutions for antipersonnel mines to be procured and that it would be possible to remove these weapons without weakening Finland’s national defense.[21]
Retention
In its initial 2012 Article 7 report, Finland declared retaining 16,500 antipersonnel mines for training and research purposes.[22] Finland has previously stated that it considers retention of mines necessary for the development of and training in destruction techniques for mines used in areas near Finland or where Finland is operating in crisis management, and it plans to retain mines for these purposes over the next 20 years.[23]
Contamination from explosive remnants of war
Finland has stated that it does not have mined areas. However, according to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, some areas may contain unexploded ordnance (UXO), which could include mines, left over from World War II. These areas with a risk of UXO are recorded.[24]
[1] This came six years later than its initially-stated goal. The decision to step back from the goal to join the treaty in 2006 was included in the Security and Defence Policy Review 2004, which was approved by parliament on 21 December 2004. The goal of joining the treaty by 2006 was first stated in December 1997, reiterated in December 1999 and December 2000, and confirmed by a government report on foreign and security policy approved by parliament in December 2001.
[2] Statement of Finland, Mine Ban Treaty Eleventh Meeting of States Parties, Phnom Penh, 28 November 2011.
[3] The defense committee concluded that a total of approximately €300 million (US$398 million) would allow adequate substitutions for antipersonnel mines to be procured and that it would be possible to remove these weapons without weakening Finland’s national defense. “The Defence Committee’s opinion 2/2011 vp,” PuVL/2011 vp – HE 15/2011 vp, 28 September 2011, on “Government Bill to Parliament on the approval of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production, Stockpiling, and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and their Destruction,” HE15/2011, 12 August 2011, www.eduskunta.fi. Average exchange rate for 2010: €1=US$1.3261. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 6 January 2011.
[4] “Law amending Chapter 11 (War crimes and crimes against humanity) of the Penal Code 39/1889,” 22 December 2011.
[5] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for the period 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2012), Form A.
[6] Statement of Finland, Mine Ban Treaty Twelfth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 3 December 2012. Average exchange rate for 2012: €1=US$1.2859. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 3 January 2013.
[7] Statement of Finland, Mine Ban Treaty Intersessional Meetings, Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction, Geneva, 27 May 2013.
[8] Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for the period 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2012).
[9] Parliament of Finalnd, “Government Bill to Parliament on the approval of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production, Stockpiling, and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and their Destruction,” HE15/2011, 12 August 2011; statement of Finland, Mine Ban Treaty Intersessional Meetings, Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction, Geneva, 27 May 2013; statement of Finland, Mine Ban Treaty Twelfth Meeting of States Parties, Geneva, 3 December 2012; statement of Finland, Mine Ban Treaty Eleventh Meeting of States Parties, Phnom Penh, 28 November 2011; and statement of Finland, Intersessional Standing Committee meetings, Geneva, 21 May 2012.
[10] Ministry of Defence, “Puolustusministeriön Jalkaväkimiinaselvitystyöryhmän Väliraportti” (“Interim report of Ministry of Defence working group on infantry landmines”), 19 December 2003, published 10 February 2004.
[11] Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “Draft Government Bill to Parliament on the approval of the Ottawa Convention on Antipersonnel Mines,” 14 December 2010; and Parliament of Finland, “Government Bill to Parliament on the approval of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production, Stockpiling, and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and their Destruction,” HE15/2011, 12 August 2011.
[12] Parliament of Finland, “Government Bill to Parliament on the approval of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production, Stockpiling, and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and their Destruction,” HE15/2011, 12 August 2011; and letter from Markku Virri, Ministry of Foriegn Affairs of Finland, 7 September 2012.
[13] Statement of Finland, Mine Ban Treaty Intersessional Meetings, Standing Committee on Stockpile Destruction, Geneva, 27 May 2013. This is confirmed in Finland’s initial Article 7 report. Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for the period 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2012), Forms B and G.
[14] “Finland Destroying Landmine Stocks,” yle (News service), 21 August 2012; and letter from Markku Virri, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, 7 September 2012.
[15] Ibid.; and Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for the period 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2012), Form F.
[16] Parliament of Finland, “Government Bill to Parliament on the approval of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production, Stockpiling, and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and their Destruction,” HE15/2011, 12 August 2011; and letter from Markku Virri, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, 7 September 2012. Average exchange rate for 2010: €1=US$1.3261. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 6 January 2011.
[17] See Landmine Monitor Report 2007, p. 821. The Security and Defence Policy Review 2004 stated that the Finnish Defence Force would be provided with €200 million in extra funding over eight years for replacements for mines, and the army would have to allocate an additional €100 million. The replacement process was to start in 2009 and continue until 2016. The review proposed to replace antipersonnel mines with close combat weapons and sensors.
[18] Parliament of Finland, “Government Bill to Parliament on the approval of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production, Stockpiling, and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and their Destruction,” HE15/2011, 12 August 2011.
[19] Ibid.
[20] Prime Minister’s Office, “Finnish Security and Defence Policy 2009, Government Report,” Publication 13/2009, 5 February 2009.
[21] Parliament of Finland, “The Defence Committee’s opinion 2/2011 vp,” PuVL/2011 vp – HE 15/2011 vp, 28 September 2011, on “Government Bill to Parliament on the approval of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production, Stockpiling, and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and their Destruction,” HE15/2011, 12 August 2011.
[22] It reported retaining 9,000 Sakaramiina 65-98; 3,000 Putkimiina 43-95; and 4,500 Putkimiina 68-98 antipersonnel mines. Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report (for the period 1 July 2012 to 31 December 2012), Form D.
[23] Parliament of Finland, “Government Bill to Parliament on the approval of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Production, Stockpiling, and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and their Destruction,” HE15/2011, 12 August 2011.
[24] Ibid.