Ban Movement Chronology

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As of May 2004

1991
9/91	"The Coward's War: Landmines in Cambodia" jointly issued by Asia Watch of Human Rights Watch (HRW) and Physicians for Human Rights (PHR). At the same time, the two organizations call for a ban.
11/91	Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF), Washington, and Medico International (MI), Frankfurt, agree to jointly launch a campaign of advocacy to bring together NGOs in a coordinated effort to ban landmines.

1992
2/92	Petition to Australian Parliament for mine clearance in Cambodia, help for victims and support for Joint Call for a ban.
5/92	Handicap International (HI) launches its campaign along with Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and PHR.
10/92	HI, HRW, MI, MAG, PHR, and VVAF meet in New York and agree to coordinate campaigning efforts and to co-sponsor the first NGO Conference on Landmines in London in 1993.
11/92	German NGOs begin a series of meetings to coordinate the German national campaign.
11/92	Swedish NGOs begin public meetings on landmines.
12/92	European Parliament passes a resolution on landmines.

1993
2/93	The French Foreign Ministry sends a letter to the Secretary General officially requesting a review conference of the 1980 CCW Convention.
5/93	The First NGO International Conference on Landmines is held in London bringing together 50 representatives of 40 NGOs to strategize on building the campaign to ban landmines. HI, HRW, MI, MAG, PHR and VVAF are recognized as the Steering Committee of the Campaign and VVAF as the coordinator.
6/93	British NGOs hold the first in a series of meetings to coordinate work on the British landmines campaign.
9/93	UNICEF Geneva decides to give priority attention to the issue of landmines.
9/93	Inaugural meeting of the New Zealand Campaign Against Landmines.
11/93	Symposium: Landmines - a Human Rights Crisis, held in Parliament House Canberra, Australia; Australian Campaign launched.
12/93	Canadian NGOs begin pressing for a ban throughout foreign and defense policy reviews.
12/93	UN General Assembly adopts a resolution calling for a review conference of the 1980 Convention
12/93	UN General Assembly adopts a resolution calling for a moratorium on the export of AP mines.
12/93	Italian NGOs launch the Italian campaign with a workshop in Rome.
12/93	Sweden's Bofors announces that for "moral" reasons it will stop manufacturing AP mines as well as the export of fuses and explosives to buyers who might use the material to produce such mines.

1994
2/94	ICRC's president declares that from a "humanitarian point of view" a "world-wide ban on antipersonnel mines is the only truly effective solution and that blinding as a method of warfare has to be outlawed now."
3/94	Belgian NGOs launch a campaign against landmines.
3/94	Irish NGOs launch a campaign against landmines.
5/94	ICBL holds its Second International NGO Conference on Landmines in Geneva, with logistical support of UNICEF Geneva, which is attended by more than 110 representatives from more than 75 NGOs.
6/94	The Vatican Council for Justice and Peace calls for the banning of landmines.
6/94	JRS Campaign mandated.
6/94	A report on the military utility of landmines commissioned by the US Defense Department concludes that the utility of landmines in high-intensity conflict does not override consideration of landmine arms control.
7/94	Fiat announces it will sell its shares of Valsella to Borletti, the original owner of Valsella. It does not announce that it owns 50% of Borletti.
8/94	Cambodian Campaign to Ban Landmines launched.
9/94	Canadian NGOs launch campaign called Mines Action Canada
9/94	The UN Secretary General submits his first report on mine clearance. In it he notes that the "best and most effective way" to solve the global landmine problem is a complete ban of all landmines.
9/94	At the United Nations U.S. President Clinton calls for the "eventual elimination" of landmines.
10/94	The U.S. State Department announces its proposed landmine control regime. NGOs inform call it "a step backward" from the stated goal of the eventual elimination of landmines.
11/94	Dutch Minister of Defense announces to Parliament that they will destroy 423,000 stockpiled landmines.

1995
2/95	The Africa, Caribbean, Pacific-European Union Joint Assembly passes a resolution calling for a global ban on use, production and export of AP mines.
2/95	ICRC hosts a seminar in Addis Ababa. It is the first of four such meetings to be held for African countries.
3/95	Belgium becomes the first country to pass domestic laws to ban landmine use, production, procurement, sale and transfer, including components, parts and technology.
3/95	The ICRC and OAU hold a meeting on the 1980 Convention in Harare, Zimbabwe. The meeting is opened by Nobel Laureate Archbishop Tutu who calls for a landmine ban.
4/95	The Spanish landmine campaign holds its first meeting.
5/95	Pope John Paul II calls for a "definitive end to the production and use" of APMs at the 50th anniversary meeting of Pax Christi in Assisi, Italy. In a message of support to the Cambodia Landmines Conference, the Vatican Secretariat of State reinforced the Pope's call for "a permanent ban on this type of weapon."
6/95	The Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines and the NGO Forum on Cambodia host the 3rd international NGO conference on landmines, a three-day event attended by more than 400 people from 42 countries, representing NGOs, governments, the UN, demining organizations and landmine victims.
6/95	The Faculty of Arts at University Eduardo Mondlane in Maputo, Mozambique, in conjunction with Human Rights Watch, holds a one-day seminar on landmines attended by more than 100 representatives.
6/95	Kenya Coalition Against Landmines is formed.
6/95	Norwegian Parliament unanimously adopts a binding resolution calling upon the government to work for a complete ban on AP mines.
6/95	Concern for Landmine Victims in Thailand formed.
6/95	The Council of Ministers of the Organization of African Unity adopts a resolution calling upon member states to support a common African position in favor of a total ban on landmines.
7/95	The South Africa Landmines Campaign is launched.
7/95	The Philippines Campaign to Ban Landmines is launched.
8/95	The Afghan Campaign to Ban Landmines is officially launched in Kabul.
9/95	The Spanish Campaign to Ban Landmines is established.
9/95	Australian Campaign presents 219,000 signatures calling for total ban to Australian Parliament
10/95	The Review Conference on the CCW does not reach consensus and agrees to suspend proceedings. Two additional sessions are planned for 1996.
11/95	Switzerland announces it favors a complete and immediate international ban on landmines.
11/95	Canada's foreign minister announces Canada's support for an immediate AP mine ban and pledges destruction of AP mine stockpiles.
12/95	Philippine president announces support for a immediate ban on AP mines and states that the Philippines' AP mine stockpiles will be destroyed, and that the Philippines had not and will not produce mines.
12/95	The Islamic Conference calls for an immediate ban of AP mines.

1996
1/96	The week-long session of the review conference to discuss "technical issues" convenes in Geneva. The ICBL convenes a meeting of pro-ban states during the session and they agree to work toward a framework for an immediate ban rather than the "eventual elimination" of landmines.
1/96	Canada announces an immediate moratorium on use, production, trade and export of AP mines.
3/96	The Dutch Minister of Defense announces a ban on the use of AP mines and the destruction, in a joint operation with Belgium, of stocks.
3/96	The VVAF sponsors two full-page ads in the New York Times calling on the President to ban landmines now. The second ad is a letter to the President supporting the ban signed by retired General Norman Schwarzkopf and 14 other high-ranking officers.
4/96	Congo, Honduras and Jamaica declare their support for an immediate ban.
4/96	Germany will no longer use, produce or export APMs, and all stocks will be destroyed.
4/96	Review of Australian government policy - significant shift in policy to support for total ban with suspension of all operational use.
5/96	The review conference of the CCW ends and ICBL declares that "the amended protocol will not make a significant difference in stemming the global landmine crisis."
5/96	President Clinton announces his "new" landmine policy. The policy includes three main elements: 1) an end to use of "dumb" mines by 1999 except in Korea; 2) continued use of so-called "smart" mines indefinitely until an international agreement is reached; 3) negotiate an international agreement to ban anti-personnel mines. The US Campaign and the ICBL condemn the policy as no real change.
6/96	Danish Ministry of Defense announces that Denmark will "unilaterally refrain from using AP mines in the Danish defense."
6/96	The Organization of American States (OAS) adopted a resolution providing for the establishment of a hemisphere-wide zone free of all landmines.
9/96	The six Central American presidents announce that they will ban the use, production and trade of AP mines, making Central America, effectively, the first mine-free region.
9/96	The Zambia Campaign to Ban Landmines is launched.
10/96	All Norwegian AP mines except Claymores are destroyed. Claymore mines are kept with an instruction not to be used as mines (i.e. with tripwires).
10/96	The historic Ottawa conference brings together 75 governments. It yields three concrete results: 1) a final declaration agreed to by the 50 government participants in the conference, recognizing the urgent need for a ban on AP mines; 2) the conference Chairman's Agenda for Action, an outline of actions for reaching a ban rapidly; and 3) the bold announcement by Canada that it is prepared to hold a treaty-signing conference for a total ban in December 1997.
10/96	The Zimbabwe Campaign is launched.
10/96	In an open letter to President Mandela, high-ranking South African military and military veterans call for a ban on landmines.
11/96	Caribbean nations forming CARICOM agree to form the world's second mine-free zone.
11/96	Ms. Graça Machel presents the results of a two-year study on the impact of armed conflict, including landmines and UXOs, on children to the UN General Assembly.
11/96	"Shoe mountain, demonstration at the Ministry of Defence, Hungary.
11/96	A US resolution calling on states to "pursue vigorously" an international agreement to ban use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of antipersonnel mines "with a view to completing the negotiations as soon as possible" passes the UN General Assembly by a vote of 156-0, with 10 abstentions.
12/96	On 13 December 1996, a comprehensive ban on AP mines passes the Austrian national assembly by an overwhelming majority.
12/96	Swedish Parliament adopts a ban on AP mines. The ban prohibits the use of AP mines and requires that all stockpiles of AP mines be destroyed as soon as practically possible, but in any case no later than 2001.

1997
2/97	Austria hosts the first preparatory session to discuss elements of a comprehensive ban treaty. 111 countries attend this historic meeting.
2/97	"Toward a Mine-Free Southern Africa - the Fourth International NGO Conference on Landmines" is held in Maputo, Mozambique with more than 450 participants from 60 countries.
4/97	German government hosts a technical meeting on the issue of verification and compliance measures as related to the international treaty to ban mines. 120 countries attend the meeting.
5/97	OAU meets in Johannesburg and 25 governments from Africa commit to signing the Mine Ban Treaty.
6/97	Belgium hosts the second preparatory session for the 'Ottawa Process'. 106 countries sign the Brussels Declaration affirming their commitment to negotiate and sign a ban treaty by December 1997. At a General Meeting of the ICBL, the steering committee is expanded to include Kenyan and South African Campaigns to Ban Landmines.
7/97	Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines is launched.
7/97	Asia/Pacific Regional Colloquium "Towards Ottawa...." in Sydney -government and NGO participants: organised by Australian, Philippine and New Zealand Campaigns
8/97	"Ruined City" at the Island Festival - Budapest, the largest Rock Festival in Europe
9/97	Italy passes national ban legislation.
9/97	121 nations negotiate the ban treaty from 1-19 September in Oslo, culminating in adoption of a comprehensive treaty. A parallel NGO forum attended by more than 130 NGOs produces an action plan for entry into force by the year 2000.
9/97	Seminar and launch of Greek campaign by Medicines du Monde, Greek NGOs in Athens. Two weeks later, Greece announces it will sign treaty.
10/97	1997 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to International Campaign to Ban Landmines and Jody Williams, ICBL Coordinator.
10/97	Thai Campaign re-organized as Thai Campaign to Ban Landmines
11/97	Australia supports unconditional and total ban
11/97	South Pacific Region Roundtable,"Towards Ottawa....a Mine-free Pacific" in Nadi, Fiji - organised by Australian, New Zealand Campaigns with Fiji
11/97	Seminar on landmines held in Sanaa, Yemen by Yemeni government, Yemen Mine Awareness Committee, and Radda Barnen.
11/97	UNGA resolution inviting all states to sign the Mine Ban Treaty adopted in a First Committee recorded vote, 127 for, 0 against, 19 abstentions.
11/97	Cambodia passes national ban legislation.
11/97	Workshop for the West African media on landmines held in Dakar, Senegal organized by African Topics and RADDHO
12/97	122 nations sign the Mine Ban Treaty in Ottawa, Canada. At the same time, the People's Treaty endorsing the Ban Treaty is signed by thousands of people around the world.
12/97	10 December, ICBL and Jody Williams receive Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway.

1998
1/98	AAR Japan and the Japan Campaign to Ban Landmines host their Second NGO Conference.
2/98	Korea Campaign to Ban Landmines hosts meetings, including a visit to the heavily mined demilitarized zone by the ICBL coordinator.
2/98	The call for a ban on landmines is a centerpiece of the Nagano Peace Appeal at the Winter Olympics, which features the Opening Ceremonies torch run by landmines survivor Chris Moon.
2/98	In Amman, Jordan, a national workshop on landmines is held for NGOs and governments.
2/98	At the General Meeting of the ICBL in Frankfurt, Germany, the ten existing members of the Steering Committee, now renamed the Coordination Committee, are reconfirmed. The committee is expanded to 16 members.
3/98	Eritrean landmine survivor Abraham Gabreyesus accepts the Reebok Human Rights Award.
3/98	ICBL, ICRC and Hungarian Government host a Regional Conference on Landmines in Budapest for participants from 19 countries.
3/98	In Khartoum, Sudan, a national workshop on landmines is held.
5/98	ICBL website, www.icbl.org launched
5/98	U.S. Government "Demining 2010" conference is held. Policy announcement that the U.S. will sign the Mine Ban Treaty by 2006.
5/98	Southern African Regional Meeting on Mine Action and Development held in Johannesburg.
5/98	Landmine meetings between government and ICBL held in Kiev, Ukraine.
5/98	IPPNW/ICBL Conference on "New Steps for a Mine Free Future" held in Moscow, Russia.
6/98	Landmine Monitor and ICBL Coordination Committee meetings held in Oslo, Norway.
6/98	UIDH and ICBL host regional NGO meeting parallel to Organization of African Unity meeting in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The Burkinabe Campaign to Ban Landmines is launched. Report on the OAU and landmines produced by Human Rights Watch.
6/98	Roundtable hosted by Yugoslav Campaign to Ban Landmines is held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia FR.
6/98	Regional workshop on the Mine Ban Treaty held in Bangkok, Thailand.
6/98	Georgian Committee to Ban Landmines is initiated.
6/98	South East Asian Regional meeting "Beyond Ottawa..." government and NGO Participants; organised by Thai and Australian Campaigns.
6/98	NSA group: visit to Burma/Myanmar,
7/98	Launch of the Azerbaijan Committee to Ban Landmines (ACBL).
7/98	Conference on Landmine Injury and Rehabilitation in the Middle East is held in Amman, Jordan.
8/98	National Conference of Landmine Survivors and Other Persons with Disability hosted by Landmine Survivors Network in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Human Rights Watch published report "The Mine Ban Treaty and the Middle East/North Africa".
8/98	Workshop with parliamentarians on the "Role of Parliamentarians in Banning Landmines" organized by the Landmines Campaign Nepal (NCBL) in Kathmandu.
8/98 – 9/98	Afghan Mine Action Month including poster contests in Afghan schools, collection of signatures and various activities in major cities
8/98	Non-Aligned Movement Summit and NGO-Forum in Durban, South Africa. Launch of report "The Non-Aligned Movement and the Global Campaign Against Anti-personnel Landmines"
8/98	Albanian Week of Activities Against Landmines in commemoration of the death of Princess Diana and Mother Theresa.
9/98	Burkina Faso becomes the 40th country to ratify the Mine Ban Treaty, ensuring that it will enter into force 1 March 1999.
9/98	Landmine Monitor meeting held in Dublin, Ireland and hosted by the Irish Government.
9/98	National day of action against landmines around shoe pyramids held in 12 cities throughout France.
9/98	W.H.O. (OMS) conference on "Public Health Aspects of Landmines" held in Kampala, Uganda.
9/98	Launch of Egyptian Campaign to Ban Landmines.
9/98	JMU-hosted Worldwide Humanitarian Demining Conference in the USA.
10/98	Seminar on landmines in Azerbaijan.
10/98	International Demining Conference "Towards Zero Victims" hosted by CMAC in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
10/98	Various landmine-related events throughout Australia for Refugee Week.
11/98	Workshop on Care and Rehabilitation of Landmine Victims, organized by IPPNW-Kenya. in Nyeri.
11/98	Launch of Ukrainian Campaign to Ban Landmines.
11/98	Premiere of "Life After Land Mines – Survivor Stories" (Video by Karen landmine survivors) in Bangkok, Thailand.
11/98	"Antipersonnel Landmines: The War Doesn’t Stop in Peacetime" seminar in Pescara, Italy sponsored by the Italian Red Cross.
11/98	Conference on Landmines and Children of the Universe in Peshawar, Pakistan to coincide with Universal Children’s Day.
11/98	Landmine Monitor Meeting in Ottawa, Canada. The Third NGO Tokyo Conference on Anti-Personnel Landmines hosted by AAR Japan.
12/98	One year anniversary of the treaty signing 3 December, actions throughout the world.

1999
1/99	Regional Seminar on AP mines hosted by the Governments of Mexico and Canada.
1/99	Towards a mine-free Africa Inter-Maghreb NGO workshop on anti-personnel mines in Tunis, Tunisia.
1/99	Launch of Armenian Committee of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
2/99	Regional Conference on the Menace of Landmines in the Arab Countries Beirut, Lebanon.
3/99	Mine Ban Treaty Enters into Force, celebrated by bell-ringing and campaign events in more than 30 countries worldwide.
3/99	Landmine Monitor Meeting in Oslo, Norway.
3/99	Southern African Campaigns workshop in Johannesburg, South Africa.
3/99	Southeast Asian Campaigns Regional Workshop on Education and Awareness-Raising of Landmines Issues organized by Indonesian and Australian Campaigns in Denpasar, Indonesia.
5/99	First Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty held in Maputo, Mozambique, including launch of the Landmine Monitor.
5/99	Second General Meeting of the ICBL in Maputo, Mozambique
5/99	Hague Appeal for Peace held in the Hague, Netherlands.
6/99	2nd Expert Conference on development-oriented Mine Action-Programs (Bad Honnef Two) takes place in Kladow, Germany.
6/99	Zagreb Regional Conference on AP Landmines hosted by the Croatian Government, ICRC and ICBL held in Zagreb. Croatia begins stock pile destruction.
9/99	Landmines seminar and visit by Jody Williams, Abuja, Nigeria.
9/99	Intersessional Standing Committee of Experts (SCE) meetings on mine clearance and victim assistance take place in Geneva, Switzerland.
12/99	2nd anniversary of Mine Ban Treaty signing and International Day for Disabled Persons. Events around the globe.
12/99	Tbilisi, Georgia. 2nd International conference in the Former Soviet Union
12/99	SCE Meetings on Stockpile Destruction and on Technologies for Mine Action