Author(s):
Site Admin <webmaster2@icbl.org> .
Monday 17 September 2007
In the early 1990s, the international community became increasingly aware of the humanitarian crisis caused by antipersonnel mines, which were affecting the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in dozens of countries. In a strong and determined reaction, international civil society – led by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) - worked together with governments outside traditional diplomatic channels to negotiate a treaty to ban these weapons. This unprecedented diplomatic process, which required courage and vision and the political will to put human lives first, led to the Mine Ban Treaty being negotiated in Oslo, Norway, in September 1997 and opened for signature in Ottawa, Canada, in December 1997. The treaty entered into force less than two years later, more quickly than any treaty of its kind in history. In 1997, the ICBL and its then coordinator Jody Williams were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their key role in promoting and achieving the treaty.
In this 10th anniversary year, the ICBL is calling the treaty a “success in progress.” There have been undeniable advances. Over three-quarters of the states in the world are party to it, and States Parties have been compelled to demine and return to productive use large tracts of land, educate mine-affected communities about the dangers of antipersonnel mines, provide support to and protect the rights of landmine victims, and destroy millions of stockpiled antipersonnel mines, ensuring they can never be planted in the earth again. None of this would have occurred without a powerful, comprehensive treaty guiding states’ way.
ICBL ambassador Song Kosal. Photo: M. Eliseussen
On the other hand, the success of the treaty is by no means assured. Many challenges remain, and we cannot afford to rest yet. Continued political leadership, financial and technical cooperation and assistance, and full and timely compliance with the treaty are crucial to ensure that the Mine Ban Treaty can truly make a difference in the lives of all individuals and communities affected by mines.
Success has meant...
| Adopting a treaty with no loopholes, exceptions or reservations
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The Mine Ban Treaty was signed in Ottawa, Canada, on 3 and 4 December 1997 by 122 countries and entered into force on 1 March 1999. The Treaty prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of antipersonnel mines, has deadlines for the destruction of stockpiles and the clearance of mined areas, and calls for assistance to mine survivors, as well as international cooperation and assistance.
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| Setting up a strong mechanism to implement the treaty
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States Parties to the Treaty have set up a system to ensure implementation of the treaty, based on annual meetings of States Parties and a programme of intersessional meetings of Standing Committees on issues related to the operation of the treaty (these include general status and operation of the convention, victim assistance and socio-economic reintegration, stockpile destruction, and mine clearance, mine risk education and mine action technology).
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| Gaining widespread acceptance of the ban
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As of November 2007, there are 156 States Parties to the treaty, amounting to 80% of the world’s countries. Many more countries that have not joined the treaty yet, abide de facto by its provisions.
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| Stopping transfers of antipersonnel mines
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For the past decade, global trade in antipersonnel mines has consisted solely of a low-level of illicit and unacknowledged transfers.
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| Stemming use
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Landmine Monitor 2006 recorded confirmed use of antipersonnel mines by at least three governments: Myanmar (Burma), Nepal and Russia-with the most extensive use in Myanmar. Nepal halted use with the May 2006 cease-fire.
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Reducing production
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The number of producing countries has reduced from over 50 to just over a dozen. Landmine Monitor Report 2006 identified 13 countries as producers of antipersonnel mines: Burma, China, Cuba, India, Iran, North Korea, South Korea, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, United States and Vietnam. Some of these countries are not actively producing antipersonnel mines, but reserve the right to do so.
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| Destroying substantial amounts of stockpiled antipersonnel mines
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States Parties collectively have destroyed more than 40 million antipersonnel mines. Eighty States Parties have completed destruction, and another 65 never possessed mines.
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Clearing and returning to productive use large tracts of land
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In 2005, a total of more than 740 square kilometers was demined, the highest annual productivity since modern demining started in the late 1980s. Over 470,000 landmines?the great majority (450,000) were antipersonnel mines?and more than 3.75 million explosive devices were destroyed. Mine action activities are ongoing in at least 60 countries and seven territories.
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| Including survivor assistance as an obligation
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Article 6.3 calls on States Parties in a position to do so to give assistance for the care, rehabilitation, and social and economic reintegration, of mine victims.Since the treaty’s First Review Conference in 2004, 24 States Parties have been working on goals and plans to ensure survivors’ needs are met and their rights are protected by 2009.
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Ultimate success still requires...
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Achieving lasting and meaningful change in survivors’ lives
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Estimated at up to 500,000 people, the number of mine survivors keeps increasing. In addition to overcoming physical and psychological trauma, many survivors struggle to achieve social acceptance, gain meaningful employment and ensure their rights as disabled people are respected. Funding for survivor assistance remains insufficient and programs are inadequate in 48 of the 58 countries which recorded new mine casualties in 2005.
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Removing and destroying all antipersonnel mines from the ground
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Landmines remain in over 78 countries and 7 territories.Too many States Parties to the Treaty appear not to be on course to fulfil their obligation to clear all mines from all known mined areas “as soon as possible” and no later than ten years after joining the treaty. These include at least 13 of the 29 States Parties with 2009 or 2010 deadlines - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Chad, Croatia, Denmark, Mozambique, Niger, Senegal, Tajikistan, Thailand, the United Kingdom (Falklands), Yemen and Zimbabwe.Global mine action funding will need to increase if states are to complete mine clearance in time.
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Destroying ALL stockpiles
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States parties must complete destruction of their stocks within four years of joining the treaty. Those states retaining mines for research and training should only retain the “minimum number absolutely necessary” and should show through reporting of past and planned use (including consumption of mines) that they are only being kept for permitted purposes. Landmine Monitor Report 2006 estimates that States not Parties stockpile over 160 million antipersonnel mines. Signatory Poland holds nearly one million antipersonnel mines.
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Ensuring compliance with the treaty
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State Parties have the responsibility to ensure other States Parties’ compliance with treaty provisions and to set up the appropriate mechanisms to this end, including by operationalizing Article 8 on compliance.
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Achieving universal adherence to the treaty
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Thirty-nine countries remain outside the treaty, including major stockpilers, producers or users such as Burma, China, India, Pakistan, Russia and the United States. Two of the original signatories, the Marshall Islands and Poland, have not ratified the treaty yet.
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Ensuring no more use of antipersonnel mines by anyone, ever
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Non-state armed groups (NSAGs) are using antipersonnel mines in more countries than government forces, but NSAG use is also on the decline. Landmine Monitor 2006 reports use of antipersonnel mines or mine-like improvised explosive devices by NSAGs in at least 10 countries, including in three States Parties (Burundi, Colombia and Guinea-Bissau) and in seven States not Parties (Burma, India, Iraq, Nepal, Pakistan, Russia/Chechnya and Somalia).
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