Ten Years of the Ottawa Process

October 1996 marked a turning point in the development of the global campaign against anti-personnel mines. In the city of Ottawa, Canada, 50 governments and 24 observers met in conference to strategize a way to bring about a ban on landmines, a movement that had been picking up momentum with great rapidity in the previous years but still lacked a clear approach and strong governmental direction. Despite the growing support from certain governments for a total ban, and their willingness to review the possibilities for a treaty, it was necessary for one state to set into motion a real negotiation process with a clear deadline, if anything was to be accomplished on this front.

This changed suddenly and unexpectedly in a now famous moment at the close of the Ottawa conference. Then Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy concluded the proceedings with the usual comments and congratulations, but when one would have expected to him to leave off, he continued. He continued with a challenge to the governments of the world to stop talking and start acting – he challenged them return in one year and sign an international mine ban treaty:

"I am convinced that we cannot wait for a universal treaty. I am convinced that we can start now… …And so today I commit Canada to this goal, to work with our global partners to prepare a treaty that can be signed by December 1997 and implemented by the year 2000. I invite and challenge all of you to join with us to attain that goal....”

Ten years later, the significance of this moment needs to be remembered. Not only because it marked the beginning of the Ottawa Process or because it signaled the fast-track creation of an international disarmament treaty. It needs to be remembered for the dynamism and leadership exhibited by Axworthy, the bold move that fueled progress and was not afraid to listen to the voices of civil society.

The strong spirit of the early days of the mine ban movement is still alive, but needs some rekindling.

So much has been accomplished. Axworthy’s speech launched an intense phase of historic negotiations in which a treaty was drafted and opened for signatures in the space of just over one year . Small and large powers worked alongside one another and in close consultation with non-governmental organizations like the ICBL – a first in treaty negotiation history. The discussions showed that smaller states would not be put off by the refusal of larger ones to participate and resulted in a strong and highly comprehensive treaty that has subsequently been signed and ratified by more and more government, reaching to date 151 - more than three quarters of the world’s states. Only three states continued to use mines in 2005 and the first few months of 2006 . Seventy-four states have completed the destruction of their stockpiles, and mine action has become wide-spread and far reaching.

There is a downfall to this success however – it makes it easy to stop being proactive, to believe that enough has been done.There is a risk that States Parties will lower their guard, patting themselves on the back instead of pressuring other governments to join the Treaty, moving their attention to other priorities instead of committing adequate funds and resources to the full implementation of the Treaty’s obligations to clear and destroy mines, and to care for survivors.

In this light, let the 10th anniversary of the Axworthy Challenge not just be a celebration of steps taken but inspiration for steps yet to be taken. Let it inspire a new decade of positive governmental action on behalf of mine-affected civilians around the world; a decade of continued NGO and government cooperation. Let it re-spark the sprit of energy and bold leadership that was exhibited on October 6, 1996. With renewed and dynamic leadership from those who set it in motion in the first place, this movement, which has come so far and accomplished so much, can achieve its ultimate goal of ridding the world of the suffering caused by anti-personnel mines