Campaign history

Small beginnings

In the course of 1991, several non-governmental organizations and individuals began simultaneously to discuss the necessity of coordinating initiatives and calls for a ban on antipersonnel landmines.

The ICBL's founding organisations: Handicap International, Human Rights Watch, medico international, Mines Advisory Group, Physicians for Human Rights, and Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation came together in October 1992 to formalize the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL).

From the beginning, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines has defined itself as a flexible network of organizations that share common objectives. The Campaign calls for an international ban on the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of antipersonnel landmines, and for increased international resources for humanitarian mine clearance and mine victim assistance program.

Nobel Peace Prize

In recognition of its achievements the campaign was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997, together with its then coordinator, Jody Williams. The Norwegian Nobel Committee applauded the campaign for changing a ban from "a vision to a feasible reality" and recognized that it offers a model for disarmament and peace.

Since the adoption of the Mine Ban Treaty, the ICBL has remained committed to capitalizing on the global political momentum that it helped to create. "We will continue to work diligently… [towards] our goal of a world free of mines where all survivors can live in dignity" (Jody Williams, September 2002).

Keeping up with the times

The ICBL's internal structure has undergone several transformations over the years, adapting to the changing needs of the global network.

In 1993, the Campaign Steering Committee, consisting of the original six organizations, was formalized and the coordinator was recognized. As dozens of national campaigns formed and hundreds of organizations joined the Campaign, the Steering Committee was expanded in 1996 and 1997 to reflect the growth and diversity of the Campaign. New members included:

• Afghan Campaign to Ban Landmines,
• Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines,
• Kenyan Coalition Against Landmines,
• Rädda Barnen, and
• South African Campaign to Ban Landmines.

In 1998, the ten existing members of the Steering Committee, now renamed the Coordination Committee, were reconfirmed and the Committee was expanded to include:

• Association to Aid Refugees, Japan;
• Colombian Campaign Against Landmines;
• Inter-African Union of Human Rights;
• Landmine Survivors Network;
• Lutheran World Federation; and,
• Norwegian People's Aid.

In 2004, 13 organisations are represented on the Coordination Committee:

• Afghan Campaign to Ban Landmines;
• Brazilian Campaign Against Landmines;
• Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines;
• Colombian Campaign to Ban Landmines
• DanChurch Aid/Lutheran World Federations;
• Handicap International;
• Human Rights Watch;
• Italian Campaign to Ban Landmines;
• Kenya Coalition Against Landmines;
• Landmine Survivors Network;
• Mines Action Canada;
• Norwegian People's Aid; and
• Sri Lanka Campaign to Ban Landmines.

In 2005 the ICBL went through a major transition process and reviewed its structure. It now has a Management Committee composed of 5 members: Habbouba Aoun (Landmine Resource Center, Lebanon), Liz Berstein (former ICBL coordinator), Steve Goose (Human Rights Watch), Paul Hannon (Mines Action Canada) and Ayman Sorour (Protection, Egypt).

The Coordination Committe has been replaced by the Advisory Board now composed of 21 Members .

Today, this network represents over 1,100 human rights, demining, humanitarian, children's, veterans', medical, development, arms control, religious, environmental, and women's groups in over 60 countries, who work locally, nationally, regionally, and internationally to ban antipersonnel landmines.

The ICBL currently has six staff members and an office in Geneva, Switzerland. The executive director, Sylvie Brigot, works from Paris, France. Each year we have several interns working for the ICBL in its Geneva office.