Sample Letter to Signatories: Members of the Commonwealth

(Thursday 14 February 2002 London) Send a letter like this sample to your government if it is a signatory to the Mine Ban Treaty and member of the Commonwealth: Urge them to get Top Marks!

(Date)
(Name)
(Address)

Dear (Name),

We are writing to encourage you to give attention to the important issue of antipersonnel landmines on the agenda of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held 2-5 March 2002 in Coolum, Queensland, Australia.

Of the 54 Commonwealth member states, 14 have not ratified or acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty. It is very clear that ratification or accession and full implementation of the treaty are in keeping with the Commonwealth Principles. The Edinburgh declaration from the 1997 Heads of Government Meeting stated that “an effective solution to the global problem of anti-personnel mines would only be possible through effective international co-operation in all relevant fora including… regional organizations and groupings.”

We urge you to follow-through on X’s strong commitment to the ban on antipersonnel landmines. X signed this important treaty on X but has not yet ratified. We urge you to join the 40 Commonwealth member states that are States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty. Please prioritize ratification immediately, and complete all necessary steps as soon as possible. If there is anything we can do to assist with your ratification process, please let us know.

In addition, we encourage you to raise the antipersonnel landmine issue at this important meeting. We urge you to include the antipersonnel landmine issue in your speeches, including a condemnation of recent mine use in India and Pakistan, and we encourage you to work with other Commonwealth member states to ensure that this important issue is included in the final meeting declaration. We also ask you to include the antipersonnel landmine issue in your bilateral meetings.

Thank you in advance for ensuring that the antipersonnel landmine issue is incorporated into the agenda of this upcoming meeting and for your continued support and action as we work together in the spirit and letter of the Mine Ban Treaty to create a mine-free world.

Sincerely,
(Name)
(Address)