States Parties urged to promote treaty and raise concerns with Russia and the U.S.A.

(Monday 17 June 2002 )

ICBL campaigns have approached leaders in the six G8 countries that are party to the Mine Ban Treaty (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom), urging them to promote a comprehensive ban on antipersonnel landmines with the two non-signatories. Activists have also lobbied the European Commission which will be represented at the Summit.

It is hoped that the mine issue will form part of the group's discussions since, as the ICBL argues, eradicating the scourge of landmines is intertwined with the G8's goal of strengthening economic growth and fighting terrorism.

Russian mine use in Chechnya, Tajikistan

In terms of Russia, the ICBL hopes that the issue will be raised about their ongoing engagement in mine warfare in Chechnya, as well as their laying of mines inside Tajikistan, a States Party to the Mine Ban Treaty. The ICBL's Landmine Monitor has detailed extensive use of antipersonnel landmines in Chechnya by Russian and rebel forces and has reported large numbers of civilian mine casualties. Landmine Monitor is an ICBL initiative to monitor implementation of and compliance with the Mine Ban Treaty and to assess international efforts to resolve the landmines crisis.

In addition, the campaign has serious concerns about Russia's continued production of antipersonnel landmines, and their stockpiles of the weapon, the second largest in the world with an estimated 60 to 70 million. UN reports that half the Chechen mine victims are children. Take a look at the Landmine Monitor report on Russia.

US policy review

In terms of the U.S.A, the ICBL's concerns focus on its interagency policy review on antipersonnel landmines, begun by the Bush Administration in June 2001. It has been reported that the Defense Department has recommended reversing existing policy, abandoning the objective of joining the Mine Ban Treaty in 2006, and halting the search for alternatives. The review is currently in the hands of the Department of State and U.S officials have told the ICBL that little input has been received on this issue from its allies.

The ICBL would like to see every effort made to ensure that the new policy does not amount to a reversal of the long-standing U.S. objective of joining the Mine Ban Treaty in 2006. Find out more about the policy review and how you can have your say.

Eradicating mines part of fight against poverty

The G8 forum presents an ideal opportunity to promote the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Mine Ban Treaty) and to reaffirm the emerging international norm against antipersonnel landmines.

In relation to the G8's priority of African development, it is clear that any plan for the growth and stability in the world's most mine-affected continent is destined to fail unless it addresses the region's immense antipersonnel landmine problem. Continued mine use in a number of conflicts across the continent is of grave concern."

"As long as mines continue to cause poverty and suffering in close to 90 countries around the world, international gatherings like the G8 Summit have an important contribution to make towards the universalization of the Mine Ban Treaty and our ultimate goal of a landmine-free world," said Elizabeth Bernstein, ICBL coordinator.

GB6 Summit

Representatives from Mines Action Canada will participate in the GB6 million (Group of 6 billion global citizens), the alternative NGO forum which takes place just prior to the leader's summit in Calgary, Canada.