Press Release: International Campaign welcomes a year of progress towards the elimination of landmines, develops an international network of civil society monitors
Thursday, 3 December 1998
INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN WELCOMES A YEAR OF PROGRESS TOWARDS THE ELIMINATION OF LANDMINES, DEVELOPS AN INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF CIVIL SOCIETY MONITORS
- First anniversary of the Ottawa mine ban treaty criticises US, India, China, and Russia for «rhetorical support.»
Ottawa, Canada. The Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) has welcomed a year of major progress towards the stigmatization and elimination of anti-personnel landmines, but expressed concern that several major countries - including China, the United States, Russia, and India – still refuse to renounce mines completely. The ICBL is also concerned at reports of new mines being laid in Angola, Kosovo, Cambodia, Senegal and Sudan.
Meeting this week in Ottawa to observe the first anniversary of the mine ban treaty, which was adopted on December 3, 1997, members of the Campaign welcomed the fact that 133 governments have now signed the treaty and 55 governments have ratified. The treaty (formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and On Their Destruction) will come into force on March 1, 1999. This is faster than any other major treaty in history.
"1998 leaves no doubt that a new standard of international behavior is being established. Only those who fail to comprehend the obvious, or don't care, continue to cling to this insidious weapon," said Jody Williams, who received the 1997 Nobel prize jointly with the ICBL and serves as campaign ambassador.
The international campaign, and the treaty, have generated impressive momentum. Exports of antipersonnel mines have slowed significantly, dozens of nations have stopped producing mines (including a majority of the big manufacturers), and more than 10 million stockpiled mines have already been destroyed. The use of mines is decreasing, and more and more are being removed from the ground (more).
Even governments that have not signed the treaty have taken positive steps. After opposing the treaty in Ottawa, the United States reversed its stance in May and announced that it would sign the treaty in the year 2006, if alternatives to landmines have been found. The US has also destroyed more than three million "dumb" antipersonnel mines. Russia has stated it intends to sign the treaty at an undetermined future date, and stopped production of "blast" mines.
India expressed support for the treaty at the UN General Assembly last month. Ukraine has started to destroy its huge stockpile of mines. Israel has stopped producing antipersonnel mines and reaffirmed its export moratorium.
This, however is not enough. "While we are pleased that the U.S. and Russia have moved from opposing the ban treaty and pledged to sign eventually, distant promises are of little value to the thousands of innocent civilians killed or maimed by mines each year," said Jody Williams.
Maintaining the momentum, the ICBL has established an unprecedented international network of monitors from civil society, known as the Landmine Monitor, to oversee implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty. Scores of monitors are meeting in Ottawa this week to refine the system and develop benchmarks, as well as take part in events related to the treaty anniversary. Members of the ICBL have also taken the lead in creating a Survey Action Group. This represents the first coordinated effort to survey key mine-affected states so as to accurately establish the location of minefields and address the dangers to mine-affected communities.
Reinforcing the need for monitoring, there are reports that mines are being laid in several countries that have signed the mine ban treaty, notably Angola, Cambodia, Senegal and Sudan. The ICBL also condemns the use of mines by non-signatory states such as Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in Kosovo.
The ICBL is also concerned that while more money is being pledged to mine action programs, the level of resources is still grossly inadequate. There are also serious questions about how the funds are being spent. In particular, a disproportionate amount appears to be going primarily to demining research that may not benefit communities suffering from mines. Over 2,000 persons still fall victim to mines each month around the world. This remains totally unacceptable – and another reason for intensifying the campaign.
