FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions from the Media
Author/Origin: Sue Wixley mediaSPAMFLTER@SPATMFLTERicbl.org |
(Friday 30 April 2004 ) More questions?: Sue Wixley media - insert "@" - icbl.org) Last update: 29 April 2004
- What is the ICBL?
- What is the Mine Ban Treaty?
- What is a State Party?
- Has the treaty made a difference to the global landmine crisis?
- Where are antipersonnel mines being produced and used now?
- What is the Landmine Monitor and the objective of having an annual global meeting?
- What is the Nairobi Summit for a Mine-Free World and why is it important to the ICBL?
- What is the ICBL’s reaction on the new US policy on landmines? Russia, China
- What about clusters?
- What is the ICBL position on the new technology being developed to clear mines (i.e. mine detection rats, genetically modified plants, etc.)?
What is the ICBL?
In 1992, six organisations came together to launch what was at that time seen as a 'utopian dream': the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). Today the ICBL is supported by some 1,400 non-governmental organisations in over 90 countries and continues its work to turn the words of the landmine 1997 Mine Ban Treaty into a reality. The campaign calls for an international ban on the use, production, stockpiling, sale, transfer or export of antipersonnel landmines. It advocates for: the signing, ratification, implementation and monitoring of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty; increased resources for humanitarian demining and mine risk education programs; and increased resources for landmine victim rehabilitation and socio-economic reintegration.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).
The ICBL has six staff members and a coordinating committee made up of representatives from 13 organisations. ICBL members include human rights, humanitarian, children, peace, disability, veterans, medical, humanitarian, mine action, development, arms control, religious, environmental and women's groups.
What is the Mine Ban Treaty?
The 1997 Mine Ban Treaty is the international agreement that bans antipersonnel landmines. Also referred to as the Ottawa Convention, it is officially titled: the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.The Treaty is the most comprehensive international instrument for ridding the world of the scourge of mines and deals with everything from mine use, production and trade to victim assistance, mine clearance and stockpile destruction. For the first time ever, a conventional weapon in widespread use, has been outlawed.
In December 1997 a total of 122 governments signed the treaty in Ottawa, Canada. In September the following year, Burkina Faso was the 40th country to ratify, triggering entry into force six months later; thus, in March 1999 the treaty became binding under international law, and did so quicker than any treaty of its kind in history.
As of today, ratification of the treaty by signatories and accession by non- signatories continues steadily. Of the 150 states that have joined the treaty, a total of 141 have also acceded or ratified (as of 23 Oct 2003). A total of 44 countries remain outside of the treaty entirely and these include China, Egypt, Finland, India, Israel, Pakistan, Russia and the United States (U.S).
For the latest information on who is/is not a member of the Mine Ban Treaty, go to: http://www.icbl.org/ratification/ To view the text and get other updates on the Mine Ban Treaty, go to: http://www.icbl.org/treaty/
What is a State Party?
States Parties are countries for which the Mine Ban Treaty has entered into force. The convention entered into force 1 March 1999 for the first 40 nations that ratified, making it the most rapidly ratified treaty of its kind in history.Thereafter, the Convention enters into force for a country six months after it has deposited its instrument of ratification or accession with the United Nations Secretary General. A signatory is a country that has signed the treaty, but not yet ratified. Those who signed the treaty before it entered into force 1 March 1999 must still ratify it to become States Parties. Now that the treaty has entered into force, countries may no longer sign it, rather they may become bound without signature through a one step procedure known as accession.
Has the treaty made a difference to the global landmine crisis?
Yes, on the whole we are encouraged. A great deal of headway has been made since the treaty came into force in March 1999:- Production of antipersonnel mines has dropped considerably and trade has almost come to a halt;
- There has been widespread and extensive destruction of stockpiled mines: 69 States Parties to the Treaty have already completed destruction of their landmine arsenals, destroying a combined total of 52 million antipersonnel mines;
- Vast tracts of land have been cleared and put back into productive use; and most importantly, there are now fewer new mine victims each year.
The new international norm – where use anywhere by anyone is considered abhorrent– is gathering strength. More and more states are joining the Treaty and working hard to implement it fully. We have congratulated State Parties for successfully completing the treaty's first major compliance deadline: destruction of stockpiles of mines within a four-year period (by 1 March 2003). An increasing number of non-signatory states are responding to international pressure and abiding by the spirit of the agreement.
However, not all the news is good. Continued mine use by states and non-state actors in several conflicts is of grave concern, as is continued mine production in about a dozen countries. While the annual rate of injuries and deaths caused by antipersonnel mines diminishes, the absolute number of mine survivors keeps growing each year. Until there are no more mines in stockpiles and in the ground, civilians will keep paying the price for landmine use. And they will continue to need our help in order to lead dignified lives as contributing members of their families and communities.
To read more of the Landmine Monitor Report 2003, go to: http://www.icbl.org/lm/2003.
Where are antipersonnel mines being produced and used now?
Since the Mine Ban Treaty became international law, there has been a dramatic decrease in production of antipersonnel mines with at least 36 countries ceasing to produce mines completely. As of the Landmine Monitor 2003 reporting year, there were 15 countries that still actively produce antipersonnel mines. The majority of producers are in Asia, followed by the Middle East and the Americas. These include: Burma, China, Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Nepal, North Korea, South Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Singapore, United States and Vietnam.In terms of countries using antipersonnel mines, the Landmine Monitor 2003 confirmed use by six governments: India, Iraq, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Pakistan and Russia. This is a reduction from nine governments in the previous reporting year. There were also allegations of use that Landmine Monitor has not been definitively able to confirm in Burundi, Georgia and Sudan.
What is the Landmine Monitor and the objective of having an annual global meeting?
The Landmine Monitor is a unique civil society verification initiative launched by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL). The report is produced annually and is the product of a global reporting network of 110 researchers from 90 countries. It contains information on every country in the world with respect to antipersonnel landmine use, production, stockpiling, trade, humanitarian mine clearance, mine risk education and mine survivor assistance.The Landmine Monitor collects information and assesses the response by the international community to the global landmine crisis especially with regard to the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. This marks the first time that non-governmental organisations have come together in a sustained, coordinated and systematic way to monitor and report on the implementation of international law.
The Global Researchers Meeting is held annually and brings together over 100 landmine experts from over 70 countries. The objectives of the meetings are for the network to come together as a team to exchange information and finalize the reports that will make up the 2004 Landmine Monitor Report (http://www.icbl.org/lm/2003).
What is the Nairobi Summit for a Mine-Free World and why is it important to the ICBL?
The First Review Conference / 2004 Nairobi Summit on a Mine Free World will take place from 29 November – 3 December 2004 in Nairobi, Kenya. Hundreds of participants including world leaders, government ministers, NGOs, international organisations, youth and UN agencies will gather in Nairobi for the Summit as well as numerous side events.The 2004 Nairobi Summit on a Mine Free World is a major milestone in the life of the Mine Ban Treaty. The event itself, and the lead-up to it, will bring new impetus to everyone working to rid the world of antipersonnel landmines. Expected outcomes of the Summit include a renewal of commitment (both political and financial) from States Parties to fully implement and universalize the treaty. It is hoped that member governments will come to Nairobi and report on marked progress on treaty implementation, such as mine clearance and victim assistance and high levels of compliance in areas of reporting and legislation. New ratifications and accessions to the treaty are also anticipated. A Nairobi declaration and strong action plan are amongst the documents to be agreed at the Summit.
The ICBL is geared up to participate fully in the preparation process and the Summit. The UN Secretary General is required to convene a Review Conference five years after the entry into force of the Convention according to Article 12 of the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (or Mine Ban Treaty). The Mine Ban Treaty entered into force 1 March 1999, thus the First Review Conference is scheduled for 2004. The next major date in the life of the treaty is March 2009, the deadline for States Parties who joined the treaty in 1999 to complete clearance of mined areas.
The 2004 Nairobi Summit on a Mine Free World is the most momentous world event in the life of the Treaty because:
- The timing is significant: the Summit is scheduled to coincide with the seventh anniversary of the treaty’s birth. On 3 December 1997 Foreign Ministers, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and the ICBL gathered in Ottawa to witness the treaty’s opening for signature. It also marks the halfway point between the treaty’s entry-into-force and the deadline for clearance of minefields by the first States that joined the Convention. 3 December is also International Day of Disabled Persons. 10 December 2004 will be the anniversary of the ICBL’s award of the Nobel Peace Prize.
- The outcome is expected to be forward looking: and to chart the way forward for the full implementation and universalisation of the treaty. Jody Williams noted, “it is of critical importance because it sets part of the framework of action as we move into the next five years of the life of the Mine Ban Treaty. It will help reaffirm our joint commitment to ensuring that the words of the Mine Ban Treaty continue to be transformed into concrete reality, improving the lives of landmine survivors around the world and continuing to reduce the number of people victimized by this weapon of terror.
- The preparatory process on the road to Nairobi is a rallying point for civil society involvement and mobilization in the landmine issue. It provides an opportunity to focus media and public attention, to ensure that all governments are living up to their commitments, prepare to increase those commitments, and adopt a strong declaration and action program that will ensure the job started in 1997 is indeed completed in the coming period.
What is the ICBL’s reaction on the new US policy on landmines?
The Bush administration's new policy on landmines represents a giant step backwards, away from the Mine Ban Treaty. The policy, unveiled on 29 February, has been expected for a while since the existing policy has been under review for a number of years.Key elements of the new stance on landmines:
- The use of self-destructing mines will now be permitted (without any time or geographic restrictions to this).
- Long-lived mines may be used until 2010.
- A broken promise: it is no longer an objective for the U.S.A to join the Mine Ban Treaty by 2006 (if alternatives to antipersonnel landmines are found).
- 50% increase in spending on mine action programs for financial year 2005.
As the ICBL, we are appalled and disappointed by the reversal in policy. Of particular concern is the possibility of use of long-lived mines (until 2010, four years after the previous deadline) and other self-destructing or self-deactivating mines (indefinitely). The policy goes against the emerging international norm that rejects antipersonnel landmines and undermines efforts to universalize the Mine Ban Treaty. We welcome the commitment to increased funding for mine action. But this is not enough.
There is no excuse for use. All antipersonnel mines, whether long-lived or self-destructing put civilians at risk. The long-term humanitarian consequences of these illegal weapons outweigh any possible military utility. Retired U.S. generals and admirals have rejected antipersonnel mines, saying they are outmoded and become a liability for their own soldiers. Smart mines are dumb: The distinction between self-destructing (sometimes called "smart" mines) and long-lived ("dumb" mines) is not helpful. When self-destructing mines are armed they are indiscriminate and inhumane weapons. Also, some may fail to self-destruct or self-deactivate - so they may remain live indefinitely. Self-destructing mines tend to be dropped by air, often in larger numbers than ground delivered mines, and are not fenced, marked or monitored. That too puts lives and limbs at risk.
The U.S.A. is the only member of NATO that has not banned antipersonnel landmines and one of only two countries in the western hemisphere that clings to the weapon (the other is Cuba). The U.S. new position could be used as a pretext for 'hold out' countries to remain outside of the Mine Ban Treaty. However, the treaty has been successful in alleviating the mine problem for many years without Washington's support, and will certainly continue to do so in the future! Read the ICBL's press statement, "Nobel Laureates Condemn U.S. Decision to Keep Antipersonnel Mines" http://www.icbl.org/news/2004/465.php
What about clusters?
The major distinction between explosive remnants of war and landmines is their design. Whereas antipersonnel mines are intended to be victim-activated and long lasting, most other weapons are not designed to indiscriminately harm civilians long after hostilities have ended. However weapons that fail to detonate as designed or are abandoned, pose a threat similar to landmines.The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) has always recognized the humanitarian impact of unexploded ordnance other than antipersonnel landmines. Indeed, the field experience of member organizations of the ICBL is that, like anti-personnel mines, such explosive remnants of war cause widespread civilian casualties and hinder reconstruction and development by preventing safe access to infrastructure and land. In recognition of this problem, several members of the ICBL and others have created a new coalition called the Clusters Munition Coalition (CMC) and called for a moratorium on the use, production and trade of cluster weapons until the humanitarian concerns can be effectively addressed.
The ICBL supports these calls for a moratorium on the use, production and trade of cluster munitions. The ICBL also strongly supports efforts to create new international humanitarian law on the wider problem of explosive remnants of war, including cluster weapons. ICBL members implementing mine risk reduction education (mine awareness), mine clearance and/or victim assistance programs cannot and will not ignore the long-term dangers and damage caused by munitions other than anti-personnel landmines.
For more information on the cluster issue or the work of the Cluster Munition Coalition, go to: http://www.cmc-international.org/.
What does the ICBL think about the new technology being developed to clear mines (i.e. mine detection rats, genetically modified plants, etc.)?
Recent developments have attracted widespread media attention and could help with landmine clearance efforts.Mine detection rats (a cheap potential alternative to dogs) have been used in Tanzania and are currently being tested in Mozambique. A genetically engineered plant, which grows like a weed but changes color when it finds a landmine, is being developed by a Danish biotech company.
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) does not endorse any specific inventions or promote one over the other. However, we welcome developments that improve the speed, safety and efficiency of existing mine clearance methods. In other words if a development helps to bring us closer to our goal of a mine-free world, we're happy!
It is important that research and development (R&D) efforts are well coordinated and focused on operational needs. For example, there’s no point spending lots of money on developing a hi-tech solution that will ultimately be too expensive and unworkable in the mine-contaminated rice paddies of Cambodia or plains of Afghanistan. We believe that money spent on R&D should be in addition to, and in proportion with, funds spent on demining.
