13. The ban on anti-personnel mines

Summary

In 1997 the issue of a ban on anti-personnel mines was raised in two forums: the Ottawa Process and the Conference on Disarmament (CD), proceeding from different perspectives - humanitarian versus arms control. The Ottawa Process swiftly achieved its goal and the text of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (the APM Convention) was agreed on 18 September and opened for signature in Ottawa on 3-4 December. The convention requires 40 ratifications to enter into force. By May 1998, 11 states had ratified it.

The attempt to negotiate a ban on landmines in the CD failed in 1997, but the CD may have a role to play in negotiating and elaborating an enhanced verification regime and at the same time engaging reluctant participants, especially China and Russia, in the convention.

Appendix 13A. Documents on the prohibtion of anti-personnel mines

Appendix 13A contains the 1996 Amended Protocol II to the 1981 Inhumane Weapons Convention and the 1997 Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction.