Ottawa Treaty facts for kids

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Ottawa Treaty
(Mine Ban Treaty)

Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction
Signed and ratified the Ottawa Treaty      Acceded or succeeded to the treaty      Announced withdrawal from the treaty
Drafted	18 September 1997
Signed	3 December 1997
Location	Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Effective	1 March 1999
Condition	Ratifications by 40 states
Signatories	133
Parties	165 (complete list)
Depositary	Secretary-General of the United Nations
Languages	Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish

The Ottawa Treaty is an important international agreement. Its full name is the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. This treaty aims to get rid of anti-personnel landmines (APLs) all over the world. These are dangerous bombs hidden in the ground that explode when a person steps on them.

By March 2025, 165 countries had agreed to follow the treaty. However, some big countries that make landmines, like the United States, China, and Russia, are not part of this treaty. India and Pakistan are also not signatories.

In 2025, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland started the process to leave the Ottawa Treaty. Ukraine also announced it might withdraw. This happened because Russia, which is not part of the treaty, used mines in the Russo-Ukrainian War.

How the Treaty Came About

Early Steps to Ban Mines

People started using landmines a lot in World War II. Later, in 1977, rules were added to the Geneva Conventions. These rules said that weapons should not target regular people in wars.

In 1980, a new agreement called the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) was made. It had rules about mines and other devices. These rules tried to limit how anti-personnel landmines were used.

Growing Support for a Ban

In 1991, several groups that help people (NGOs) started working together. They formed the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) to push for a ban. In 1992, the ICBL asked for a worldwide ban on making, storing, and selling landmines.

Many groups and countries started to agree. In 1994, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that a total ban was the only real solution. Other UN groups like UNICEF also called for a ban.

In 1994, US President Bill Clinton asked for landmines to be removed eventually. The UN General Assembly also asked countries to stop exporting landmines.

Key Meetings and Drafts

In 1995, Belgium passed the first national law to ban anti-personnel landmines. The European Union also agreed to stop exporting them.

It was hard to make stronger rules for mines within the existing CCW agreement. Many meetings were held, but countries could not agree on a full ban.

In April 1996, an Austrian diplomat named Werner Ehrlich created the first draft of a new treaty. This draft called for a complete ban on using, making, selling, and storing landmines. It also said that stockpiles should be destroyed quickly.

When the CCW meeting ended in May 1996, many countries were unhappy. They felt the new rules were not strong enough. Canada then announced it would host a meeting for countries that wanted a ban. Austria also said it would prepare a draft for a total ban.

The Ottawa Process Begins

In October 1996, the Ottawa International Strategy Conference took place. Many countries were there, including some who did not want a total ban. It was hard to get everyone to agree.

Werner Ehrlich, the Austrian diplomat, suggested starting a fast negotiation process outside the UN's usual disarmament talks. This was a big idea because those talks were often stuck. Canada's Foreign Minister, Lloyd Axworthy, supported this plan. He asked Austria to prepare the draft for these negotiations. This started what became known as the "Ottawa Process."

In November 1996, Ehrlich sent out an improved draft, which became the First Austrian Draft. This draft was the main document for the upcoming talks. In December 1996, the UN General Assembly urged countries to work on a legally binding agreement to ban landmines.

Jody Williams and the ICBL also created their own draft treaty. Many of their ideas were later included in the final treaty.

Challenges to the Treaty

Some countries did not want a total ban on landmines. They tried to stop the treaty or make it weaker. One idea was to have a treaty with many parts, allowing countries to choose which rules they followed. This would have made the ban less complete.

Opponents also wanted the negotiations to happen in the UN's Conference on Disarmament (CD). This group often got stuck because any member could block decisions. This would have made it very hard to agree on a ban.

Further Developments

Ambassador Dr. Fecadu Gadamu representing Ethiopia, signing the Ottawa Treaty in 1997

In January 1997, the US said it would try to start negotiations for a worldwide ban within the CD. But other countries' attempts to do this in the CD were not successful.

Key Conferences and Agreements

• 1997 Vienna Conference (February): This was the first big meeting after the Ottawa Conference. Representatives from 111 governments came to discuss the "First Austrian Draft."
• Second Austrian Draft (March): This new draft was created based on comments from the Vienna Conference.
• 1997 Bonn Conference (April): This meeting focused on how to check if countries were following the ban.
• Third Austrian Draft (May): This draft included small changes, like rules about leaving the treaty.
• 1997 Brussels Conference (June): This meeting formally chose the Third Austrian Draft as the basis for negotiations. It also allowed the ICBL to participate as an observer.

By August 1997, it was clear that the "Ottawa Process" was moving forward. The US finally joined the process. However, the US set five conditions for signing the treaty, including exceptions for mines in South Korea and a longer time to follow the rules.

Treaty Adoption and Signing

• 1997 Oslo Conference (September): This was the final meeting to negotiate and adopt the treaty. After many debates, the US withdrew its conditions because it could not get enough support. The treaty was officially adopted on September 18, 1997.
• 1997 Ottawa Conference (December): The treaty was opened for signing in Ottawa. 121 countries signed it right away. This was a huge achievement for international law.

On December 9, 1997, the UN General Assembly welcomed the treaty and asked all countries to sign and ratify it quickly. That same day, Jody Williams and the ICBL were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work.

In 1998, the treaty reached its 40th ratification, meaning it would become law the next year. On March 1, 1999, the Ottawa Treaty officially became international law.

How the Treaty Works

Treaty Rules

Countries that join the treaty must stop making and developing anti-personnel mines. They also have to destroy their stockpiles of mines within four years. They can keep a small number for training, like learning how to clear mines.

Within ten years of joining, a country must clear all mined areas. This is a very hard job for many countries. They can ask for more time and help at annual meetings. The treaty also asks countries to help people affected by mines and to help other countries meet their treaty duties.

The treaty only covers anti-personnel mines. It does not cover anti-tank mines or other explosive devices.

Destroying Mine Stockpiles

Since the treaty started in 1999, countries have destroyed over 48 million stored mines. By June 2017, 159 countries had finished destroying their mines or said they had no mines to destroy. Sri Lanka finished destroying its mines in September 2021.

Keeping Mines for Training

Article 3 of the treaty allows countries to keep a small number of mines for training. This helps them learn how to find, clear, or destroy mines. 72 countries have done this. Most keep fewer than 1,000 mines. Only Turkey (15,100) and Bangladesh (12,500) keep more than 10,000.

Canada keeps mines for training. It also uses a "C19 Detonated Weapon" in combat. This weapon is not considered a landmine under the treaty because a person fires it, not a pressure plate.

Countries Free of Landmines

By 2015, 29 countries had cleared all known mined areas. These include Albania, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Costa Rica, Denmark, Djibouti, France, Gambia, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Jordan, Malawi, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Rwanda, Suriname, Swaziland, Tunisia, Uganda, and Venezuela. El Salvador cleared its mines before joining the treaty.

In December 2009, Rwanda was declared mine-free after a three-year effort. In June 2010, Nicaragua was also declared free of landmines. Nepal became landmine-free in June 2011, and Burundi in December 2011.

In December 2012, six more countries declared themselves landmine-free: the Republic of the Congo, Denmark, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Jordan, and Uganda. In September 2015, Mozambique was declared free of landmines after 20 years of clearing. The last landmines in the Falkland Islands were removed by 2020.

Monitoring the Treaty

The Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor ("the Monitor") is a group that researches and reports on landmines. It works for the ICBL and the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC).

The Monitor was started in 1998. It tracks how landmines, cluster bombs, and other explosive war leftovers are used. It publishes yearly reports on all countries. The Monitor is respected for its open approach and helps governments, NGOs, media, and the public understand these issues.

Countries Involved

There are 165 countries that are part of the Ottawa Treaty. However, 32 countries have not signed it. These include major powers like China, the United States, and Russia.

In 2014, the United States said it would follow the treaty's rules, except for landmines used on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea and North Korea have not signed the treaty. They believe landmines are important for their defense.

Opinions on the Treaty

Support for the Treaty

Pope Francis has said the Ottawa Process is a great example of how regular people and groups can make big changes that even the United Nations cannot.

Criticisms of the Treaty

Some people, including experts and military officials, have criticized the treaty. They say that the campaign for the treaty was led by NGOs, not governments. They felt this challenged the right of countries to protect their citizens.

Critics also think the treaty is too idealistic. They argue that armies need landmines to protect against invasions and attacks. Because of this, many countries have not joined the treaty. These countries often have large stockpiles of mines.

Opponents of banning mines say they are a cheap way to stop enemies from entering an area. They claim that if used correctly, mines only harm attackers. They also believe mines can make countries less likely to start wars.

The Ottawa Treaty does not cover all types of dangerous explosives. For example, cluster bombs also leave unexploded bombs that can harm civilians. A separate treaty, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, was created in 2008 to ban these.

Critics also point out that the Ottawa Treaty does not limit anti-vehicle mines. These mines can kill civilians in vehicles like tractors or school buses. The United States says that the problem with mines is not whether they are anti-personnel or anti-vehicle, but whether they stay dangerous for a long time. The US has promised not to use any mines that stay dangerous for a long time. All US landmines now self-destruct within two days or less.

Following the Rules

There has not been much progress in reducing mine use in some areas. In 2011, the number of landmines used had increased in Libya, Syria, and Myanmar.

Turkey had laid over 600,000 mines along its border with Syria between 1957 and 1998. These mines are still harming Syrians trying to cross the border. Turkey is supposed to destroy these mines under the treaty but has missed deadlines.

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ukraine became the first country that signed the treaty to break its rules. Russia, which has not signed the treaty, also used banned landmines in the war.

Countries Leaving the Treaty

The countries that signed the Ottawa Treaty mostly stayed in it until the Russian invasion of Ukraine. After that, several European countries announced they planned to leave.

Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia

In Estonia, some politicians tried to leave the treaty in October 2022, but it was voted down. However, after the US approved sending landmines to Ukraine in November 2024, and Finland debated it, Estonia's defense committee decided to look at the issue again.

In December 2024, Lithuania's defense minister started a discussion about leaving the treaty. This was based on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine.

On March 18, 2025, the defense ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia announced they would leave the Ottawa Treaty. They said that anti-personnel mines are important for defense, and Russia, which is not part of the treaty, uses them.

The parliaments of Latvia (April 16, 2025), Lithuania (May 8, 2025), and Estonia (June 4, 2025) voted to withdraw. Poland's parliament also voted to withdraw on June 25, 2025. The withdrawal will take effect six months after they tell the United Nations. This will allow them to store and use landmines again. All three Baltic States told the United Nations they were withdrawing in June 2025.

Finland

In Finland, some political parties suggested leaving the treaty in 2014. The Finnish Ministry of Defence also thought landmines were good for defense. Debates about leaving the treaty continued, especially after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

On November 23, 2024, Finland's new Chief of Defence, Janne Jaakkola, pushed for rethinking the policy on landmines. This led to public discussion and support for withdrawal.

On April 1, 2025, the Finnish government announced its plan to leave the Ottawa Treaty. The Finnish parliament voted to withdraw on June 19, 2025. Finland officially told the United Nations on July 10, 2025, meaning the withdrawal will be final in January 2026.

Ukraine

In 2014, Ukraine hinted it might have to leave the treaty because of military needs. Ukraine said it would destroy mines in its territory once it regained control from Russia.

Even though Ukraine had not officially left the treaty, US President Joe Biden approved sending American landmines to Ukraine on November 19, 2024. This was criticized by human rights groups.

On June 29, 2025, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decision to withdraw Ukraine from the treaty.

Review Meetings

Countries that are part of the treaty hold review conferences to check on progress:

• First Review Conference: November–December 2004, Nairobi, Kenya.
• Second Review Conference: November–December 2009, Cartagena, Colombia.
• Third Review Conference: June 2014, Maputo, Mozambique.
• Fourth Review Conference: November 2019, Oslo, Norway.

Yearly Meetings

Annual meetings of the treaty member states are held around the world. These meetings are a chance to report on what has been done and to ask for help if needed.

UN General Assembly Resolutions

Every year, the UN General Assembly votes on a resolution that supports the Mine Ban Treaty. This is a way for countries to show their support. For example, in December 2011, 162 countries voted in favor of the resolution.

The number of countries voting in favor has been as high as 165 in 2010. Some countries, like Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Russia, and the United States, have consistently voted against these resolutions.

Important People in the Treaty's Creation

People and Groups Who Made a Difference

The Ottawa Treaty would likely not have happened without many people around the world writing to their leaders. Many groups, including churches and children's rights groups, worked together. They put political pressure on governments and kept the issue in the news. This shows how powerful peaceful actions can be.

Jody Williams and the ICBL

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) and its first leader, Jody Williams, were very important in getting the Ottawa Treaty passed. For their efforts, they jointly received the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. Williams has often said that the award belonged to the whole organization, not just her.

Werner Ehrlich

Sources show that the main person behind the Ottawa Treaty was the Austrian diplomat Werner Ehrlich. He was in charge of disarmament at the Austrian Ministry for Foreign Affairs in 1995-1996.

He started the process by writing the first draft of the treaty in April 1996. He also pushed for the unusual idea of negotiating the treaty outside the normal UN disarmament talks. This was hard because many countries did not want a total ban. Even some groups that supported a ban thought his idea was too early.

Ehrlich believed it was important to make landmines illegal as soon as possible. He thought this would make it harder for countries to use them, even if they were not part of the treaty. He also believed that negotiating outside the UN's Conference on Disarmament was key. This was because that group often got stuck, and countries affected by mines might not be included.

At the Ottawa Conference in October 1996, Ehrlich strongly defended his plan. With the help of Canadian Minister Lloyd Axworthy, his idea was accepted. Austria was asked to write the draft for the negotiations, which became known as the "Ottawa Process." His final draft, the "First Austrian Draft," was the basis for the treaty talks.

Canada's Role

Mines Action Canada, a group of Canadian non-governmental agencies, helped push the Canadian government to support a ban. By 1996, their efforts led Minister Lloyd Axworthy to work with them and the ICBL. This led to Canada challenging other countries to negotiate and sign a treaty banning landmines within one year. This challenge directly led to the signing of the treaty in December 1997.

Diana, Princess of Wales

Diana, Princess of Wales strongly supported the Ottawa Treaty in its final stages. In January 1997, she visited Angola and walked near a minefield to show how dangerous they were. Angola had millions of landmines from its civil war. In August 1997, she visited Bosnia to highlight the issue. Her work focused on how landmines hurt and kill children. Her sad death a few weeks later brought even more attention to her cause. Many felt the treaty became a memorial to her humanitarian work.

Lloyd Axworthy

As Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister (1996–2000), Lloyd Axworthy became known for promoting "human security." This included his work on the Ottawa Treaty and the creation of the International Criminal Court.

Bobby Muller

Robert O. (Bobby) Muller is an American peace activist. After serving in the Vietnam War, he became an advocate for veterans and peace. He helped start the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF), which co-founded the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.

Related Topics

• Geneva Call, a group that works with non-state groups to ban landmines.
• Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, which hosts the Ottawa Treaty's secretariat.
• Mine action, the work of clearing mines and helping affected people.
• Convention on Cluster Munitions, a similar treaty banning cluster bombs.

See also

In Spanish: Convención sobre la prohibición de minas antipersonales para niños