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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
${{{image_alt}}}$ 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, also known as the Mine Ban 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 weapons that can harm civilians long after a conflict ends.

By March 2025, 165 countries had agreed to follow this treaty. However, some major countries that have made or used landmines, like the United States, China, and Russia, are not part of it. Other countries not in the treaty include India and Pakistan. Recently, during the Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukraine has not followed the treaty, and Russia has used mines. In 2025, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland said they plan to leave the treaty.

Why the Treaty Was Needed

Landmines were first used a lot during World War II. Over time, people realized these weapons caused terrible harm to civilians, even after wars ended. In 1977, during the Geneva Conventions, rules were added to stop attacking civilians with weapons that hit everyone, not just soldiers.

In 1980, the United Nations created a treaty called the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). One part of this treaty, Protocol II, put some limits on how anti-personnel landmines could be used. However, many felt these rules were not strong enough.

How the Treaty Came About

Early Efforts for a Ban

In 1991, several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) started working together to ban landmines. They formed the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) in 1992. This group called for a worldwide ban on using, making, storing, and selling anti-personnel landmines.

In 1994, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Cornelio Sommaruga, said that a "worldwide ban" was the only real solution. Other UN groups, like the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), also called for a total ban. Even US President Bill Clinton spoke about getting rid of anti-personnel mines.

Belgium passed the first national law to ban anti-personnel landmines in 1995. The European Union also agreed to stop exporting these mines.

The Ottawa Process Begins

Despite growing calls for a ban, making stronger rules for landmines was difficult. In 1996, an Austrian diplomat named Werner Ehrlich, feeling frustrated by the slow progress, secretly wrote the first draft of a new treaty. This draft called for a complete ban on using, making, selling, and storing anti-personnel mines. It also said that stockpiles should be destroyed quickly and mined areas cleared.

At a meeting in Geneva in May 1996, Canada announced it would host a meeting for countries that wanted a ban. Austria also announced it was preparing a draft for a total ban.

The big moment came at the 1996 Ottawa Conference in Canada. Many countries were against a total ban. Even some groups that wanted a ban thought it was too soon to talk about a full treaty. But Werner Ehrlich announced he had a complete draft ready. He invited countries to start quick talks outside the usual slow UN disarmament meetings.

The Canadian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lloyd Axworthy, immediately supported this idea. He asked Austria to prepare the draft for these talks, suggesting they finish by the end of 1997 in Ottawa. This started what became known as the "Ottawa Process." It was a new, faster way to create a treaty.

Challenges and Success

Some countries tried to stop the Ottawa Process. They wanted negotiations to happen in the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in Geneva. This group often got stuck because any member could block decisions. But the Ottawa Process kept moving forward.

Many meetings were held in 1997 to work on the treaty text. These included the Vienna Conference, the Bonn Conference, and the Brussels Conference. More and more countries joined, including France and the United Kingdom.

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

The United States finally joined the Ottawa Process in August 1997. However, they had five conditions for signing the treaty. These included being able to use mines in South Korea and having a longer time to get rid of their mines.

The final negotiations happened at the 1997 Oslo Conference in Norway. After intense discussions, the US dropped its conditions because it couldn't get enough support. The treaty was officially adopted on September 18, 1997.

On December 3-4, 1997, the treaty was opened for signing at the 1997 Ottawa Conference in Canada. 121 countries signed it right away. This was seen as a huge success for international law.

Soon after, Jody Williams and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts. The treaty officially became international law on March 1, 1999.

Treaty Implementation

What the Treaty Requires

The Ottawa Treaty makes countries stop making and developing anti-personnel mines. Countries must destroy their mine stockpiles within four years. They can keep a small number for training, like learning how to find and clear mines.

Within ten years of joining, countries must clear all mined areas. This is a very hard job. Countries 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 include anti-tank mines, remote-controlled claymore mines, or other similar explosive devices.

Destroying Mines and Clearing Land

Since the treaty started in 1999, nations have destroyed over 48 million stored mines. By June 2017, 159 countries had finished destroying their stockpiles or said they had none. Sri Lanka reported finishing its stockpile destruction in 2021.

Some countries keep a small number of mines for training purposes, as allowed by the treaty. For example, Canada keeps mines for training.

By 2015, 29 countries had cleared all known mined areas from their land. 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. Mozambique was declared mine-free in 2015 after 20 years of work. The Falkland Islands also finished removing their last landmines by 2020.

Monitoring the Treaty

The Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, or "the Monitor," is a group that checks how well countries are following the treaty. It provides research for the ICBL and other groups.

The Monitor publishes yearly reports on landmines, cluster munitions, and other explosive dangers left after conflicts. It works with experts worldwide and shares its findings. This group is respected for being open and honest in its reporting. Its reports are used by governments, NGOs, and the public.

Countries Involved

The Ottawa Treaty had 122 countries sign it when it first opened in 1997. Now, 165 countries are part of the 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 most of the treaty's rules, except for mines used on the Korean Peninsula. South Korea and North Korea have not signed the treaty. They believe landmines are important for defending their territory.

Different Views on the Treaty

Support for the Treaty

Pope Francis has praised the Ottawa Process. He said it shows how groups of regular people can create important changes that even the United Nations might not be able to do alone.

Criticisms of the Treaty

Some experts and officials have criticized the treaty. They argue that the campaign for the treaty was led by NGOs outside the usual UN processes. They felt this challenged the right of countries to protect their citizens.

Critics also believe the treaty is too hopeful. They say it ignores the real security threats that make armies rely on landmines for defense. They argue that landmines are a cheap way to stop enemies from entering an area. When used correctly, they claim mines only harm attackers and can even prevent wars by making attacks riskier.

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

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

Following the Rules

Despite the treaty, some countries have not fully stopped using mines. In 2011, the number of landmines used had increased in places like Libya, Syria, and Myanmar.

Turkey reported laying over 600,000 anti-personnel mines along its border with Syria between 1957 and 1998. These mines are still harming people trying to cross the border. Turkey is supposed to destroy these mines under the treaty but has missed deadlines.

Countries Leaving the Treaty

The Ottawa Treaty has mostly kept its members, however, several European countries have said they plan to leave the treaty.

Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia

In October 2022, some politicians in Estonia tried to pass a law to leave the treaty, but it failed. However, after the US allowed landmine transfers to Ukraine and Finland debated leaving, Estonia's parliament decided to look at the issue again.

In December 2024, Lithuania's defense minister also started a discussion about leaving the treaty.

On March 18, 2025, the defense ministers of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia announced together that they plan to leave the Ottawa Treaty. They said that anti-personnel mines are important for defense, especially since Russia is not part of the treaty and uses such weapons. They still stressed their commitment to international humanitarian law.

The parliaments of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia voted to withdraw in April, May, and June 2025, respectively. Their withdrawal will become official six months after they tell the United Nations and other treaty members. This will allow them to store and use anti-personnel landmines again.

Finland

In Finland, some political parties have suggested leaving the treaty since 2014. The Finnish Ministry of Defence had said in 2003 that landmines are good for defending against a large invasion.

In November 2024, Finland's Chief of Defence, Janne Jaakkola, called for rethinking the policy on anti-personnel landmines. This led to new public discussions and support from many political parties to leave the treaty.

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.

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 has not officially left the treaty, US President Joe Biden approved sending American anti-personnel landmines to Ukraine in November 2024. This decision was criticized by human rights groups.

Treaty Meetings

Review Conferences

The countries that are part of the treaty hold big meetings called Review Conferences every few years. These meetings check how well the treaty is working and plan for the future.

First Review Conference: 2004, Nairobi, Kenya (Nairobi Summit)
Second Review Conference: 2009, Cartagena, Colombia (Cartagena Summit)
Third Review Conference: 2014, Maputo, Mozambique (Maputo Review Conference)
Fourth Review Conference: 2019, Oslo, Norway (Oslo Review Conference)

Annual Meetings

Smaller annual meetings are held in different places around the world. At these meetings, countries report on their progress, discuss challenges, and ask for help if needed.

1st meeting: May 1999, Maputo, Mozambique
2nd meeting: September 2000, Geneva, Switzerland
3rd meeting: September 2001, Managua in Managua, Nicaragua
4th meeting: September 2002, Geneva, Switzerland
5th meeting: September 2003, Bangkok, Thailand
First Review Conference or Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World in November/December 2004 in Nairobi, Kenya
6th meeting: November/December 2005, Zagreb, Croatia
7th meeting: September 2006, Geneva, Switzerland
8th meeting: September 2007, Dead Sea, Jordan
9th meeting: November 2008, Geneva, Switzerland
Second Review Conference or Cartagena Summit on a Mine-Free World in November/December 2009 in Cartagena, Colombia
10th meeting: November/December 2010, Geneva, Switzerland
11th meeting: November/December 2011, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
12th meeting: November/December 2012, Geneva, Switzerland
13th meeting: November/December 2013, Geneva, Switzerland
Third Review Conference or Maputo Review Conference on a Mine-Free World in June 2014 in Maputo, Mozambique
14th meeting: December 2015, Geneva, Switzerland
15th meeting: November/December 2016, Santiago, Chile
16th meeting: December 2017, Vienna, Austria
17th meeting: November 2018, Geneva, Switzerland
Fourth Review Conference or Oslo Review Conference on a Mine-Free World in November 2019, Oslo, Norway
18th meeting: November 2020, Geneva, Switzerland
19th meeting: November 2021, The Hague, Netherlands
20th meeting: November 2022, Geneva, Switzerland
21st meeting: November 2023, Geneva, Switzerland

UN General Assembly Votes

Every year, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) votes on a resolution that asks all countries to join and fully follow the Mine Ban Treaty. This vote shows how much support the treaty has worldwide.

Since 1997, most countries have voted in favor of these resolutions. The number of countries supporting the treaty has generally increased over time. Some countries that have consistently voted against or abstained from these resolutions are those concerned about security, like Cuba, Egypt, India, Iran, Israel, Russia, South Korea, Syria, and the United States.

Key People Behind the Treaty

Citizens and Organizations

The Ottawa Treaty likely wouldn't have happened without many people around the world writing to their leaders. Groups like Mines Action Canada and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) worked closely with other NGOs, churches, and children's rights groups. They put political pressure on governments and kept the issue in the news. This huge public involvement is often studied as a great example of how peaceful democratic action can lead to big changes.

Jody Williams and the ICBL

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines and its first coordinator, Jody Williams, were key to getting the Ottawa Treaty passed. For their hard work, they jointly received the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. Jody Williams has always stressed that the award was for the entire movement, not just her.

Werner Ehrlich

Werner Ehrlich, an Austrian diplomat, was a very important figure in creating the Ottawa Treaty. In April 1996, he wrote the first draft of the treaty. He also pushed for the treaty to be negotiated quickly outside the slow UN disarmament talks. Even though many countries and groups were against his idea at first, he succeeded. His draft became the basis for the negotiations that led to the treaty in 1997.

Diana, Princess of Wales

In its final stages, the Ottawa Treaty was strongly supported by Diana, Princess of Wales. In January 1997, she visited Angola and walked near a minefield to show how dangerous landmines are. She also visited Bosnia to highlight the harm to children. Her tragic death just weeks later brought even more attention to the cause. Many felt the treaty became a memorial to her humanitarian work.

Lloyd Axworthy

As Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister from 1996 to 2000, Lloyd Axworthy became known for promoting "human security." This idea focuses on protecting people, not just countries. He played a key role in starting the Ottawa Process and getting the treaty signed.

Bobby Muller

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