Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword by Cornelio Sommaruga, President, International Committee of the Red Cross
- Foreword by Ambassador Jacob S. Selebi, South Africa
- Foreword by Ambassador Johan Molander, Sweden
- Introduction
- PART 1 FROM PRINCIPLES TO RULES: REGULATING MINES UP TO THE 1980 CONVENTION ON CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS
- PART 2 THE REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE 1980 CONVENTION ON CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS: AN INITIAL RESPONSE TO THE LANDMINE CRISIS
- PART 3 THE OTTAWA PROCESS FROM REGIONAL INITIATIVES TO AN INTERNATIONAL PROHIBITION OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The International Strategy Conference Towards a Global Ban on Anti-personnel Mines, Ottawa, Canada, 3–5 October 1996
- 3 United Nations General Assembly, 1996
- 4 ICRC Position Paper No. 4 – December 1997, Landmines: Crucial Decisions in 1997
- 5 Expert Meeting on the Convention for the Prohibition of Antipersonnel Mines, Vienna, Austria, 12–14 February 1997
- 6 Fourth International Non-governmental Organization Conference on Landmines: Toward a Mine-Free Southern Africa, Maputo, Mozambique, 25–28 February 1997
- 7 Seminar on Anti-Personnel Landmines and Their Humanitarian Implications, Budapest, Hungary, 7 March 1997
- 8 1997: The Year of a Treaty Banning Anti-personnel Mines?
- 9 ICRC Regional Seminar for States of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Harare, Zimbabwe, 21–23 April 1997
- 10 International Meeting of Experts on the Possible Verification of a Comprehensive International Treaty Prohibiting Anti-Personnel Landmines,Bonn, Germany, 24–25 April 1997
- 11 OAU Conference on a Landmine-free Africa: The OAU and the Legacy of Anti-personnel Mines, Johannesburg, South Africa, 19–21 May 1997
- 12 Debate on Landmines at the Angolan Parliament, Luanda, Angola, 23 May 1997
- 13 International Conference for a Global Ban on Anti-personnel Landmines, Brussels,Belgium, 24–27 June 1997
- 14 The Third Austrian Draft of the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-personnel Mines,May 1997
- 15 Anti-Personnel Mines: What Future for Asia? Regional Seminar for Asian Military and Strategic Studies Experts,Manila, The Philippines, 20–23 July 1997
- 16 Diplomatic Conference on an International Total Ban on Anti-personnel Landmines, Oslo,Norway, 1–18 September 1997
- 17 A Global Ban on Landmines: Treaty Signing Conference and Mine Action Forum, Ottawa,Canada, 2–4 December 1997
- 18 ICRC Position Paper No. 5 – January 1998, Anti-personnel Mines: Agenda 1998 – From Prohibition to Elimination and Adequate Care for the Victims
- 19 Regional Conference on Landmines, Budapest, Hungary, 26–28 March 1998
- 20 Implementing the Ottawa Treaty: Questions and Answers
- 21 An International Ban on Anti-personnel Mines: History and Negotiation of the ‘Ottawa Treaty’, article by S.Maslen and P.Herby
- 22 The Entry into Force of the Ottawa Treaty
- 23 The First Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Treaty,Maputo, Mozambique, 3–7 May 1999
- 24 Regional Conference on Landmines, Zagreb, Croatia, 27–29 June 1999
- 25 South Asia Regional Seminar on Landmines, Wadduwa, Sri Lanka, 18–20 August 1999
- Index
20 - Implementing the Ottawa Treaty: Questions and Answers
from PART 3 - THE OTTAWA PROCESS FROM REGIONAL INITIATIVES TO AN INTERNATIONAL PROHIBITION OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 03 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword by Cornelio Sommaruga, President, International Committee of the Red Cross
- Foreword by Ambassador Jacob S. Selebi, South Africa
- Foreword by Ambassador Johan Molander, Sweden
- Introduction
- PART 1 FROM PRINCIPLES TO RULES: REGULATING MINES UP TO THE 1980 CONVENTION ON CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS
- PART 2 THE REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE 1980 CONVENTION ON CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS: AN INITIAL RESPONSE TO THE LANDMINE CRISIS
- PART 3 THE OTTAWA PROCESS FROM REGIONAL INITIATIVES TO AN INTERNATIONAL PROHIBITION OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES
- 1 Introduction
- 2 The International Strategy Conference Towards a Global Ban on Anti-personnel Mines, Ottawa, Canada, 3–5 October 1996
- 3 United Nations General Assembly, 1996
- 4 ICRC Position Paper No. 4 – December 1997, Landmines: Crucial Decisions in 1997
- 5 Expert Meeting on the Convention for the Prohibition of Antipersonnel Mines, Vienna, Austria, 12–14 February 1997
- 6 Fourth International Non-governmental Organization Conference on Landmines: Toward a Mine-Free Southern Africa, Maputo, Mozambique, 25–28 February 1997
- 7 Seminar on Anti-Personnel Landmines and Their Humanitarian Implications, Budapest, Hungary, 7 March 1997
- 8 1997: The Year of a Treaty Banning Anti-personnel Mines?
- 9 ICRC Regional Seminar for States of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Harare, Zimbabwe, 21–23 April 1997
- 10 International Meeting of Experts on the Possible Verification of a Comprehensive International Treaty Prohibiting Anti-Personnel Landmines,Bonn, Germany, 24–25 April 1997
- 11 OAU Conference on a Landmine-free Africa: The OAU and the Legacy of Anti-personnel Mines, Johannesburg, South Africa, 19–21 May 1997
- 12 Debate on Landmines at the Angolan Parliament, Luanda, Angola, 23 May 1997
- 13 International Conference for a Global Ban on Anti-personnel Landmines, Brussels,Belgium, 24–27 June 1997
- 14 The Third Austrian Draft of the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-personnel Mines,May 1997
- 15 Anti-Personnel Mines: What Future for Asia? Regional Seminar for Asian Military and Strategic Studies Experts,Manila, The Philippines, 20–23 July 1997
- 16 Diplomatic Conference on an International Total Ban on Anti-personnel Landmines, Oslo,Norway, 1–18 September 1997
- 17 A Global Ban on Landmines: Treaty Signing Conference and Mine Action Forum, Ottawa,Canada, 2–4 December 1997
- 18 ICRC Position Paper No. 5 – January 1998, Anti-personnel Mines: Agenda 1998 – From Prohibition to Elimination and Adequate Care for the Victims
- 19 Regional Conference on Landmines, Budapest, Hungary, 26–28 March 1998
- 20 Implementing the Ottawa Treaty: Questions and Answers
- 21 An International Ban on Anti-personnel Mines: History and Negotiation of the ‘Ottawa Treaty’, article by S.Maslen and P.Herby
- 22 The Entry into Force of the Ottawa Treaty
- 23 The First Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Treaty,Maputo, Mozambique, 3–7 May 1999
- 24 Regional Conference on Landmines, Zagreb, Croatia, 27–29 June 1999
- 25 South Asia Regional Seminar on Landmines, Wadduwa, Sri Lanka, 18–20 August 1999
- Index
Summary
The 126 States which have signed the Convention on the Prohibition on the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on their Destruction (commonly referred to as the Ottawa treaty) have taken an important step towards resolving the humanitarian crisis caused by these weapons. While the treaty is a remarkable achievement, much remains to be done if the global landmines epidemic is to be successfully addressed. The treaty has been endorsed by a large number of governments, but signing it only reflects the political commitment of the signatory State to be bound by it in the future. Every such State must now take action at the national level for the treaty to become legally binding upon it. The treaty will not come into effect until 40 States have taken such action, and at that time it will apply to them only. In addition, in order to reduce the threat that anti-personnel mines represent for civilians, States must ensure that the obligations contained in the treaty are fully implemented. Putting an end to the scourge of landmines is a process which will require concerted and long-term action.
Q.How does a State become legally bound by the Ottawa treaty?
A. Generally, a State becomes bound by a treaty by ratifying it (in some instances this is referred to as acceptance or approval). Ratification is normally a two-step process. First, a State must follow its own national procedures for adhering to international agreements. In many cases this means submitting the treaty to the national parliament or national assembly for approval.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The Banning of Anti-Personnel LandminesThe Legal Contribution of the International Committee of the Red Cross 1955–1999, pp. 601 - 605Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2000