Ottawa Treaty 1997, Objective, Members and Key Provisions

Context: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy initiated the process to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention as the war with Russia shows no sign of a conclusion.

Recently, Poland, Finland, and the Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania) have announced plans to withdraw from the Mine Ban Treaty or the Ottawa Treaty.

About Ottawa Treaty 1997

• Ottawa Treaty is a multilateral treaty aimed at eliminating anti-personnel landmines around the world.
• Other Name
  • “Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction”.
  • It is also known as the Ottawa Convention or Mine Ban Treaty.
• Adopted: December 1997 in Ottawa, Canada.
  • Entered into Force: March 1, 1999.
• Objective
  • The treaty prohibits the use, Development and production, Stockpiling & Transfer to other states or groups.
  • To eliminate anti-personnel landmines (APLs) worldwide, reduce civilian casualties, and promote humanitarian disarmament.
• Additionally, it requires:
  • Destruction of existing stockpiles within 4 years.
  • Clearance of mined areas within 10 years.
  • Assistance to mine victims, including rehabilitation and reintegration.
• Membership: 165 Countries.
  • Countries That Have Not Joined: India, Russia, China, USA, Pakistan & Israel.
• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and NGOs like the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) played a key role in advocating for the treaty.
• Landmine Monitor is the main body that tracks the implementation of the treaty, Global mine contamination etc.

• Implementation Body: Implementation Support Unit under the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD).

Key Provisions

• Prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.
• Requires the destruction of stockpiles within four years.
• Mandates the clearance of mined areas within ten years.
• Obligates states to provide assistance to mine victims.

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