International landmines ban takes effect

An international treaty which bans the use, stockpile and production of anti-personnel mines which was signed by over 130 countries in Ottawa in December 1997 and ratified by a further 50 nations came into effect on Monday.

The ban comes at a time when the demining process in one of the most heavily mined nations in the world, Angola, has come to a virtual halt.

In a press release by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), Jody Williams ICBL ambassador said: “Today, this treaty enters into force more quickly than any other major treaty in history, demonstrating the world’s commitment to eradicate this insidious weapon now.”

But Williams sounded a note of caution: “While the treaty and the ban movement already had a huge impact in terms of saving future lives and limbs, we will not have real success until there is effective and rapid implementation on the ground, and more of the recalcitrant governments join in.”

The US, Russia and China are among the countries that have so far refused to sign and ratify the treaty.

In Africa, the ICBL criticised Angola for signing the treaty and then resorting to the use of mines in its renewed conflict with the UNITA rebel movement. The ICBL also condemned UNITA for its use of anti-personnel mines.

The Convention on the prohibition of use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction, requires the destruction of stockpiled mines within four years and the destruction of mines already in the ground within 10 years. The treaty becomes binding under international law for the first 40 ratifiers. It becomes binding for other ratifiers six months after their individual dates of ratification.

On Sunday, Pope John Paul II added his voice to the campaign and called on all nations to sign the treaty.

“I pray to God to give all nations the courage to make peace, so that the countries that have not yet signed this important instrument of international humanitarian law do so without delay,” he said.

The mass production of landmines makes them one of the cheapest and most effective weapons. Landmines can remain active for up to 50 years and it is estimated that one person is killed or maimed every 20 minutes, the ICBL said. It also estimated there are 100 million mines buried around the world.

The first meeting of signatories to the treaty will take place in Maputo, Mozambique in May where governments will gather to discuss progress and problems encountered in implementing the treaty.