OTTAWA TREATY Meaning and
Definition
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The Ottawa Treaty, also known as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, is an international treaty that bans the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. It was adopted in Ottawa, Canada, on December 18, 1997, and entered into force on March 1, 1999.
This landmark treaty aims at eliminating the humanitarian impact caused by these indiscriminate weapons, which pose a severe threat to civilians, hinder post-conflict recovery efforts, and impede economic development. Under the Ottawa Treaty, anti-personnel mines are defined as devices designed to explode by the presence, proximity, or contact of a person, causing injury, death, or damage. The treaty obliges its State Parties to clear and destroy all anti-personnel mines in mined areas under their jurisdiction or control. These parties are also expected to assist mine-affected countries in implementing appropriate programs for mine clearance, victim assistance, stockpile destruction, education, and awareness.
The Ottawa Treaty has had a significant impact on the global mine action community. It has garnered the support of more than 160 countries, with only a handful of states remaining outside of the treaty. Its objectives have driven substantial progress in mine clearance and victim assistance programs across the world. The Ottawa Treaty stands as a crucial international instrument in the pursuit of eliminating the devastating effects of anti-personnel mines and promoting a safer and more secure world for all.
Etymology of OTTAWA TREATY
The term "Ottawa Treaty" derives its name from the city where it was formally established. The treaty is officially known as the "Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction". It was negotiated in Ottawa, Canada, in 1997 and opened for signature on December 3, 1997.
