Ottawa Treaty

The Ottawa Treaty, formally known as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction, is an international agreement that aims to eliminate the use and production of anti-personnel landmines worldwide. It represents one of the most significant achievements in the field of humanitarian disarmament and international law. The treaty was adopted in Ottawa, Canada, on 18 September 1997 and entered into force on 1 March 1999.

Background and Historical Context

Anti-personnel landmines (APLs) became a major global humanitarian concern in the late twentieth century. Millions of mines were laid during and after conflicts in regions such as Afghanistan, Cambodia, Angola, Bosnia, and Mozambique. These hidden explosives continued to maim and kill civilians long after wars had ended, obstructing development, agriculture, and post-war recovery.
By the early 1990s, the international community recognised the urgent need to ban landmines, as traditional arms control mechanisms under the United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) were proving insufficient.
A coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), led by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), launched an international movement calling for a total prohibition on landmines. The campaign’s momentum, combined with strong humanitarian advocacy and the leadership of Canada, led to the negotiation and adoption of the Ottawa Treaty in 1997.
The ICBL and its coordinator, Jody Williams, were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for their pivotal role in bringing about the treaty.

Objectives of the Treaty

The Ottawa Treaty’s principal objective is the total eradication of anti-personnel landmines through the prohibition of their use, production, stockpiling, and transfer, and through the destruction of existing stockpiles and clearance of mined areas.
The treaty seeks to:

1. Eliminate the humanitarian and socio-economic consequences of landmines.
2. Ensure assistance to mine victims and affected communities.
3. Strengthen international cooperation in mine clearance and rehabilitation.
4. Promote long-term peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery.

Core Provisions

The treaty lays down clear legal obligations for member states:

1. Prohibition on Use and Production
   • States Parties must never use, develop, produce, acquire, or transfer anti-personnel mines under any circumstances.
2. Destruction of Stockpiles
   • Each signatory must destroy all existing stockpiles of anti-personnel mines within four years of joining the treaty.
3. Mine Clearance
   • Countries must identify and clear all mined areas within ten years of becoming party to the treaty, with provisions for extensions if necessary.
4. Assistance to Victims
   • States must provide care, rehabilitation, and social integration for mine victims, including psychological and economic support.
5. Transparency and Reporting
   • Member states are required to submit annual reports detailing their stockpile status, clearance progress, and victim assistance measures.
6. International Cooperation
   • The treaty promotes technical and financial cooperation among states, NGOs, and international agencies for mine clearance and rehabilitation efforts.

Membership and Global Participation

As of the mid-2020s, the Ottawa Treaty has 164 States Parties, making it one of the most widely supported disarmament treaties in the world.
However, several key military powers have not joined the treaty, including:

• The United States
• Russia
• China
• India
• Pakistan
• North Korea
• Iran

These states argue that anti-personnel mines are still necessary for national defence and border security, particularly in regions with ongoing or potential conflicts. Despite non-membership, many of these countries observe parts of the treaty’s humanitarian principles voluntarily, including limiting or ceasing production and export of landmines.

Implementation and Monitoring

The treaty is implemented and monitored through annual Meetings of States Parties and Review Conferences, which assess compliance, progress in demining, and victim assistance.
The Geneva-based Implementation Support Unit (ISU), operating under the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), coordinates activities, provides technical advice, and facilitates communication among member states.
Additionally, the Landmine Monitor, an independent initiative coordinated by the ICBL, publishes annual reports assessing global adherence to the treaty and progress in mine clearance and victim support.

Humanitarian and Developmental Impact

Since its entry into force, the Ottawa Treaty has had a profound humanitarian impact:

• Over 55 million landmines have been destroyed from global stockpiles.
• Dozens of countries, including Mozambique, Nepal, and declared parts of Cambodia, have been declared mine-free.
• The number of new landmine victims per year has decreased dramatically since the 1990s, although challenges remain in regions of active conflict.
• The treaty has fostered global partnerships for mine clearance, rehabilitation, and community development in affected areas.

The treaty also symbolises a shift in international law from state-centred security concerns toward humanitarian disarmament, prioritising human life and dignity over military utility.

Challenges and Limitations

Despite its successes, the Ottawa Treaty faces ongoing challenges:

• Non-signatory states: The absence of key global military powers limits universal enforcement.
• Continued use in conflict zones: Mines continue to be deployed by state and non-state actors in conflicts such as Syria, Myanmar, and Yemen.
• Resource constraints: Mine clearance operations are expensive and time-consuming, requiring sustained international funding.
• Victim assistance gaps: Many mine victims in developing countries still lack adequate rehabilitation and social support.

Nonetheless, the treaty remains the cornerstone of global mine action efforts and continues to influence non-member states through international norms and humanitarian pressure.

India’s Position

India has not signed the Ottawa Treaty, citing security concerns related to its long and sensitive borders. The Indian government maintains that landmines are an essential part of its defence strategy, particularly along the borders with Pakistan and China.
However, India supports the humanitarian objectives of the treaty and adheres to certain voluntary commitments, such as:

• A moratorium on export and import of anti-personnel mines since 1996.
• Participation in mine clearance operations in affected countries under UN peacekeeping missions.
• Support for victim assistance and rehabilitation programmes.

India’s position reflects the balance between security considerations and humanitarian obligations.

Legacy and Global Significance

The Ottawa Treaty has become a model for international humanitarian law, demonstrating how global civil society, governments, and international institutions can work together to achieve tangible disarmament outcomes.
Its success inspired similar frameworks addressing other humanitarian weapons, such as:

• The Convention on Cluster Munitions (2008).
• The Arms Trade Treaty (2013).