Banning Anti-Personnel Mines - The Ottawa Treaty Explained (International Committee of the Red Cross , 1998, 24 p.): 2. The Ottawa treaty: 2.2 The elements of a comprehensive ban treaty: (introduction...)

Banning Anti-Personnel Mines - The Ottawa Treaty Explained (International Committee of the Red Cross , 1998, 24 p.)

2. The Ottawa treaty

2.2 The elements of a comprehensive ban treaty

		*(introduction...)*
		2.2.1 An end to use
		2.2.2 A prohibition on development and production
		2.2.3 A prohibition on stockpiling
		2.2.4 A prohibition on transfer
		2.2.5 Other prohibited activities

(introduction...)

The Ottawa, treaty is unique because it seeks to eliminate the anti-personnel mine as a weapon from the arsenal of fighting forces. In order to achieve this goal, the treaty identifies and prohibits a wide range of activities, specifically the development, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of the weapon. This comprehensive approach is a welcome innovation in international humanitarian law. Specifically, the treaty provides that:

Each State Party undertakes never under any circumstances:

(a) to use anti-personnel mines;
(b) to develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer to anyone, directly or indirectly, anti-personnel landmines;
(c) to assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention (see Art. 1, para. 1).

Each of these elements is briefly explained below.