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: 2.2.1 An end to use

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

2.2.1 An end to use

Each country adhering to the Ottawa treaty obliges itself “never, under any circumstances” (emphasis added) to use anti-personnel landmines. This includes all situations of armed conflict - whether between countries (international armed conflict) or a civil conflict (internal armed conflict) - as well as troubles of a lesser intensity commonly referred to as internal unrest or civil disturbances. All offensive and defensive usage is prohibited. Moreover, any resort to the weapon during peacetime is also proscribed. A country cannot deploy anti-personnel mines to fortify its borders as a means of preventing unwanted persons from entering its territory or to protect important military or other installations. In ratifying the Ottawa treaty, a country accepts that mines are no longer a legitimate weapon to be used either in peacetime or in time of war. There are no exceptions to this rule.