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What the Convention says- The Convention emphasizes that the States Parties are “determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization in all relevant fora.”
- In accepting the Convention, “each State Party undertakes never under any circumstances:
- To use anti-personnel mines;
- To develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer to anyone, directly or indirectly, anti-personnel mines;
- To assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention.”
- It should be noted that “ the Articles of this Convention shall not be subject to reservations.”
Progress made- 156 states have ratified or have acceded to the Convention.
- Every state in the Americas but Cuba and the USA has joined the Convention, as have most European states and every state in Africa except Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Somalia.
- The use of anti-personnel mines has decreased dramatically through adherence to the Convention by 156 States and the widespread acceptance of its provisions by other States.
- The production of AP mines has decreased significantly: Of the 50 States that at one time produced AP mines, 34 are now parties to the Convention.
Challenges that remain- 39 States have not yet ratified or acceded to the Convention.
- Combined, six of these States – China, India, the Republic of Korea, Pakistan, Russia and the United States – may hold tens of millions of stockpiled antipersonnel mines.
- Some States not parties to the Convention have made new use of AP mines since the Convention entered into force.
- Some armed non-State actors continue to use, stockpile, and produce anti-personnel mines.
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STATUS OF RATIFICATION AND ACCESSIONS
As of 1 September 2008, 156 States had formally agreed to be bound by the Convention, a process which includes domestic measures to "ratify", "accept", "approve" or "accede to" the Convention and the deposit of a declaration with the United Nations Secretary General indicating adherence to the Convention. The Convention has entered into force for all of these States, i.e., there are 156 "States Parties" to the Convention. (The Convention enters into force on the first day of the sixth month after the date on which that state has deposited its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.)
List of the dates of formal acceptance and entry into force PDF 53KB
List of States not parties to the Convention PDF 20KB
 The Convention defines an anti-personnel mine as “a mine designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person and that will incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons.” Claymore-type munitions (pictured above) are prohibited when these munitions are activated by a trip-wire (i.e., victim-activated). They can lawfully be used in a command-detonated mode (i.e., when they are not victim activated). |
