On 1 March, Germany welcomed the 24th anniversary of the entry into force of one of the most important disarmament instrument to date, the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production, and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (Mine Ban or Ottawa Convention), which has contributed to a safer world for millions of people.
Mine Ban Convention: 24 years of work
H.E. Thomas Göbel, Ambassador of Germany to the Conference on Disarmament and President of the Convention.
Germany as the Presidency of the Ottawa Convention this year, steadfastly pursues a world free of anti-personal mines. These weapons continue to kill and maim decades after the fighting has ended… while the Ottawa Convention cannot undo the suffering that anti-personnel mines have inflicted on innocent people, the tragic losses, and terrible injuries, the Convention must continue its work to avoid new suffering and casualties caused by this barbaric weapon.
Therefore, on the anniversary of the Convention’s entry into force I call on the 33 States remaining outside the Convention to ratify and accede to the Convention, thereby making it universal. I also call on affected State Parties to strengthen their efforts to implement their commitments and to those in a position to provide cooperation and assistance to continue to do so and to increase their support where possible.
Photo at bottom: In November 2022, the iconic Jet d’eau in Geneva was illuminated in Convention colours to commemorate the 25 years of the adoption and signing of the landmark disarmament treaty.
