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Ten years ago...

In December 1997, the Ottawa Process culminated in the international community gathering in the Canadian capital at a ceremony which featured 122 States signing the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. According to those close to the process, this was “an extraordinary accomplishment by almost any measure of what is considered to be success within international diplomacy.”

The Ottawa Process was “bold gamble” that paid off largely as a result of the advocacy work of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and the ICRC working in partnership with States that were equally committed to a ban on anti-personnel mines. In addition to a variety of regional conferences and mine action forums that took place in 1997, the Ottawa Process featured the following events of great significance:

  • First Expert Meeting on the Convention for a Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines, Vienna, 12-14 February 1997
  • International Meeting of Experts on the Possible Verification of a Comprehensive Treaty Prohibiting Anti-Personnel Mines, Bonn, 24-25 April 1997
  • International Conference for a Global Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines, Brussels, 24-27 June 1997
  • Diplomatic Conference on an International Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines, Oslo, 1-18 September 1997
  • A Global Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines: Treaty Signing Conference and Mine Action Forum, Ottawa, 2-4 December 1997

The Convention was opened for signature by States in Ottawa on 3-4 December 1997. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Canada, pictured here, was one of 122 high level representatives that signed the Convention during that two day period. By signing the Convention States indicated their agreement with the Convention’s object and purpose and an intention to ratify the Convention. As of 1 September 2008, 156 States had ratified or acceded to the Convention.