Ottawa Convention

Prelims – Current events of International Importance.

Mains (GS II) – International Agreements.

Why in News?

The Baltic States and Poland recently announced their withdrawal from the Ottawa Treaty.

Landmines come predominantly in two varieties - Anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines. Both types have caused harm to civilian populations and continue to kill and injure long after conflicts end.

• It is an international agreement that prohibits the use, developing, acquiring, retaining, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.
• It is also known as the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention or Mine Ban Treaty.
• Anti-personnel landmines definition - Designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person and that will incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons.
• Entered into force in – 1999.
• The convention is open to all nations.
• It requires states-parties to destroy their stockpiled APLs within 4 years and eliminate all APL holdings, including mines currently planted in the soil, within 10 years.
• Countries may request a renewable extension, which can be up to 10 years long, to fulfill their destruction obligations.
• States-parties are also required annually to report their total APL stockpiles, the technical characteristics of their APLs, the location of all mined areas, and the status of APL destruction programs.
• Member states – 164 States that have formally agreed to be bound by the Convention till 2022.
• The US, Russia, China and India are not party to the convention.
• Significant producers and users of anti-personnel mines - The United States, China, India, Pakistan, and Russia.

Reference

The Indian Express | Ottawa Convention