Why in the News?

NATO members including Poland, Finland, and the three Baltic states (Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania) have recently expressed intentions to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention.

About the Ottawa Convention

• The Ottawa Convention is an international treaty adopted in 1997 aimed at banning the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of anti-personnel mines.
• It is also known as the ‘Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty.’
• It specifically targets anti-personnel mines and EXCLUDES anti-vehicle mines, remote-controlled mines, and other types of munitions.
• Signatories: 165 countries had joined by March 2025.
  • But major powers like the United States, China, Russia, India, and Israel have not signed.
• Key Features: Signatories must destroy all stockpiled anti-personnel mines within 4 years of ratification, with some allowances for mines retained for training.

Objectives of the Treaty

• End Human Suffering: The primary goal is to end the human suffering caused by landmines.
• Prevent Civilian Casualties: It seeks to prevent civilian casualties, especially long after conflicts have ended.
• Rehabilitation and Restoration: The treaty also aims to assist in the rehabilitation of victims and the restoration of land previously mined for civilian use.

Significance of the Convention

• Victims’ Profile: According to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), more than 80% of mine victims are civilians.
• Convention Provisions: The convention includes provisions to assist victims, many of whom suffer permanent disabilities such as loss of limbs.

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