FIGHTING LANDMINES

The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (the "Ottawa Convention") was concluded by the Diplomatic Conference on an International Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Land Mines at Oslo on 18 September 1997. In accordance with its Article 15, the Convention was opened for signature at Ottawa, Canada, by all States from 3 December 1997 until 4 December 1997, and remained open thereafter at United Nations Headquarters in New York until its entry into force.

By resolution 52/38/A, the General Assembly of the United Nations welcomed the conclusion of the Convention at Oslo and requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations to render the necessary assistance and to provide such services as may be needed to fulfil the tasks entrusted to him. Article 21 designates the United Nations Secretary-General as depositary of the Convention.

Entry into Force

In accordance with its Article 17 (1), the Convention entered into force on 1 March 1999, six months after the deposit of the fortieth instrument of ratification, approval or accession. Article 17 (2) stipulates that the Convention enters into force for each individual State six months after that State’s deposit of the relevant instrument.

Signatures and Instruments of Ratification

The following list of 135 States includes 133 States that have signed the Convention as of 21 April 1999, and two States that have acceded to it (Equatorial Guinea and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia). Seventy-four States (indicated by an *) have deposited instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession to date. Fifty-five of those States (indicated in bold) will be Parties to the Convention as of 3 May 1999, the opening date of the First Meeting of States Parties at Maputo.

Albania, Algeria, Andorra*, Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia*, Austria*, Bahamas*, Bangladesh, Barbados*, Belgium*, Belize*, Benin*, Bolivia*, Bosnia and Herzegovina*, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria*, Burkina Faso*, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada*, Cape Verde, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Cook Islands, Costa Rica*, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia*, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark*, Djibouti*, Dominica*, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador*, Equatorial Guinea*, Ethiopia, Fiji*, France*, Gabon, Gambia, Germany*, Ghana, Greece, Grenada*, Guatemala*, Guinea*, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Holy See*, Honduras*, Hungary*, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland*, Italy, Jamaica*, Japan*, Jordan*, Kenya, Lesotho*, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar, Malawi*, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali*, Malta, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mauritius*, Mexico*, Monaco*, Mozambique*, Namibia*, Netherlands*, New Zealand*, Nicaragua*, Niger*, Niue*, Norway*, Panama*, Paraguay*, Peru*, Philippines, Poland, Portugal*, Qatar*, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis*, Saint Lucia*, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa*, San Marino*, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal*, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Slovakia*, Slovenia*, Solomon Islands*, South Africa*, Spain*, Sudan, Suriname, Swaziland*, Sweden*, Switzerland*, Thailand*, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago*, Tunisia, Turkmenistan*, Uganda*, Ukraine, United Kingdom*, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Vanuatu, Venezuela*, Yemen*, Zambia, Zimbabwe*

(DPI/2030)