In September 1997, States meeting in Oslo adopted a new international legal instrument, the Convention on the Prohibition on the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. Hailed as a breakthrough after the failure of negotiations held within the auspices of the United Nations to agree on a total ban on anti-personnel mines, the Convention entered into force in record time and has already attracted more than 125 parties. Generally regarded as a hybrid of arms control and humanitarian law, it marked the culmination of many years of energetic campaigning by hundreds of organizations worldwide. Yet some of its core provisions remain the subject of contention, and major military powers remain outside its purview. In addition to offering a comprehensive interpretation of the Convention's provisions article by article, this commentary describes the development and use of anti-personnel mines, assesses their military utility, and reviews the legal antecedents to the Convention as well as the unusual negotiating process that resulted in its adoption. An overview of the principles of treaty interpretation is provided for non-specialists, and extensive source material, including the various drafts of the Convention, are included as appendixes.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has played a key role in the effort to ban anti-personnel landmines and in offering aid to victims of war and internal armed violence. This book provides an overview of the work of the ICRC in this area from 1955 through 1999, and gives additional commentary on general issues of the methods and means of warfare. It contains International Committee of the Red Cross position papers, working papers, and speeches made by its representatives to the international meetings convened to address the mines issue, including the 1995-96 Review Conference of the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and the diplomatic meeting which adopted the Ottawa treaty banning anti-personnel mines. These documents provide critical insights into the development of international humanitarian law on this issue, and will form a basis for discussions on landmines and other conventional weapons.

The International Committee of the Red Cross has played a key role in the effort to ban anti-personnel landmines. This book provides an overview of the work of the ICRC concerning landmines from 1955 through 1999. It contains International Committee of the Red Cross position papers, working papers, and speeches made by its representatives to the international meetings convened to address the mines issue, including the 1995SH96 Review Conference of the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and the diplomatic meeting that adopted the Ottawa treaty banning anti-personnel mines.