Ottawa Treaty

Quick Facts: Who was Ottawa Treaty?

Subject:

Ottawa Treaty

Known for:

Global treaty banning anti-personnel landmines (APLs) and mandating their destruction.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction of 1997, known informally as the Ottawa Treaty, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, or often simply the Mine Ban Treaty, aims at eliminating anti-personnel landmines (APLs) around the world. By August 2025, 162 states had ratified or acceded to the treaty. Major powers, which are also past and current manufacturers of landmines, are not parties to the treaty.

Career & Major Achievements

These include the United States, China, and Russia. Other non-signatories include India and Pakistan. In 2025, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Finland formally began the procedure to withdraw from the Ottawa Treaty.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The three Baltic States, Finland and Poland completed the withdrawal in December 2025, January 2026 and February 2026 respectively. Amidst use of mines by non-signatory belligerent Russia during the Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukraine has not followed the treaty and in 2025 also announced the intent to withdraw, though the treaty stipulates that it should remain in effect until the end of the conflict. 1939 Landmines are first used widely in World War II.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1939: 1939 Milestone — 1939 Landmines are first used widely in World War II.
2. 1997: 1997 Milestone — The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction of 1997, known informally as the Ottawa Treaty, the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, or often simply the Mine Ban Treaty, aims at eliminating anti-personnel landmines (APLs) around the world.
3. 2025: 2025 Milestone — By August 2025, 162 states had ratified or acceded to the treaty.

Notable Quotes by Ottawa Treaty

“The Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction of 1997 aims at eliminating anti-personnel landmines (APLs) around the world.” (1997)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Ottawa Treaty

True or False: “The Ottawa Treaty prohibits the use of anti-personnel landmines, but does it mandate the immediate destruction of all existing stockpiles globally?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the treaty strongly mandates the destruction of stockpiles, it acknowledges that the process is complex and requires continuous international cooperation and review mechanisms.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adriana Caselotti — Historical peer (Died in 1997) (1997): American actress and singer, famed for voicing Snow White in the first Disney feature.
• Ahn Sol-bin — Historical peer (Born in 1997) (1997): South Korean singer and actress, known for her work in the girl group Laboum.
• Alasdair MacIntyre — Historical peer (Died in 2025) (2025): Influential Scottish-American philosopher known for virtue ethics and political theory.
• Alfred Brendel — Historical peer (Died in 2025) (2025): Czech-born Austrian pianist, composer, and scholar renowned for Beethoven.
• Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi — Historical peer (Died in 2026) (2026): Yemeni politician who served as the second President of Yemen from 2012 to 2022.
• Abdullah Ibrahim — Historical peer (Died in 2026) (2026): Pianist and composer, considered the leading figure in the subgenre of Cape jazz.
• Ada Yonath — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Pioneering crystallographer known for elucidating the structure and function of the ribosome.
• Alan Ayckbourn — Historical peer (Born in 1939) (1939): Prolific British playwright and director known for domestic farce and ensemble pieces.

Frequently Asked Questions about Ottawa Treaty