The Role of NGOs in the Ottawa Convention

In 2015, women, children, and civilians continue to die from anti-personnel landmines, some of which were laid decades ago. However, the number of new victims has been steadily declining since the adoption in 1997 of a treaty banning anti-personnel landmines. Testimonies from doctors, nurses, and first responders working on the ground in affected countries helped build an international movement against these weapons. The influence, at the forefront of this movement, of a coalition of NGOs bringing together humanitarian organizations was decisive in the Ottawa Process, which led to the adoption of a Convention for the Total Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines. Furthermore, NGOs play a vital role in monitoring and implementing this Convention, which has helped drastically-though not yet completely-reduce the number of new victims of antipersonnel mines.