G8 Research Group. Team Canada Compliance Study

NON-PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS (LAND MINES)

�We call upon states to spare no effort in securing a global ban on the scourge represented by the proliferation and the indiscriminate use of anti-personnel land mines and welcome the moratoria and bans already adopted by a number of countries on the production, use and export of these weapons, unilateral reductions in stockpiles as well as initiatives to address this urgent problem." (3)

COMPLIANCE GRADING: +1

October 2, 1996 Douglas Young, Minister of National Defence personally assisted in the destruction of over 700 mines at the Canadian Forces Ammunition Depot. Since then, 60,000 mines have been destroyed (2/3 of the stockpile) and the remaining 1/3 will be destroyed upon the global anti-personnel mine ban

From October 3-5, 1996, Axworthy hosted an International Strategy Conference for a Global Plan of Action in Ottawa, towards a Global Ban on Anti- personnel (AP) mines -- DFAIT and Mines Action Canada
RESULT: 50 States met and pledged to work together (the Ottawa Group), regionally and globally, for a total ban on (AP) mines

ACTION PLAN 1997: the Ottawa Action Plan integrates efforts for a ban with a commitment to increase resources for assistance to mine victims, mine awareness, and mine clearance operations.
1) the promotion of a resolution being prepared for the UN General Assembly calling on all states to end the use of anti-personnel mines and to begin negotiations to outlaw them, regional and national initiatives to prohibit and eliminate land mines and ten follow up meetings to deal with various aspects of the problem.
2) Commitment to work together and support for UNGA 51 resolution on the implementation of national bans and prohibitions [as of February 1997 - 156 countries have committed themselves to the UNGA 51]
3) Regional seminars are currently underway on prohibition of AP mines.
4) until universal ban is signed, the Ottawa Group pledges to encourage universal adherence tot he current prohibitions as contained in the amended Protocol II of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

From this meeting, Axworthy invited all States to come to Ottawa in 1997 December to sign a new treaty completely outlawing these weapons (Subsequently, Axworthy has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize as a result of his decisive action on the banishment of anti-personnel landmines)
Ottawa follow-up conference - 24-27 June 1997 Brussels, Belgium � with the mandate of assessing progress made since the Ottawa Group met, initiating negotiations on a text of a legally binding ban, and starting the process of acquiring signatures

DOMESTIC:

Canada exercises leadership in the pursuit of a global ban, and as part of this role, the Canadian Forces and Department of National Defence counter the threats posed by AP mines
1) DND continues to take steps to strengthen its demining capabilities -- detection, information gathering and sharing, coordination, training programs
2) Canadian Forces announced the start of a new $27 million project on a comprehensive land mine detection system -- to be completed by late 1998
3) Canadian forces continue to: participate in post-conflict demining operations - Cambodia, former Yugoslavia, Kuwait, Rwanda; provide mine awareness programs; return the displaced by clearing access and supply routes; participate in mine clearing operations

January 1997 -- Axworthy opens a one-day Canadian conference on Humanitarian Demining and Landmine Victim Assistance in Winnipeg
January 1997 -- Axworthy and Boudria announce new Canadian measures to support demining activities in Angola and Cambodia

February 1997 -- DFAIT produced its first AP Mine Ban: Progress Report -- the purpose is to keep the international community up to date with international progress towards an AP mine ban. A second report was released in April 1997, addressing the upcoming Brussels conference

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Compliance Study: Canada

NON-PROLIFERATION OF WEAPONS (LAND MINES)