The convention banning anti-personnel mines: applying the lessons of Ottawa's past in order to meet the challenges of Ottawa's future

Abstract

What exactly are the key lessons that can be extracted from the establishment of the convention banning anti-personnel mines and how could they be recycled and applied to the ongoing implementation of the convention itself? Some lessons—like the importance of partnership and innovation—are part of the well used refrain of those who closely follow the work of the convention. But others—such as the centrality of state responsibility rather than a diffusion of state sovereignty—are sometimes forgotten. The states parties should continue to take advantage of all key lessons from the past. But what must be remembered by all actors in the process is that the convention contains obligations accepted by states parties to it, and thus the success or failure of the convention will ultimately be related to member states taking ownership of implementation.