A Ban for All Seasons
| Published date | 01 June 1998 |
| Author | Lloyd Axworthy,Sarah Taylor |
| Date | 01 June 1998 |
| DOI | 10.1177/002070209805300201 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
LLOYD
AXWORTHY
&
SARAH
TAYLOR
A
ban
for
all
seasons
The
landmines
convention
and
its
implications
for
Canadian
diplomacy
THE
OTTAWA
PROCESS
ON
3-5
DECEMBER
1997
IN
OTTAWA,
representatives from
122
countries
signed
a
convention to eliminate
the
manufacture,
use,
and
export
of
anti-personnel
landmines.
Witnessing them
were
the
secre-
tary-general
of
the
United
Nations,
Canada's
prime
minister,
delegates
from
some
twenty
other
observer
countries, and
a
host
of
non-govern-
mental
organizations
(NGOs)
and humanitarian
groups.
As
the
number
of
signatories
mounted
to
unprecedented
levels,
many
other
countries indicated
that,
even
if
they
were
not
able
to
sign,
they
would
honour
the
protocols set
out
in
the
convention.
A
new
norm
in
international
disarmament
had
emerged.
In
addition,
the
gov-
ernments
and organizations
gathered
in
Ottawa
made
commitments
of
close
to
half
a
billion
dollars
U.S.
towards
implementing
the
con-
vention
in
areas
such
as
destruction
of
stockpiles,
de-mining,
and
assis-
tance
to
victims.
The
signature
of
the
convention
was
the
culmination
of
intensive
campaigning
by
civil
society
and
national
governments.
The
campaign
was
exceptional
in
terms
of
process, speed,
and
final goals.
A
unique
LloydAxworthy
is
the
Minister
for
Foreign
Affairs
and
Sarah
Taylor
is
a
Foreign
Service
Officer
and
Departmental
Assistant
to
the
Minister
ofForeign
Affairs
in
the
Department
ofForeign
Affairs
and
International
Trade,
Government
of
Canada.
When
personal
experiences
or
views
are
referred to
in
this
article,
they
are
those
of
the
Minister.
INTERNATIONAL
JOURNAL
Spring
1998
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