What is the International Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (APMBC)?

The International Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (APMBC) is a treaty that was designed to reduce the effects of landmines. This treaty was signed in Washington in 1997. The treaty prohibits the use of anti-personnel mines (APMs) and requires parties to destroy any existing stockpiles within four years of the treaty coming into effect. In addition, it also prohibits the production and transfer of APMs. The treaty encourages state parties to assist victims of landmine use, as well as any other persons affected by APMs. It also requires signatory states to take action to reduce the risk of mines that are still in the ground, such as marking known minefields to help protect people from accidental detonation. The APMBC has been widely praised for its work in helping to reduce the number of landmine-related injuries and fatalities. It has also helped to reduce the number of landmines in circulation and has encouraged greater cooperation between states in terms of landmine removal and destruction. To date, over 160 states have signed the APMBC, making it one of the most widely-signed international treaties in history. Its success has led to other international conventions being signed, such as the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) which prohibits the use of cluster bombs.

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What is the International Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (APMBC)?

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