Between 3 and 4 December 1997, 122 governments signed theConvention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and On Their Destruction, marking the first time in history that die international community banned a weapon that is already in widespread use.Tens of millions of landmines are emplaced in about 70 nations. Another 100–200 million anti-personnel landmines are believed to be in the arsenals of more than 100 governments. Although militaries around the world have used antipersonnel landmines for decades, this treaty banning the weapon was proposed, developed, negotiated and signed in record time in recognition of the humanitarian imperative ‘to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines mat kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians and especially children, obstruct economic development and reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation of refugees and internally displaced persons, and have other severe consequences for years after emplacement’.
