Our Commitment
The Mine Ban Treaty has turned the vision of a mine-free world into a reality we can achieve in our lifetime. In an unprecedented fashion, it provided a comprehensive solution to a dire humanitarian problem, by prohibiting further use of antipersonnel landmines, requiring destruction of stocks, requiring mines to be cleared from the ground, and providing assistance to victims. It gave birth to a new kind of diplomacy wherein humanitarian issues are addressed effectively through the partnership of like-minded states, civil society, the United Nations and the ICRC. We saw this partnership in action again with the Oslo Process that led to the incredible adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which will soon enter into force.
This partnership has yielded tangible results and characterized the true spirit of the treaty over the years, even when all views did not converge in the same direction. Partnership is a unique feature of this treaty and should remain the heart of our work.
Achieving a mine-free world in our lifetime is "mission possible", as ten years of treaty implementation have demonstrated. We are not there yet, however, and the Cartagena Summit provides the perspective and impetus we need to travel the next leg of the journey.
The Summit is an opportunity to show our collective efforts are continuing at full pace, and to pledge new steps to take. This conference should be a signal to the world that the landmine problem is not solved and needs the continued energy of all actors until the treaty's promises are ful?lled. Let's reaf?rm our shared commitment to continue working strategically together in partnership to ensure the treaty lives up to the expectations it raised.
It is not often that states have an opportunity to achieve victory on an important humanitarian issue. This opportunity must not be missed and should inspire us all - even if the work ahead is still long and dif?cult. We owe this to survivors who have been expecting, and campaigning for, a better life since the treaty came into being. We owe this to communities living in mine-affected areas, waiting to use their land again without fear.
Together, we will demonstrate that the model we have created can ful?ll its promise to make the world safer. By doing so we will give even more credit to this model, and encourage its application for other humanitarian disarmament issues, such as cluster munitions, small arms, or even nuclear weapons.
The ICBL is committed to work until the job is done, and to ?nd the best way, in partnership with governments, the United Nations, the ICRC and other partners, to ensure the voice and action of civil society worldwide remain strong and heard.