Seminar on Alternatives to Using Live Anti-Personnel Mines Retained for Permitted Purposes

There are 64 States Parties that retain mines for permitted purposes. The number of mines retained range from a less than a dozen to the thousands. These States Parties are to inform annually – by 30 April through their Article 7 Reports – on the status and use of retained mines. In addition, they are to report on OAP Action 16 and are strongly encouraged to explore alternatives to using live mines for permitted purposes and report if applicable on Action 17.

While the effective implementation of Article 3 is an obligation under the Convention, matters related to retained mines have not been a priority of the States Parties. As such, reporting rates and information provided could be strengthened. Likewise, only a handful of States have adopted alternatives for permitted purposes and/or have reported on exploring alternatives.

The Convention President, Cambodia, which has been tasked with taking the lead on “any issue related to the pursuit of the Convention’s aims […] including on matters related to transparency regarding the exceptions contained in Article 3”, is keen to increase engagement with all 64 States Parties that retain antipersonnel mines for permitted purposes to foster dialogue and cooperation particularly on the road to the Siem Reap-Angkor Summit on a Mine-Free World.