March 1 marks the 12th anniversary of the 1999 entry into force of the Mine Ban Treaty, which seeks to eliminate the use of one of the most destructive and indiscriminate weapons of war. It has been over a year since the Barack Obama administration began a comprehensive review of its landmines policy. During those months, U.S. and international leaders have made a clear case that now is the time for the United States to join with the global consensus and accede to the treaty.
ACA's Deputy Director Jeff Abramson outlines the growing support and strong case for why the United States should the treaty in a new Issue Brief, "Mine Ban Treaty: Time for a Positive U.S. Decision," now online.
As part of the Mine Ban Treaty anniversary celebrations, during the month of March campaigners from the Nobel Peace Prize recipient International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) will be meeting with U.S. government officials at U.S. embassies around the world to urge the United States to accede to the Mine Ban Treaty.
On March 1, a reception and panel discussion on U.S. policy will be held at Georgetown University featuring Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate (1997); Ken Rutherford, Director of the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery, James Madison University; and Steve Goose, chair of the ICBL and Executive Director of the Arms Division at Human Rights Watch. The event is open to the public; details and RSVP form can be found at www.uscbl.org.