Stuart Maslen

In 1997, many countries came together to pledge $500 million over five years to 'mine action' programmes to tackle the destruction caused by landmines. This book explores how effectively that money has been spent. Is the world a safer place as a result of the ban? Has international mine action been a success? What lessons have been learnt along the way? What are the challenges for the future? In short, what is the true extent of Princess Diana's legacy? Stuart Maslen assesses the effectiveness of mine awareness, mine clearance operations, victim assistance, international law and stockpile destruction. He outlines the global threat that mines present and the evolution of the mine action programme worldwide.

In 1997, many countries came together to pledge $500 million over five years to 'mine action' programmes to tackle the destruction caused by landmines. Is the world a safer place as a result of the ban? Has international mine action been a success? What lessons have been learnt along the way? What are the challenges for the future? In short, what is the true extent of Princess Diana's legacy? Stuart Maslen assesses the effectiveness of mine awareness, mine clearance operations, victim assistance, international law and stockpile destruction. He outlines the global threat that mines present and the evolution of the mine action programme worldwide.

In September 1997, States meeting in Oslo adopted a new international legal instrument, the Convention on the Prohibition on the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction. Hailed as a breakthrough after the failure of negotiations held within the auspices of the United Nations to agree on a total ban on anti-personnel mines, the Convention entered into force in record time and has already attracted more than 125 parties. Generally regarded as a hybrid of arms control and humanitarian law, it marked the culmination of many years of energetic campaigning by hundreds of organizations worldwide. Yet some of its core provisions remain the subject of contention, and major military powers remain outside its purview. In addition to offering a comprehensive interpretation of the Convention's provisions article by article, this commentary describes the development and use of anti-personnel mines, assesses their military utility, and reviews the legal antecedents to the Convention as well as the unusual negotiating process that resulted in its adoption. An overview of the principles of treaty interpretation is provided for non-specialists, and extensive source material, including the various drafts of the Convention, are included as appendixes.

Anti-Personnel Mines under Humanitarian Law: A View From the Vanishing Point considers in depth the various customary and conventional legal regimes applicable to the use of anti-personnel mines. All involved with the global effort to control and eliminate anti-personnel mines as well as the policy-makers who are concerned about the devastation resulting from the widespread deployment of these arbitrary weapons need to familiarize themselves with the information presented in this timely volume. Published under the Transnational Publishers imprint.