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30.11.2015
Geneva, 30 November 2015 - The Fourteenth Meeting of the States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (14MSP), the single largest annual gathering of landmine experts and diplomats has kicked off at the UN in Geneva with the participation of Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium, Belgium's Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Vice-President of the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities among 800 other participants. The five-day international gathering involves the 162 States that have formally agreed to be bound by the Convention, as well as observer States such as China and the United States, and dozens of international and non-governmental organizations including landmine survivor networks. It is expected that during the week, 30 States Parties including some of the most mine-affected in the world, will report on their efforts to eradicate landmines from their territories and assist mine victims. In addition, five countries are expected to present updates on their efforts to destroy existing stockpiles. The landmark humanitarian and disarmament treaty seeks to end the suffering caused by landmines by banning their use, stockpiling, production and transfer, ensuring their destruction and assistance to mine victims everywhere. The Convention was adopted on 18 September 1997 and it entered into force on 1 March 1999. Together, the States Parties have destroyed over 47 million anti-personnel mines. For all communication and/or press-related questions please email the Convention's Implementation Support Unit: isu(at)apminebanconvention.org.
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