The International Campaign to Ban Landmines (the ICBL)

What is the ICBL?

The ICBL is the world’s leading anti-landmine advocacy coalition. It is comprised of over 1400 human rights, mine clearance, humanitarian, children's, veterans', medical, development, arms control, religious, environmental, and women's groups from over 90 countries. The ICBL describes itself as a flexible network of organisations that share common objectives. You can visit the homepage of the ICBL.

The aims of the ICBL

The ICBL calls for

• An international ban on the use, production, stockpiling, sale, transfer, or export of antipersonnel landmines;
• Increased resources for de-mining operations;
• The signing, ratification, implementation and monitoring of the 1997 Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty;
• Increased resources for education and mine awareness programs;
• Greater resources for landmine victim rehabilitation and assistance.

The ICBL’s history

The history of the ICBL is a fascinating one. In 1991, several NGOs and individuals began to combine their efforts on landmine clearance and victim rehabilitation. Led by NGOs such as Handicap International and Human Rights Watch, the group formally came together in 1992. The ICBL was born.
The ICBL quickly grew to include other bodies working on landmine reduction. For example, in 1996 and 1997, new members included:

• Afghan Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines
• Kenyan Coalition Against Landmines
• South African Campaign to Ban Landmines.
The ICBL has grown to become the global coalition it is now. Its chief coordinator, Jody Williams has also spoken about the global problem of landmines at the United Nations, the European Parliament, and the Organization of African Unity.

The 1997 Nobel Peace Prize

In recognition for dramatically raising global public awareness about landmines and contributing greatly to the introduction of a landmines ban treaty, Williams and the ICBL were awarded the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize as co-recipients. It was a worthy recognition of the highest order for an incredible journey of humanitarian work.

‘There are those among us who are unswerving in their faith that things can be done to make our world a better, safer and more humane place and who also, even when the tasks appear overwhelming, have the courage to tackle them...You have helped to rouse public opinion all over the world against the use of an arms technology that strikes quite randomly at the most innocent and most defenceless’.

– Francis Sejersted; Chairman of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.