“A Shared Commitment for a Mine-Free World”: 

The 2009 Cartagena Declaration (Draft) 

 

18 August 2009 

 

We, the high representatives of States Parties to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, 
gathered in Cartagena, reaffirm our commitment to ending the suffering caused by anti-
personnel mines and achieving a world free of mines. Inspired by our collective 
achievements, we will strengthen our efforts to overcome the remaining challenges. 

 

We take pride in our collective achievements through partnerships and cooperation 

 

One-hundred-fifty-six States have joined the Convention and will never again use anti-
personnel mines. Efforts to promote universal adherence to the Convention and endeavours to 
convince other actors not to use anti-personnel mines are bearing fruit. We are proud that 
virtually all other States observe the global norm established by the Convention. 

 

The number of deaths and injuries caused by anti-personnel mines continues to fall. Survivors 
receive better care and increased efforts are made to promote and protect their human rights. 
We are proud of the survivors who overcome their trauma and injuries and participate 
actively in their communities and in the work of the Convention. 

 

We are proud that together we have destroyed more than 42 million anti-personnel mines 
from the stockpiles of XX countries, an effort that alone has saved millions of lives and 
limbs. 

 

Affected and other States work together in committing resources to clear contaminated land. 
New understanding of effective methods means more land can be used productively. We are 
proud of our contribution to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals through 
the clearance of landmines. 

 

We are proud of the partnership we have built between affected and other States, 
international organisations and civil society who continue to pursue together our common 
goal of a world free of mines and free from the suffering and hardship they cause. 

 

We are proud that the Convention has strengthened International Humanitarian Law and 
inspired the development of other instruments for the protection of civilians. 

 

We acknowledge that significant challenges remain 

 

We continue to be gravely concerned about the thousands of women, girls, boys and men 
maimed or killed by anti-personnel mines every year, and about the situation for all survivors 
who have the right to a life in dignity. We have confronted the serious challenge caused by 
three States Parties’ non-compliance with the obligation to destroy their stockpiled anti-
personnel mines. Clearance of mined areas has been too slow and too many States Parties 
have requested extensions of their 10 year deadlines. Resources are often insufficient or 
inefficiently used. People living in affected areas remain at risk and development is hindered. 
Some States outside the Convention and several armed non-state actors continue to use anti-
personnel mines. This is against the humanitarian objectives of the Convention and the global 
norm it establishes and this use must stop. 


 

Despite great efforts and much progress, we have still not been able to fulfil the promises we 
as States Parties to the Convention have made to survivors and to people living with the daily 
threat of being killed or maimed by anti-personnel mines. 

 

We are determined to do more to live up to our commitments. 

 

We reaffirm our commitment to ending the suffering caused by anti-personnel mines 

 

We will be guided by the humanitarian imperative that led to the Convention. 

 

We will ensure compliance with the legal obligations set out in the Convention as this 
remains the most important task in our work to end the suffering caused by anti-personnel 
mines. 

 

We will build our victim assistance efforts on the highest international standards to fulfil the 
rights and fundamental freedoms of survivors and other persons with disabilities. We will 
ensure their full and effective participation and inclusion in the social, cultural, economic and 
political life of their communities. 

 

We are determined to resolve without delay all cases of non-compliance with the obligation 
to destroy stockpiled anti-personnel mines, and to work diligently to prevent non-compliance 
in the future. 

 

We condemn the use of anti-personnel mines by any actor, 

 

We will identify, mobilise and use resources more effectively, based on needs determined 
through national priorities and through international and regional cooperation and assistance. 

 

We reaffirm our commitment to clearing all known mined areas as soon as possible and to 
working together to prevent undue delays so that fewer requests for extension are needed. 

 

We will ensure that all efforts to implement the Convention are sensitive to the age and 
gender of all those involved and reflect that the well-being of survivors and victims remains 
at the core of our efforts. 

 

We will identify synergies with other instruments of international humanitarian law and 
strengthen cooperation with international organisations and civil society in their 
implementation. 

 

We appeal to the world to join us in our shared commitment for a mine-free world.