The Marshall Islands signed the Mine Ban Treaty in
Ottawa on 4 December 1997 but it has not yet ratified. While the Marshall
Islands voted for the 1996 and 1997 pro-ban UN General Assembly resolutions on
landmines, it was the only ban treaty signatory to abstain from voting on 1998's
resolution 53/L.33 supporting the ban treaty’s universalization,
ratification and First Meeting of States Parties. One possible reason for this
abstention and for the lack of ratification could be the close economic,
political and military dependence between the the Marshall Islands and
non-signatory, the United States, as defined by the Compact of Free Association.
The Marshall Islands is not believed to have ever produced, transferred,
stockpiled or used antipersonnel landmines. There are considerable quantities of
unexploded ordnance left over from World War Two when Japanese and American
forces fought over many of the islands.
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