LM Report 2000

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MARSHALL ISLANDS

The Marshall Islands signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 4 December 1997 but has not yet ratified. When UNICEF discussed ratification of the treaty with the President of the Marshall Islands, H.E. Kessai Note, he offered his “full support” for the treaty.^[1]

While the Marshall Islands voted for the 1996 and 1997 pro-ban UN General Assembly resolutions on landmines, it abstained on the vote on the 1998 and 1999 resolutions – the only ban treaty signatory to do so. One possible reason for this abstention and for the lack of ratification could be the close economic, political and military dependence between the Marshall Islands and non-signatory, the United States, as defined by the Compact of Free Association.

The Marshall Islands did not attend the First Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Maputo and it did not attend any of the intersessional meetings of the ban treaty, most likely due to resource constraints.

It is believed that the Marshall Islands has not ever produced, transferred, stockpiled or used AP mines, nor have they contributed any humanitarian aid to mine victims.

There are considerable quantities of UXO left over from World War II when Japanese and American forces fought over many of the islands.

[1] UNICEF, Report on the Pacific visit of Tun Channareth, International Campaign to Ban Landmines Ambassador, March 22-31, 2000, p. 10.