History
Over fifteen years ago, civil society raised awareness about the suffering of survivors and communities living in areas affected by explosive remnants of war – specifically minefields – and started calling for a ban on antipersonnel landmines. Civil society also raised awareness about the severe humanitarian impact of cluster bombs on civilians, both during and after strikes, and called for a ban which was a key catalyst to the recent Oslo Process against cluster munitions.
A chronological snapshot of Canada and the ban landmine movement from 1994-present
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The Convention on Cluster Munitions enters into force as binding international law on 1 August. Campaigners around the world celebrate through drumming ceremonies. A few months later in November, the first Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions takes place in Vientiane, Laos. This is highly symbolic as Laos is widely regarded to be the most cluster bomb contaminated country in the world. MAC organizes a Youth Leaders' Forum in which youth develop the Vientiane Youth Action Plan, a more detailed and achievable version of the earlier youth action plan from Cartagena. |
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2009
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States gather in Cartagena, Colombia for the Second Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention. This Summit takes place in November and produces a five year action plan for implementation of the Convention. MAC organizes a Youth Leaders Forum in which young activists create their own action plan for continued involvement.
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2008
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The Convention on Cluster Munitions is first negotiated in Dublin, Ireland
Canada signs another historic treaty in Oslo, Norway – the Convention on Cluster Munitions
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2006
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Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War enters into force
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2005
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MAC takes over as lead agency for production of the annual Landmine Monitor report
MAC also was a partner in the research and production of the Global Impact Survey, the first in-depth study on the socio-economic impact of ERW on civilians
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2004
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The Nairobi Summit on a Mine-Free World, the First Review Conference of the Ottawa Convention, is held in Nairobi, Kenya
YPIMAP is launched with support from CIDA and Foreign Affairs Canada
MAC launches its volunteer, international youth capacity building program, the Youth Leadership, Education and Action Program (Youth LEAP)
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2003
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MAC is part of the launching of the Cluster Munition Coalition, a new international coalition to help deal with the severe humanitarian impacts of cluster munitions and other explosive remnants of war (ERW)
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2002
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Announcement that the Canadian Landmine Fund will be renewed for $72 million over 5 years during MAC's 'Without Reservation' international symposium in Ottawa
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2000
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Star-studded 'Landmine Free World' concert in Ottawa to raise public awareness
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1999
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The Ottawa Convention becomes international law
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1998
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The Youth Mine Action Ambassador Program (YMAAP) public outreach program is launched nationally (inactive since 2005) in partnership with Foreign Affairs Canada and the Canadian Red Cross MAC’s technology competition, the Canadian Appropriate Technology in Mine Action Competition (CATIMAC), is launched
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1997
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The Ottawa Treaty banning landmines is signed in Ottawa by 122 countries. Concurrently civil society petitions, the Youth Against War Treaty and the People's Treaty, launch in support of the ban
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1996
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Hon. Lloyd Axworthy calls for the Ottawa Process to begin which will culminate in opening a treaty banning landmines for signatures in one year
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1994
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MAC's first meeting (as an ad-hoc landmine action group through the direction of Physicians for Global Survival)
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Historical Overview
For a detailed historical overview, download our Strategic Plan 2006-2010  and refer to section II. Organization Description - Overview on page 2.
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