Fifteen Nobel Peace Laureates—including Jody Williams and the other women of the Nobel Women’s Initiative—today sent a letter to US President Barack Obama asking him to join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty.

This week the United States is participating as an observer in the Tenth Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty in Geneva, Switzerland.

“Most US allies have already banned antipersonnel landmines,” says Williams, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1997 for her work to bringing about the Mine Ban Treaty, also know as the ‘Ottawa Treaty’.  “Obama has the opportunity to do the right thing, and send the clear message to those countries that have yet to ban landmines that the use of this weapon is unacceptable, and brings suffering to communities around the world.”

The Mine Ban Treaty comprehensively bans antipersonnel mines, requires destruction of stockpiled mines within four years, and urges extensive programs to assist the victims of landmines.

Download the letter in PDF.

Read the full-text of the letter.

See the media release from Human Rights Watch.

Media – for more information, please contact:

Rachel Vincent, Nobel Women’s Initiative
+1 613-276-9030 or +1 613-569-8400, ext. 113
rvincent@nobelwomensinitiative.org