On 31st July 1998, the British Government announced a total ban on anti-personnel landmines, marking a significant step in the UK's commitment to international humanitarian law.
The legislation implemented the UK's obligations under the Ottawa Treaty, formally known as the Mine Ban Treaty, which prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.
The announcement came just one month before the first anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, whose campaign against the devastating humanitarian impact of landmines had brought worldwide attention to the issue.
In January 1997, Princess Diana travelled to Angola with the charity HALO Trust, where images of her walking through a cleared minefield highlighted the dangers posed by unexploded landmines to civilians long after conflicts had ended. Later that year, she also visited Bosnia to raise awareness of the continuing threat.
Following her death in August 1997, many campaigners called for governments to continue the work she had championed. The UK became one of the early countries to ratify the Ottawa Treaty, with Parliament passing legislation to prohibit anti-personnel landmines.
The Landmines Act 1998 made it a criminal offence in the United Kingdom to use, produce, acquire, possess or transfer anti-personnel landmines, with only limited exceptions for authorised training in mine detection and clearance.
Today, more than 160 countries have joined the Mine Ban Treaty, although several states have not become parties to the agreement, and anti-personnel landmines continue to be used in some conflicts around the world.
The UK's decision remains a significant milestone in its humanitarian and defence policy, reflecting an international effort to reduce the long-term impact of landmines on civilian populations.