Background information on MOTAPM

What are MOTAPM?

Mines other than anti-personnel mines (MOTAPM) refers to anti-vehicle mines. Unlike anti-personnel mines, this type of mine is activated by a vehicle driving over it, rather than a person stepping on it. MOTAPM includes anti-tank mines.

Background on MOTAPM within the CCW

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High level statements on MOTAPM

At the beginning of the 2012 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the CCW, the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon stated:

"First, in my last report to the Security Council on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, I welcomed the work carried out on anti-vehicle mines this year under the aegis of the Convention. I strongly urge High Contracting Parties to continue to explore all possible avenues for ensuring that these weapons no longer harm civilians, impede the delivery of humanitarian aid or obstruct social and economic development. In doing so, I encourage Parties to consider the views and field experiences of United Nations entities."

The Report of the Secretary-General on the protection of civilians in armed conflict is attached here

Attached here is an article on MOTAPM by the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, Mr. Kassym-Jomart Takoyev.

MOTAPM documents from previous CCW Meetings:


Meeting of Experts on MOTAPM, 2-4 April 2012

The Meeting of Experts on mines other than anti-personnel mines (MOTAPM) took place from 2 to 4 April 2012 in Geneva. It was chaired by Colonel Jim Burke of Ireland who served as Friend of the Chair on MOTAPM.

The Fourth Review Conference agreed on the following mandate for the Meeting of Experts:

Decide to convene an open-ended meeting of experts, under the overall responsibility of the Chairperson-designate of the 2012 Meeting of High Contracting Parties to the Convention, of three days in 2012 to discuss further the implementation of international humanitarian law with regard to mines other than anti-personnel mines, and to submit a report to the 2012 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention.

The following documents were prepared for the Meeting of Experts:

• Programme of Work
• Letter from Mr. Jesus S. Domingo, Chair of the 2012 CCW Meeting of States Parties and Food-for-Thought paper on MOTAPM
• Letter from Lieutenant Colonel Jim Burke, Friend of the Chair on MOTAPM, on the preparations for the Meeting of Experts
• Background presentation on MOTAPM by Mr. Peter Kolarov, UNODA

The following documents are presentations which were made during the meeting:
On the 'Current status of international humanitarian law':

• Paper prepared by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) titled 'Rules of international humanitarian law applicable to AVMs'
• Presentation prepared by the ICRC titled 'AV Mines: IHL Rules and Challenges'

On the 'Humanitarian impact of MOTAPM use':

• Brief by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining on MOTAPM
• Presentation by UNMAS on behalf of the UN Mine Action Team - The use of mines other than anti personnel mines (MOTAPM) Case Study - South Sudan
• Statement by the ICRC on the Humanitarian Impact of MOTAPM

On the 'Possible measures to address the humanitarian impact of MOTAPM':

• Presentation by the United States of America on Mine Alternatives
• Non-paper by Australia titled 'Understanding Detectability'
• Presentation by France on 'Doctrine on technical improvements from the French point of view'
• Presentation by Colombia on measures to address MOTAPM and non-state actors
• Presentation by Geneva Call on MOTAPM and armed non-state actors

Fourth Review Conference, 14-25 November 2011


Third Review Conference, 7-17 November 2006


GGE Fifteenth Session, 28 August-6 September 2006


GGE Thirteenth Session, 6-10 March 2006








GGE Twelfth Session, 14-22 November 2005


GGE Eleventh Session, 2-12 August 2005


GGE Tenth Session, 7-11 March 2005


GGE Ninth Session, 8-16 November 2004


GGE Eighth Session, 5-16 July 2004


GGE Seventh Session, 8-12 March 2004






GGE Sixth Session, 17-24 November 2003


GGE Fifth Session, 16-27 June 2003


GGE Fourth Session, 10-14 March 2003


GGE Third Session, 2-10 December 2002


GGE Second Session, 15-26 July 2002


GGE First Session, 21-24 May 2002


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