Description and legal analysis of the three treaties (*) and the customary law applying to anti-vehicle and anti-personnel landmines. Emphasis is put on the latest of those treaties, which bans all anti-personnel landmines, and its drafts. Described is also the unique process leading to the coming into the existence of this treaty and the contribution of the NGOs thereto

"Protocol on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of mines", "Booby-traps and other devices of 10 October 1980", the "Amended protocol on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of mines", "Booby-traps and other devices of 3 May 1996" and the "Convention on the prohibition of the use", "Stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction" (Ottawa Treaty) of 18 September 1997