On November 19, 2007, Palau acceded to the Ottawa Treaty. The Constitution grants the Olbiil Era Kelulau (OEK) the power “to ratify treaties by a vote of a majority of the members of each house.”
According to the terms of the Treaty, each state that is a party to the treaty undertakes to never use or develop, produce, acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer anti-personnel mines. It should undertake to identify and destroy all anti-personnel mines under its jurisdiction or control. Each State also has the right to seek and receive assistance from other states, and in return required to provide assistance if is in a position to do so.
Each State is also required to report on the location of all mined areas under its jurisdiction, as well as the status of programs for the destruction of these anti-personnel mines. In addition, each State must take all legal, administrative and other measures to implement the terms of the treaty within its jurisdiction.
The Senate Committee report stated that Palau has already benefitted from its accession to this treaty. A non-profit organization, Cleared Ground Demining, which started its work on Palau last year, clearing and detonating some of the unexploded anti-personnel mines in Peleliu and Angaur, estimates that the country can be completely cleared within three to five years.
Unlike anti-tank mines, which are designed for use against vehicles, anti-personnel mines are designed to cause casualties to humans.
The Senate fully supports the adoption has made no amendments to this resolution.
