Leaders from 76 non-governmental organizations have sent a letter to President Obama urging the U.S. to relinquish antipersonnel landmines and join the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty without further delay. The letter states that, "A decision to join the Mine Ban Treaty would vividly demonstrate your commitment to multilateralism, to global humanitarian endeavors, and to the protection of civilians from the ravages of war. It is a decision that would be lauded by the vast majority of the U.S. public and U.S. allies around the world."
The letter follows a request made by many of the same representatives in 2010 that the President ensure the landmine policy review announced by the White House in late 2009 is timely, inclusive, and aimed at speedy accession to the treaty.
