Verso l’universalizzazione della Convenzione di Ottawa: il ruolo delle Nazioni Unite e il ricorso alla Universal Periodic Review

Even though the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction entered into force 15 years ago, suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines are still a matter of concern. This article analyses the progresses of implementation of the Ottawa Convention and examines the obstacles that prevent the fulfilment of its universalisation. It argues that the International Community should adopt an extra-conventional mechanism, such as the Universal Periodic Review (UPR), to monitor Third States in order to ensure a de facto universal adherence to the Ottawa Convention. The authors analyse both the possibility to introduce the monitoring of the Ottawa Convention within the existing UPR and to establish a new UPR specifically focused on disarmament and International Humanitarian Law.