In the course of 1991, several non-governmental organizations and individuals began simultaneously to discuss the necessity of coordinating initiatives and calls for a ban on antipersonnel landmines.

Handicap International, Human Rights Watch, Medico International, Mines Advisory Group, Physicians for Human Rights, and Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation came together in October 1992 to formalize the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL).

From the beginning, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines has defined itself as a flexible network of organizations that share common objectives.  The Campaign calls for an international ban on the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of antipersonnel landmines, and for increased international resources for humanitarian mine clearance and mine victim assistance program.

In 1993, the Campaign Steering Committee, consisting of the original six organizations, was formalized and the coordinator was recognized. As dozens of national campaigns formed and hundreds of organizations joined the Campaign, the Steering Committee was expanded in 1996 and 1997 to reflect the growth and diversity of the Campaign. New members included:

• Afghan Campaign to Ban Landmines,

• Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines,

• Kenyan Coalition Against Landmines,

• Rädda Barnen, and

• South African Campaign to Ban Landmines.

In 1998, the ten existing members of the Steering Committee, now renamed the Coordination Committee, were reconfirmed and the Committee was expanded to include:

• Association to Aid Refugees, Japan;

• Colombian Campaign Against Landmines;

• Inter-African Union of Human Rights;

• Landmine Survivors Network;

• Lutheran World Federation; and,

• Norwegian People's Aid.

Today, this network represents over 1,400 human rights, demining, humanitarian, children's, veterans', medical, development, arms control, religious, environmental, and women's groups, who work locally, nationally, regionally, and internationally to ban antipersonnel landmines.  In 1997, the ICBL and its coordinator, Jody Williams, received the Nobel Peace Prize

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