In the 1990s, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) galvanised civil society organizations and national governments in an effort to ban the use of anti-personnel landmines. The International Committee of the Red Cross joined the movement, and the Canadian Red Cross was actively involved as well. 

The Canadian government of day decided to back the campaign and led the international negotiations, which led to the signing of the Ottawa Treaty in 1997, establishing a comprehensive ban and forbidding development, production, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. It also required the destruction of existing stockpiles and those still in the ground.

As a follow-up to the successful Treaty negotiations, and to keep the issue of the impact of landmines alive with youth across Canada, the Canadian Government launched the Youth Mine Action Ambassador Program, and the Canadian Red Cross was one of several national partners supporting the program.

Each year, Youth Ambassadors visited schools across Canada to give presentations and teach students about organizing a school or community-based event. Youth Ambassadors also participated in anniversary celebrations for the signing of the Ottawa Treaty on December 3 and the Regional Youth Conference for secondary and university aged students.

Despite all that has been accomplished since 1990, there are still more than 60 million landmines in the ground around the world and more work to be done.