The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Jody Williams, has said partnership between campaign groups and governments creates a new type of superpower.

Ms Williams said the real prize for her and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, which receives the award with her, was the Ottawa treaty a week ago.

"Together we have given the world the possibility of one day living on a truly mine-free planet," she said in her acceptance speech in Oslo, Norway.

She added: "It is amazing. It is historic. It proves that civil society and governments do not have to see themselves as adversaries.

"It demonstrates that small and middle powers can work together with civil society and address humanitarian concerns with breathtaking speed."

Around 100 million mines still lie below the ground in 60 countries

While expressing some reservations about the Ottawa treaty, she said her aim now is to get 40 countries to ratify it in order to make it binding under international law.

She said: "Landmines distinguish themselves because once they have been sown, once the soldier walks away from the weapon, the landmine cannot tell the difference between a soldier or a civilian, a woman, a child, a grandmother going out to collect firewood to make the family meal.

"The landmine is eternally prepared to take victims."

In his introductory speech Francis Sejersted, head of the five-member Nobel Committee, said: "We know that the largest part of the task still lies ahead.

"It is a paradox that what we find inside landmines is (Alfred) Nobel's brilliant invention, dynamite."

He added: "There have not been many women among the laureates and no doubt there should have been more."

Ms Williams the International Campaign to Ban Landmines receive their Nobel prize just one week after 122 nations signed a treaty outlawing the production of landmines in Ottawa, Canada.

Ms Williams said before the Nobel ceremony she remains hopeful of getting the United States to sign up.

"It's difficult for the United States but they will feel the pressure to do the right thing. We don't want them as the enemy," Ms Williams, who is an American, said.

"Sooner or later they will come on board," she added.

A Cambodian landmine victim, Tun Channareth, who lost both his legs in an explosion, accepted the award on behalf of the ICBL.

Nine other Nobel prizes are being presented are being presented at the Oslo ceremony.

The winner of the literature award is the Italian playwright, Dario Fo, who wrote The Accidental Death of an Anarchist.

Each of the Nobel prizes, which are always given on the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, is worth about $1m.
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©