United Nations Human Rights report has issued a stark warning over the continued global use and legacy of anti-personnel landmines, saying the weapons are still killing and injuring civilians decades after the adoption of international agreements meant to eliminate them.
UN Human Rights Office noted that the persistent contamination of conflict-affected territories with landmines and explosive remnants of war, calling on states to strengthen compliance with international law and urgently expand support for survivors and affected communities.
According to the findings, at least 58 states and territories remained contaminated by anti-personnel mines in 2025, while millions of such devices are believed to still exist in national stockpiles worldwide.
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk noted that despite widespread international commitments, the use and impact of landmines continue to be felt most acutely by civilians long after active conflicts end.
“It is deeply troubling that almost 30 years since the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty was adopted, these explosive weapons continue to kill and injure people often decades after they were placed.”
Volker Türk
He warned that the long-term consequences of landmine injuries extend far beyond immediate physical harm, often placing severe social and economic burdens on families. “When breadwinners are injured, this often leaves women shouldering the burden of caregiving on their own,” he added.
The report estimates that in 2024 alone, at least 1,945 people were killed and 4,325 others were injured by landmines and explosive remnants of war. The highest numbers of casualties were recorded in Myanmar, Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine, Nigeria, Mali, Yemen and Burkina Faso countries where ongoing or recent conflicts continue to leave civilian populations exposed to explosive hazards.
One of the most alarming findings is the disproportionate impact on civilians. The report states that approximately 90 percent of all recorded casualties are civilians, with children making up more than 40 percent of civilian victims since 1999.
The Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, commonly known as the Ottawa Convention, currently has 162 states parties. However, the UN notes that several countries remain outside the treaty, including some major military powers that maintain significant stockpiles of anti-personnel mines.
In recent developments, five European states Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland have withdrawn from the treaty, while Ukraine, though still formally a state party, has indicated suspension of its implementation.
The report stresses that landmines do not only cause immediate casualties but also have long-term humanitarian and developmental consequences. Survivors often face amputations, eye injuries, hearing loss and lifelong disability, while communities remain unable to safely access farmland, roads, schools and essential services.
“Mine contamination renders areas no-go zones, which hampers enjoyment of a multitude of rights,” the report states, noting that blocked transportation routes can prevent humanitarian aid delivery and deepen food insecurity.
It adds that contaminated land often remains unusable for agriculture or economic activity for decades, slowing post-conflict recovery and reconstruction.
Mines placed close to schools directly endanger children and interfere with their access to learning surroundings, which has a serious negative impact on education as well.
UN cautions that these risks lead to protracted cycles of poverty and displacement in many conflict-affected areas.
UN Calls for Renewed Global Commitment and Increased Funding for Mine Clearance
UN High Commissioner Volker Türk has also called for urgent international action, urging states that have not yet joined the treaty to do so without delay and encouraging those that have withdrawn to reconsider their position.
“States that have not yet ratified the treaty should promptly do so and those that have withdrawn should quickly rejoin. States that are parties to it should adhere to its provisions in good faith.”
Volker Türk
Türk also praised Lebanon’s recent decision to join the Mine-Ban Convention, describing it as a significant step forward even in the context of ongoing regional security challenges.
In addition to legal obligations, the report identifies a widening financing gap in mine action initiatives across the globe. Over the previous seven years, contributions to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action have drastically decreased, from over USD 125 million to just USD 46 million in 2025.
The UN cautions that progress in mine clearance operations, victim assistance, and risk education programs is threatened by this reduction in funding, especially in nations where contamination is still pervasive and continuing.
In addition to advocating for better access to healthcare, rehabilitation, education, employment, and social protection for those impacted, Türk emphasised that helping survivors must continue to be a key component of global efforts.
“A central priority for States must be to ensure the rights of survivors and other affected individuals and communities to access healthcare, rehabilitation, education, employment and social security, while also promoting their full inclusion and participation in society.”
Volker Türk
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