• Finland Joins Landmine Ban Treaty
    Jan 11, 2012

    Finland’s action to join the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines should spur the United States and others to get on board without delay. 

  • Landmine Treaty: Progress in Phnom Penh
    Dec 2, 2011
    The international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines is making strong progress toward its objective of a mine-free world, as a major meeting on landmines wrapped up in Phnom Penh. However, the United States’ review of its policy has regrettably entered its third year without conclusion.
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  • Landmines

    Antipersonnel landmines are indiscriminate weapons that have killed and maimed primarily civilians. The weapon cannot distinguish between a soldier during conflict and a civilian stumbling upon one even decades later. The 1997 Mine Ban Treaty comprehensively bans the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of antipersonnel mines, and requires states to destroy their stockpiles within four years and to clear all mined areas within 10 years. The treaty also contains provisions to assist landmine survivors and to support mine risk education programs. A total of 157 states have joined the Mine Ban Treaty and are making progress in achieving a mine-free world. Through its research and advocacy, Human Rights Watch is working to ensure that all states join the treaty and that its life-saving provisions are fully implemented.

    Take Action: Tell the United States that it's time to ban antipersonnel landmines and join the Mine Ban Treaty.

    Read more about which states have taken action to eliminate landmines in Landmine Monitor.

Reports

Landmines

  • Finland Joins Landmine Ban Treaty
    Jan 11, 2012

    Finland’s action to join the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines should spur the United States and others to get on board without delay. 

  • Landmine Treaty: Progress in Phnom Penh
    Dec 2, 2011
    The international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines is making strong progress toward its objective of a mine-free world, as a major meeting on landmines wrapped up in Phnom Penh. However, the United States’ review of its policy has regrettably entered its third year without conclusion.
  • Statement on Mine Ban Treaty Compliance Issues
    Dec 2, 2011

    Steve Goose, arms division director at Human Rights Watch and head of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) delegation, delivered a statement at the Mine Ban Treaty Eleventh Meeting of States Parties in Phnom Penh.   

  • Statement on Mine Ban Treaty Stockpile Destruction
    Dec 1, 2011
    Mark Hiznay, senior researcher in the arms division of Human Rights Watch, delivered a statement on stockpile destruction obligations under the Mine Ban Treaty at the Eleventh Meeting of States Parties in Phnom Penh.
  • Statement on the Mine Ban Treaty during the Eleventh Meeting of States Parties
    Nov 30, 2011

    Steve Goose, arms division director at Human Rights Watch and head of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) delegation, delivered a statement at the Mine Ban Treaty Eleventh Meeting of States Parties in Phnom Penh.  

  • Landmine Treaty: More Members, but Use Persists
    Nov 22, 2011

    The new use of landmines in a handful of countries threatens to undermine progress toward banning the weapons. The membership in the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines has expanded, however, to 158 countries.

  • Statement on Landmines Protocol of the Convention on Conventional Weapons
    Nov 11, 2011
    Steve Goose, director of the Arms division at Human Rights Watch and Chair of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) delivered a statement on Amended Protocol II of the Convention on Conventional Weapons at the 13th Annual Conference of Amended Protocol II in Geneva.
  • ICBL publicly condemns reports of Syrian forces laying mines
    Nov 2, 2011

    The Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) is highly disturbed by reports that Syrian government forces have laid antipersonnel mines along the Lebanese border. The ICBL condemns all use of this inhumane weapon.

  • Libya: Secure Unguarded Arms Depots
    Sep 9, 2011

    The National Transitional Council (NTC), the de facto authority that controls most of Libya, should take immediate steps to secure and guard weapons storage facilities in the areas under its control.

  • Landmines in Libya: Technical Briefing Note
    Jul 19, 2011
    This briefing note looks at the threat posed to civilians, including deminers, from landmines used in the current conflict between forces of Muammar Gaddafi and opposition rebels.
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