The global ban on antipersonnel landmines, designed to protect civilians, faces urgent challenges as countries withdraw from the treaty and new landmines are deployed. According to a recent report by Human Rights Watch, titled “Landmine Monitor 2025,” immediate action is necessary to counter these threats to civilian safety. The report outlines the status of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, which prohibits the use of antipersonnel mines, mandates the destruction of stockpiles, and requires assistance for victims.
Mark Hiznay, associate director of Crisis, Conflict, and Arms at Human Rights Watch and editor of “Landmine Monitor 2025,” emphasized the need for governments to condemn withdrawals from the treaty. “A strong response is vital not only for saving lives but also preserving respect for international humanitarian law and human rights law,” he stated.
The report highlights that antipersonnel mines indiscriminately kill and wound individuals. These mines can be deployed manually or dispersed from aircraft and drones. Until cleared, mined land poses ongoing risks, driving civilian displacement and obstructing humanitarian aid and agricultural efforts.
As of December 1, 2025, 166 countries have ratified the Mine Ban Treaty, with Marshall Islands and Tonga joining this year. However, five states, including Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Finland, and Poland, have initiated withdrawal processes, citing regional security concerns. These withdrawals will take effect six months after submission unless the states reconsider or engage in armed conflict during that time.
Significant concern has emerged regarding Ukraine’s announcement on July 21 that it would suspend its obligations under the treaty until the conclusion of its war with Russia. This suspension is deemed unlawful under the treaty, which maintains prohibitions during armed conflict. Objections to Ukraine’s suspension have been submitted to the United Nations by several states.
Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the use of antipersonnel mines has reportedly increased. Human Rights Watch documented that Russian forces have utilized modified commercial drones to disperse mines in populated areas, particularly around Kherson, resulting in numerous civilian casualties.
The report indicates growing evidence that Ukrainian forces have also employed antipersonnel mines, although the scale remains unclear. Following requests, Ukraine received antipersonnel mines from the United States in late 2024 and is purportedly producing mines for drone deployment.
New landmine usage has also been reported in Myanmar, Iran, and North Korea as of 2024 and early 2025. Reports from Thailand allege that Cambodian military forces placed antipersonnel mines along their border amid clashes in July 2025, a claim Cambodia has denied. Nonstate armed groups have employed landmines in at least 13 countries during the same period, particularly in regions like the Sahel, Colombia, and Pakistan.
“Landmine Monitor 2025” records at least 6,279 new casualties from landmines and explosive remnants of war across 52 countries in 2024, resulting in 1,945 fatalities. Civilians accounted for approximately 90 percent of casualties, with children representing 46 percent of cases where age data was available. Myanmar’s military actions led to the highest recorded casualties, with 2,029 incidents attributed to landmines or explosive remnants of war.
Syria reported the second-highest casualties, with 1,015 deaths or injuries in 2024. The report also highlighted the detrimental impact of extensive landmine contamination in the country, particularly affecting displaced individuals returning home after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government in December 2024.
Efforts to clear contaminated land are ongoing, with 1,115 kilometers cleared globally in 2024, nearly triple the amount cleared in the previous year. A total of 105,640 antipersonnel mines were destroyed during this period. Despite an overall increase in funding for mine action, largely directed towards Ukraine, international support for these efforts saw a decline of 5 percent in 2024. The United States remains the largest donor, although its contribution decreased by more than one-third compared to 2023.
Hiznay remarked on the importance of clearing contaminated areas, stating, “Clearing contaminated land is crucial to saving lives and allowing communities to regain access to their land and carry out their livelihoods.” He urged concerned states to ensure that all countries in need receive adequate clearance support.
The “Landmine Monitor 2025” is published by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, a coalition of nongovernmental organizations awarded the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize. Human Rights Watch co-founded the campaign in 1992 and plays a significant role in its reporting initiatives.
