The United Nations Human Rights Council’s first resolution on landmines strongly endorses the long-standing international treaty prohibiting antipersonnel mines, stating “that everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.”
The resolution expressed the council’s concern that, “anti-personnel mines, including as remnants of conflict, continue to pose a grave threat to the full enjoyment of all human rights, including the rights to life, freedom of movement, health, education, work and adequate food, as well as the right to development, and affect civilians, civilian populations, personnel participating in humanitarian assistance efforts and peacekeeping operations, hindering rehabilitation and reconstruction programmes, impeding humanitarian access and inhibiting the voluntary and safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons.”
The resolution was adopted on April 4, 2025, the International Day for Mine Action and Mine Awareness.
The resolution directs the UN high commissioner for human rights to report on the impact of antipersonnel mines “on the enjoyment of all human rights, with particular emphasis on economic, social and cultural rights.” It sets up an interactive dialogue on landmines at the council’s 62nd session in the first half of 2026.