Antipersonnel Landmines: 25 Years Without Them

Abstract

During their short history, the antipersonnel landmines always were significant component of the fights of armed  combat. However, after wars and conflicts they remained  hidden in huge numbers on former theatres of operation  and annually cause serious or lethal wounds to several  thousand civilian people. On the way to ban military  employment of antipersonnel landmines, the final  declaration accepted in Ottawa 25 years ago may be  considered as the first really significant milestone. In  connection with this anniversary, the authors highlight the  main features of the antipersonnel mines, look back on the  main events of last decades and introduce the efforts for  changing the actual landmine conditions.