22nd Meeting of State Parties of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC)

Nearly three decades after the adoption of the Convention, anti-personnel mines continue to endanger lives, restrict access to essential services, and obstruct recovery in conflict-affected communities. 

According to the Landmine Monitor 2025, at least 6279 people were killed or injured in 2024, a 13% rise from the previous year, with civilians accounting for 90% of all victims across 52 affected countries and areas. Nearly half of the recorded casualties with age data were children, and victim-activated improvised landmines remained the leading cause of harm. These figures underscore the ongoing urgency of mine action and the critical importance of maintaining strong international norms against the use of anti-personnel mines. 

This underscores the importance of the Convention, and while it remains one of the most successful humanitarian disarmament treaties, with 166 States Parties committing to ban the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mines, it is currently under pressure. At this year’s meeting 5 states (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland) have formally initiated their withdrawal from the treaty. In addition, Ukraine has announced its intent to suspend its obligations under the Convention, citing the exceptional circumstances of ongoing war. These developments risk undermining decades of progress and set a dangerous precedent at a time when new use and persistent contamination continue to threaten civilian lives. 

DRC implements mine action activities across 12 countries, including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Myanmar, Sudan, and Ukraine. Across these operations, DRC conducts non-technical survey and clearance of landmines, and other explosive remnants of war to restore safe access to homes and release land to productive use and basic services. DRC also delivers explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) in communities, schools, and displacement settings to help spread awareness and supports survivors through rapid emergency response, referral pathways and cash vouchers to enable long-term rehabilitation. 

At this year’s 22nd Meeting of State Parties of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, from the 1st to 5th of December in Geneva, DRC participated to share its experience with national authorities, partners and donors, to ensure that the Convention remains strong and that the sector learns from each other to adapt to the complex operational realties in many affected countries. DRC’s delegation included regional experts from East Africa and Middle East, Victim Assistance specialists from Ukraine, and its Global Advisor on Housing, Land and Property.

Over the course of the week, DRC met with partners and donors and organised two side events focusing on the critical nexus between Housing, Land and Property (HLP) rights and mine action, as well as on victim assistance in Ukraine and Colombia. These sessions highlighted that the current context, whether in protracted or emergency conflict settings, demands from mine action actors to further explore partnerships and improve methodologies to maximize positive impact and effectiveness. In terms of HLP and mine action, the side event highlighted how inadequate attention to land tenure and ownership may fuel local tensions and undermine the intended humanitarian impact of clearance activities.

Barbara McCallin, Global HLP Advisor, presented emerging lessons from Ukraine, Yemen and Syria, demonstrating how systematic HLP due diligence, conducted prior to land release as part of Standard Operating Procedures, can reduce risks of inadvertent harm and strengthen the long-term outcomes of mine action on a path towards early recovery.

The discussion underscored the need for mine action organisations, HLP actors, communities, donors and national authorities to work more closely together and to integrate HLP considerations into their survey practices, improve monitoring and evaluation with appropriate indicators and potentially update International Mine Action Standards (IMAS). 

DRC’s participation at the 22nd Meeting of State Parties showcased DRCs comprehensive mine action work, from clearance to victim assistance, while emphasizing the importance of enhancing safety, access, and long-term recovery for affected communities. And it highlighted the need for DRC to advocate for continued commitments to the Convention – for the benefit of all displaced and conflict affected people.