Landmines come in two varieties: anti-personnel and anti-vehicle
mines. Both have caused great suffering in the past decades.
Anti-personnel landmines are prohibited under the Convention on
the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer
of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction (or Mine Ban
Convention), adopted in 1997. More than 150 countries have
joined this treaty. Its positive impact includes a marked
reduction of casualties, an increased number of mine-free
States, destroyed stockpiles and improved assistance to victims.
The Secretary-General calls on all countries to also regulate
the use of anti-vehicle landmines. Such weapons continue to
cause many casualties, often civilian. They restrict the
movement of people and humanitarian aid, make land unsuitable
for cultivation, and deny citizens access to water, food, care
and trade.  Every day, people die or lose limbs from stepping on
a landmine. Mostly in countries at peace - and the majority of
victims are civilians. The Anti-pe