Landmines & cluster munitions

Landmines and cluster munitions are indiscriminate weapons that continue to injure and kill civilians in countries all around the world.

These weapons can lie dormant for many years, claiming victims long after a conflict has ended. They are a significant cause of disability, instilling fear in whole communities, deepening poverty and acting as a lethal barrier to development. Over half of the world's countries are affected by contamination from landmines, cluster munitions and explosive remnants of war.

^{© John Rodsted}

About our work

Faced with the devastation caused by antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions, Handicap International soon realised that medical care alone would not be enough. We therefore made a commitment to work on all levels to help mine victims and their communities lead a normal life, as far as possible.

Victim assistance and prevention

We help survivors back into society through counselling, community activity, artificial limb fitting, physiotherapy, inclusive education, income generating activities and sport. We also try to prevent further accidents by carrying out bomb clearance and educating the local population about the dangers of landmines and cluster bombs.

However, our activities will have no long-term impact unless we tackle the cause of the problem. We will always provide support to survivors but our experience shows that banning these weapons is the only way forward.

A history of political action

Over the years, Handicap International has become one of the reference organisations on landmine and cluster bomb issues. Our organisation was was created in Thailand in 1982 as a response to landmine injuries suffered by Cambodian refugees. Soon, we realised that action needed to be taken at an international level to ban these horrific weapons.

Handicap International played a key role in founding the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, for which we were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, following the signing of the Mine Ban Treaty in 1997.

We are also a founding member of the Cluster Munition Coalition, and actively campaign in support of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which came into effect on 1st August 2010.

Handicap International is also a founder and co-ordinating member of Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor, which monitors these two international treaties and produces annual reports on their implementation.

Our awareness-raising on cluster munitions is supported by the European Union.