The Encyclopedia is a project of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights launched on 2 December 2013. The Enyclopedia aims to provide accurate, up-to-date information on weapons, the effects of their use, and their regulation under public international law, in a format that is accessible to non-specialists.
+ Find out moreA landmine is a munition designed to be detonated by the presence, proximity, or contact of a person or vehicle. According to Article 2(2) of the 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention:
"Mine" means a munition designed to be placed under, on or near the ground or other surface area and to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person or a vehicle.
In Article 2(1) of the same treaty an anti-personnel mine is defined as "a mine designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person and that will incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons." Specifically excluded from the definition are mines "designed to be detonated by the presence, proximity or contact of a vehicle as opposed to a person, that are equipped with anti-handling devices," An anti-vehicle mine is not formally defined under international law, but could thus be defined as a munition designed to be placed under, on or near the ground or other surface area and to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a vehicle as opposed to a person.
Last updated on: 30 November 2013