Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran
A/HRC/28/70 para 90
Full recommendation:
The Government should also expedite the removal of landmines and explosives that continue to
pose a threat to the lives and security of populations located in their vicinity, enhance provisions
for public education -- particularly for at risk children -- and ensure immediate and nondiscriminatory access to adequate medical treatment and pension programs for victims and their
families.
Assessment drafted using Impact Iran indicators1
During the 8-year war between Iraq and Iran, around 20 million anti-personnel landmines were
planted on approximately 16.200 square miles of land along the Iran-Iraq border. 30 years after
the end of the war, these landmines continue to claim lives as there hasn’t been a concerted effort
from the Iranian government to clear the border.2 By 2016, almost 10.000 Iranians had lost their
lives to landmine-related incidents in provinces such as Ilam, Kermanshah, Khuzestan, Kurdistan
and West Azerbaijan, all of which are areas with largely minority population.
Iran’s national report for third cycle of the Universal Periodic Reviw in 2019 mentions that the
Social Welfare Organization (SWO) has implemented a project on the prevention of disabilities
caused by mine explosions and other unexploded ammunition affecting around 2200000 people.3
Furthermore the government claims to have carried out 15,169 mine sweeping operations in
Khuzestan, Ilam, Kermanshah, Kurdistan and West Azerbaijan. The report also mentions the
establishment of an “International Mine-Sweeping Training Complex.4
Despite claims by the government that it is addressing the situation of landmines, Iranian
Kurdistan remains the most affected area of the country by landmines and undetonated
ammunitions. According to KMMK-G’s data from the beginning of 2020 until September of that
same year a total of 25 citizens were victims of landmine explosions; 8 Kurdish civilians
were killed and 17 were wounded due to landmines expositions and unexploded remnants
of the Iran-Iraq war.5
Recommendation Status:
This recommendation has NOT been implemented.
1 CCPR.9.1.S.3; CCPR.9.1.P.3; CCPR.9.1.O.3
2
Atlantic Council: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/iransource/landmine-survivors-feel-the-pinch-of-sanctions/
Iran’s National Report for the third cycle of the UPR 2019: https://undocs.org/A/HRC/WG.6/34/IRN/1
4
ibid
5
Kurdistan Human Rights – Geneva (KMMK-G) - Periodic Summary Report for the Attention of the OHCHR Desk and the UN
Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Kurdistan of Iran.
3