In this article, the phenomenon of anti-personnel mines as a form of weaponry that poses a particular humanitarian threat is examined. Based on an analysis of international conventions, statistical data, and historical evidence, a comprehensive picture of the impact of this weapon on the civilian population is reconstructed, along with the international community's efforts to ban it and current trends related to the withdrawal of several states from the Ottawa Convention. Particular attention is given to defining anti-personnel mines, their classification, history of use, and the current status of the issue.