Moderator: 1 revision

2026-05-16T20:00:29Z

1 revision

InternetArchiveBot: Rescuing 2 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.2.7.1)

2016-11-30T08:49:26Z

Rescuing 2 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.2.7.1)

New page

{{Infobox treaty
| name = Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
| long_name = Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects
| image =
| image_width =
| caption =
| type =
| date_drafted = September 10–28, 1979 and September 15 – October 10, 1980
| date_signed = April 10, 1981
| location_signed =
| date_sealed =
| date_effective = {{start date|1983|12|2}}
| condition_effective = 20
| date_expiration =
| original_signatories = 50
| parties = 123<ref name="disarmament.un.org">[http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/ccwc United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs: ''Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects: Status of the Treaty'']</ref><br /><small>[[List of parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons|Complete List]]</small>
| depositor = [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|UN Secretary-General]]
| languages = Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish
| wikisource = Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
}}
The [[United Nations]] '''Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons''' ('''CCW''' or '''CCWC'''), concluded at [[Geneva]] on October 10, 1980, and entered into force in December 1983, seeks to prohibit or restrict the use of certain [[conventional weapon]]s which are considered excessively injurious or whose effects are indiscriminate. The full title is '''Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects'''. The convention covers [[landmines]], [[booby traps]], [[incendiary weapons]], blinding [[laser weapons]] and clearance of [[explosive remnants of war]].

==Objectives==
The aim of the Convention and its Protocols is to provide new rules for the protection of [[civilians]] from injury by weapons that are used in armed conflicts and also to protect [[combatant]]s from unnecessary suffering. The convention covers [[Fragmentation (weaponry)|fragments]] that are undetectable in the human body by [[X-ray]]s, [[landmines]] and [[booby trap]]s, and [[Incendiary ammunition|incendiary]] weapons, blinding [[laser weapons]] and the clearance of explosive remnants of war. Parties to the convention must take legislative and other actions to ensure compliance with the convention.<ref name="ICRC1980Factsheet">{{cite web | url=https://www.icrc.org/en/document/1980-convention-certain-conventional-weapons#.VKkpP2SG-rY | title=1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons – Factsheet | publisher=International Committee of the Red Cross | date=March 2014 | accessdate=4 January 2015}}</ref>

CCWC along with the [[Chemical Weapons Convention]] (CWC) serves as an umbrella for protocols dealing with specific weapons.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}} The Convention and its annexed Protocols apply in all types of armed conflict, both international and non-international. This was not the case when the convention was first adopted, but the scope was expanded by two conferences in 1996 and 2001. Some provisions also apply after open hostilities has ended, such as the rules in protocols II and V about minimizing the dangers from [[land mines|mines]] and other [[unexploded ordnance|ordnance]].<ref name="ICRC1980Factsheet"/>

CCWC lacks verification and enforcement mechanisms and spells out no formal process for resolving compliance concerns. A state-party can refute its commitment to the convention or any of the protocols, but it will remain legally bound until one year after notifying the treaty depositary, the UN Secretary-General, of its intent to be free of its obligations.{{citation needed|date=December 2014}}

==Adoption and entry into force==
The CCWC consist of a set of ''additional protocols'' first formulated on October 10, 1980, in Geneva and entered into force on December 2, 1983. As of the end of May 2016, there are 123 state parties to the convention.<ref name="disarmament.un.org"/> Some of those countries have only adopted some of the five protocols, with two being the minimum required to be considered a party.<ref name="ICRC Ratification kit">{{cite web | url=https://www.icrc.org/en/document/1980-convention-certain-conventional-weapons-and-its-protocols-ratification-kit#.VKkgXWSG-rY | title=1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons and its Protocols -Ratification kit | publisher=International Committee of the Red Cross | date=31 March 2004 | accessdate=4 January 2015}}</ref>

The convention has five protocols:
*Protocol I restricts weapons with non-detectable [[fragmentation (weapons)|fragments]]
*Protocol II restricts [[landmine]]s, [[booby traps]]
*Protocol III restricts [[incendiary weapon]]s
*Protocol IV restricts blinding [[laser#Lasers as weapons|laser weapons]] (adopted on October 13, 1995, in [[Vienna]])
*Protocol V sets out obligations and best practice for the clearance of explosive remnants of war, adopted on November 28, 2003, in Geneva<ref>http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld200304/ldhansrd/vo040105/text/40105w03.htm#40105w03_sbhd2</ref>

Protocol II was amended in 1996 (extending its scope of application), and entered in force on December 3, 1998. The amendment extended the restrictions on landmine use to internal conflicts; established reliability standards for [[remotely delivered mine]]s; and prohibited the use of non-detectable fragments in anti-personnel landmines (APL). The failure to agree to a total ban on landmines led to the [[Ottawa Treaty]].<ref name="Mathews2001">{{cite journal | url=https://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/article/other/57jrll.htm | title=The 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons: A useful framework despite earlier disappointments | author=Mathews, Robert J. | journal=International Review of the Red Cross |date=December 2001 | issue=844}}</ref>

==Protocol I: Non-Detectable Fragments==

Protocol I on Non-Detectable Fragments prohibits the use of any weapon the primary effect of which is to injure by fragments which are not detectable in human body by X-rays.<ref name="ICRC1980Factsheet"/><ref name="Prot1">{{cite web | url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/ccwc_p1/text | title=Protocol I to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects | publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs | accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref> The reason is that such fragments are difficult to remove and cause unnecessary suffering. The protocol applies when the "primary effect" is to injure by non-detectable fragments and does not prohibit all use of e.g. plastic in weapons design.<ref name="ICRC P1">{{cite web | url=https://www.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1_rul_rule79 | title=Rule 79. Weapons Primarily Injuring by Non-Detectable Fragments | publisher=International Committee of the Red Cross | accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref>

==Protocol II: Mines, Booby Traps and Other Devices==
{{main|Protocol on Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices}}
Protocol II on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices was amended on May 3, 1996, to strengthen its provisions and extend the scope of application to cover both international and internal [[armed conflicts]]. The protocol regulates, but does not ban, [[land mine]]s. It prohibits the use of non-detectable [[anti-personnel mine]]s and their transfer; prohibits the use of non-self-destructing and non-self-deactivating mines outside fenced, monitored and marked areas; prohibits directing mines and booby traps against civilians; requires parties to the conflict to remove mines and booby traps when the conflict ends; broadens obligations of protecting peacekeeping and other missions of the United Nations and its agencies; requires States to enforce compliance with its provisions within their jurisdiction; and calls for penal sanctions in case of violation.<ref name="ICRC1980Factsheet"/><ref name="Prot2">{{cite web | url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/ccwc_p2a/text | title=Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices as amended on 3 May 1996 | publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs. | accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref>

==Protocol III: Incendiary Weapons==
{{main|Protocol on Incendiary Weapons}}

Protocol III on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons prohibits, in all circumstances, making the civilian population as such, individual civilians or civilian objects, the object of attack by any weapon or munition which is primarily designed to set fire to objects or to cause burn injury to persons through the action of [[flame]], [[heat]] or a combination thereof, produced by a [[chemical reaction]] of a substance delivered on the target. The protocol also prohibits the use of air-delivered [[incendiary weapons]] against military targets within a concentration of civilians, and limits the use of incendiary weapons delivered by other means. Forest and other plants may not be a target unless they are used to conceal combatants or other military objectives.<ref name="ICRC1980Factsheet"/><ref name="ICRC P3">{{cite web | url=https://www.icrc.org/customary-ihl/eng/docs/v1_rul_rule84 | title=Rule 84. The Protection of Civilians and Civilian Objects from the Effects of Incendiary Weapons | publisher=International Committee of the Red Cross | accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref>
Protocol III lists certain munition types like [[smoke shell]]s which only have a secondary or additional incendiary effect; these munition types are not considered to be incendiary weapons.<ref name="Prot 3">{{cite web | url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/ccwc_p3/text | title=Protocol III to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects | publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs | accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref>

==Protocol IV: Blinding Laser Weapons==

{{main|Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons}}
Protocol IV on Blinding Laser Weapons prohibits the use of laser weapons specifically designed to cause permanent [[blindness]]. The parties to the protocol also agree to not transfer such weapons to any state or non-state entity.<ref name="ICRC1980Factsheet"/> The protocol does not prohibit laser systems where blinding is an incidental or collateral effect, but parties that agree to it must take all feasible precautions to avoid such effects.<ref name="Prot 4">{{cite web | url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/ccwc_p4/text | title=Additional Protocol to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects (Protocol IV, entitled Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons) | publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs | accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="WLE P3">{{cite web | url=http://www.weaponslaw.org/treaties/1995-protocol-on-blinding-laser-weapons | title=1995 Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons | publisher=Geneva Academy | work=Weapons Law Encyclopedia | date=23 June 2014 | accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref>

==Protocol V: Explosive Remnants of War==
{{main|Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War}}
Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War requires the clearance of [[UXO]] (unexploded ordnance), such as unexploded bomblets from [[cluster bomb]]s and abandoned [[explosive weapons]]. At the cessation of active hostilities, Protocol V establishes a responsibility on parties that have used [[explosive weapon]]s to assist with the clearance of [[unexploded ordnance]] that this use has created. Parties are also required, subject to certain qualifications, to provide information on their use of explosive weapons. Each party is responsible for the territory in their control after a conflict. The protocol doesn't apply to mines and other weapons covered by protocol II.<ref name="ICRC1980Factsheet"/><ref name="Prot 5">{{cite web | url=http://disarmament.un.org/treaties/t/ccwc_p5/text | title=Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects (Protocol V) | publisher=United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs | accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref> The protocol came about as a result of a growing awareness during the 1990s that the protection against unexploded ordnance was insufficient. The protocol was adopted in 2003 and entered into force in 2006.<ref name="ICRC P5">{{cite web | url=https://www.icrc.org/applic/ihl/ihl.nsf/Treaty.xsp?documentId=22EFA0C23F4AAC69C1256E280052A81F&action=openDocument | title=Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V to the 1980 CCW Convention), 28 November 2003 | publisher=International Committee of the Red Cross | accessdate=11 January 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[Arms control]]
*[[United Nations Commission on Conventional Armaments]], earlier attempt at regulation

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Wikisource}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100717100420/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-2&chapter=26&lang=en The Convention in English] UN site
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100717100420/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-2&chapter=26&lang=en Signatures and ratifications] of Convention at depositary
* [http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/WebSign?ReadForm&id=500&ps=P State parties to the treaty]
* [http://www.unog.ch/80256EE600585943/(httpPages)/3CE7CFC0AA4A7548C12571C00039CB0C?OpenDocument State parties to the protocols]

==Further reading==
* [http://legal.un.org/avl/ha/cprccc/cprccc.html Introductory note] by Yves Sandoz, procedural history note and audiovisual material on the ''Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons'' in the [http://legal.un.org/avl/historicarchives.html Historic Archives of the United Nations Audiovisual Library of International Law]
*[http://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/CCW.asp Arms Control Association Fact Sheet]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Certain Conventional Weapons Convention}}
[[Category:International humanitarian law treaties]]
[[Category:United Nations treaties]]
[[Category:Mine action]]
[[Category:Treaties concluded in 1980]]
[[Category:Treaties entered into force in 1983]]
[[Category:Treaties of Albania]]
[[Category:Treaties of Algeria]]
[[Category:Treaties of Antigua and Barbuda]]
[[Category:Treaties of Argentina]]
[[Category:Treaties of Australia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Austria]]
[[Category:Treaties of Bahrain]]
[[Category:Treaties of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic]]
[[Category:Treaties of Belgium]]
[[Category:Treaties of the People's Republic of Benin]]
[[Category:Treaties of Bolivia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Treaties of Brazil]]
[[Category:Treaties of the People's Republic of Bulgaria]]
[[Category:Treaties of Burkina Faso]]
[[Category:Treaties of Burundi]]
[[Category:Treaties of Cambodia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Cameroon]]
[[Category:Treaties of Canada]]
[[Category:Treaties of Cape Verde]]
[[Category:Treaties of Chile]]
[[Category:Treaties of the People's Republic of China]]
[[Category:Treaties of Colombia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Costa Rica]]
[[Category:Treaties of Croatia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Cuba]]
[[Category:Treaties of Cyprus]]
[[Category:Treaties of Czechoslovakia]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Czech Republic]]
[[Category:Treaties of Denmark]]
[[Category:Treaties of Djibouti]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Dominican Republic]]
[[Category:Treaties of Ecuador]]
[[Category:Treaties of El Salvador]]
[[Category:Treaties of Estonia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Finland]]
[[Category:Treaties of France]]
[[Category:Treaties of Gabon]]
[[Category:Treaties of Georgia (country)]]
[[Category:Treaties of Germany]]
[[Category:Treaties of East Germany]]
[[Category:Treaties of Greece]]
[[Category:Treaties of Grenada]]
[[Category:Treaties of Guatemala]]
[[Category:Treaties of Guinea-Bissau]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Holy See]]
[[Category:Treaties of Honduras]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Hungarian People's Republic]]
[[Category:Treaties of Iceland]]
[[Category:Treaties of India]]
[[Category:Treaties of Iraq]]
[[Category:Treaties of Ireland]]
[[Category:Treaties of Israel]]
[[Category:Treaties of Italy]]
[[Category:Treaties of Ivory Coast]]
[[Category:Treaties of Jamaica]]
[[Category:Treaties of Japan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Jordan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Kazakhstan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Kuwait]]
[[Category:Treaties of Laos]]
[[Category:Treaties of Latvia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Lesotho]]
[[Category:Treaties of Liberia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Liechtenstein]]
[[Category:Treaties of Lithuania]]
[[Category:Treaties of Luxembourg]]
[[Category:Treaties of Madagascar]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Maldives]]
[[Category:Treaties of Mali]]
[[Category:Treaties of Malta]]
[[Category:Treaties of Mauritius]]
[[Category:Treaties of Mexico]]
[[Category:Treaties of Moldova]]
[[Category:Treaties of Monaco]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Mongolian People's Republic]]
[[Category:Treaties of Montenegro]]
[[Category:Treaties of Morocco]]
[[Category:Treaties of Nauru]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Treaties of New Zealand]]
[[Category:Treaties of Nicaragua]]
[[Category:Treaties of Niger]]
[[Category:Treaties of Norway]]
[[Category:Treaties of Pakistan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Palestine]]
[[Category:Treaties of Panama]]
[[Category:Treaties of Paraguay]]
[[Category:Treaties of Peru]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Philippines]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Polish People's Republic]]
[[Category:Treaties of Portugal]]
[[Category:Treaties of Qatar]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Republic of Macedonia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Romania]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Soviet Union]]
[[Category:Treaties of Saudi Arabia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Senegal]]
[[Category:Treaties of Serbia and Montenegro]]
[[Category:Treaties of Seychelles]]
[[Category:Treaties of Sierra Leone]]
[[Category:Treaties of Slovakia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Slovenia]]
[[Category:Treaties of South Africa]]
[[Category:Treaties of South Korea]]
[[Category:Treaties of Spain]]
[[Category:Treaties of Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Treaties of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines]]
[[Category:Treaties of Sweden]]
[[Category:Treaties of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Treaties of Tajikistan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Togo]]
[[Category:Treaties of Tunisia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Turkey]]
[[Category:Treaties of Turkmenistan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Uganda]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic]]
[[Category:Treaties of the United Arab Emirates]]
[[Category:Treaties of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Treaties of the United States]]
[[Category:Treaties of Uruguay]]
[[Category:Treaties of Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Treaties of Venezuela]]
[[Category:Treaties of Yugoslavia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Zambia]]
[[Category:1980 in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Faroe Islands]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to Greenland]]
[[Category:Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons| ]]
[[Category:Treaties extended to the Caribbean Netherlands]]

← Older revision	Revision as of 20:00, 16 May 2026
(No difference)

Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons - Revision history

Moderator: 1 revision

InternetArchiveBot: Rescuing 2 sources and tagging 0 as dead. #IABot (v1.2.7.1)