Protocol II to CCW96-98
Protocol II to the 1980 Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) as amended on May 3, 1996
The Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices is the second Protocol of the Convention of Certain Conventional Weapons which was amended in May 1996. The amended Protocol II is a strengthened and intensified version of the former one. In this Convention each Contracting Party or Party to a conflict is responsible for all mines, booby-traps, and other devices employed by it and undertakes to clear, remove, destroy or maintain them as specified in the Protocol. It is prohibited to use any mine, booby-trap or other device that is designed to cause unnecessary injury or suffering. Every State Party also undertakes not to transfer any mine to any recipient other than a State or a State agency authorized to receive the transfers. Anti-personnel landmines must be kept in clearly marked and protected minefields or be equipped with self-destruct and self-deactivation mechanisms that render the mine unusable after a certain period of time. Mines dropped from aircraft or delivered by artillery or missiles must be equipped with these same mechanisms. All anti-personnel landmines must be detectable to locate and safely remove them after a conflict. The responsibility lies on the government controlling the territory where the mines are located. The amended Protocol II entered into force in 1998. The 76 participating countries include most of the major current and past landmine producers.