DOCUMENT INFORMATION

FILE NAME : Ch_XXVI_2_a)

VOLUME : VOL-2

CHAPTER : Chapter XXVI. DISARMAMENT

TITLE : 2.a. 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).

Vienna, 13 October 1995.

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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 I NDISCR IMI NATE EFFECTS

PRorOCOLE ADDITIONNEL , A LA CONVENTION SUR L'INTERDICTION OU LA LIMITATION DE L'EHPLOI

DE CERTAINES ARMES CLASS IQUES QUI PEUVENT ETRE CONSIDtRtES COMME PRODUISANT DES EFFETS TRAUHATIQUES EXCESSIFS OU COMME FRAPPANT

SANS DISCRIMINATION

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DE CIERTAS ARMAS CONVENCIONALES QUE PUEDAN CONSIDERARSE EXCESIVAMENTE NOCIVAS 0 DE EFECTOS INDISCRHIINADOS

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AD DITIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CON\' E~TION ON PROHIBITIONS OR RE STR ICTIONS ON

THE USE OF CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS WHICH HAY BE DEE~ED TO BE EXCESSIVELY INJURIOUS

OR TO HAVE INDISCRIHI NATE EFFECTS

U": ITED l'ATlO .... S 1995

-1-

ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION ON PROHIBITIONS OR RJ!sTiuCTIONS ON

THE USE OF CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS WHICH HAY BE DEEMED TO BE EXCESSIVELY INJURIOUS

OR TO HAVE INDISCRIMINATE EFFECTS

ARTICLE 1: ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL

The following protocol shall be annexed 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 ("the COnvention") as Protocol IV:

Article 1

"Protocol on .Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV)

It is prohibited to ent>!oy laser weapons specifically designed, as their sole combat function or as one of their combat functions, to cause permanent blindness to unenhanced vision, that is to the naked eye or to the eye with corrective eyesight devices. The High Contracting Parties shall not transfer such weapons to any State or non-State entity.

Article 2

In the employment of laser systems, the High Contracting Parties shall take all feasible precautions to avoid the incidence of permanent blindness to 1.menhanced vision. SUch precautions shall include training of their armed forces and other practical measures.

Article 3

Blinding as an incidental or collateral effect of the legitimate military enployment of laser systems, inclt.dinq laser syste~ used. against optical equipment, is not covered by the prohibition of this Protocol.

/ ...

-2-

Article 4

For the purpose of this Protocol • permanent blindness' means irreversible and uncorrectab!e loss of vision which is seriously disabling with no prospect of recovery . Serious disability is equivalent to visual acuity of less than 20/ 200 Snellen measured using both eyes . "

ARTICLE 2: ENTRY INTO FORCE

This Protocol shall enter into force as provided in paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 5 of the Convention .

PROTOCOLE ADDITIONNEL A LA CO~V£NTION SUR L'INTERDICTION OU LA LIHITATION DE L'EHPLOI

DE CERTAINES ARMES CLASSIQUES QUI PEUVEHT fTRE CONSIDtRtES COMHE PRODUISANT DES [FFETS TRAUHATIgUES EXCESSIFS OU COMME FRAPPAHT

SANS DISCRIHINATION

NATIONS UNIES 1995

PROTOCOLE ADDITIONNEL A LA CONVENTION SUR L'INTERDICTION OU LA LIMITATION DE L'EMPLOI DE CERTAINES ARMES CLASSIQUES QUI PEUVENT tTRE CONSIDER£ES COHHE PRODUISANT DES EFFETS TRAUMATIQUES EXCESSIFS OU COHHE FRAPPANT

SANS DISCRIMINATION

ARTICLE PREMIER. PROTOCOLE ADDITIONNEL

Le proto cole dont Ie texte suit est artnexe a la Convention sur l'interdiction au la limitation de l'emp!oi de certaines Armes classiques qui peuvent Itre considerees comme produisant des efiets traumatiques excessifs au comme frappant sans discrimination (lila Convention") en tant que Protocole IV.

"Protocole relatif aux Armes A laser aveuqlantes (Protocol, IV)

Article premier

II est interdit d'employer des armes a laser specifiquement con~ues de telle fa~on que leur seule fonetion de combat OU une de leurs fonctions de combat soit de provoquer la cecite permanente chez des persannes dont la vision est non amelioree. c'est-A-dire qui regardent a l'oeil nu ou qui portent des verres correcteurs . Les Hautes Parties contractantes ne transferent de telles armes a aucun ttat ni a aucune entite autre qu'un ttat .

Artic le 2

Dans l ' emploi des systemes a laser, les Hautes Parties contractantes prennent toutes les precautions realisables pour eviter les cas de cecite permanente chez des personnes dont la vision est non ame!ioree . De telles precautions comprennent l'instruction de leurs forces armees et d'autres mesures pratiques .

/ ...

- 2 -

Article 3

L'aveuglement en tant qu'etfet f ortuit ou collateral de l'emp!oi militaire l~gitime de systemes a laser , y compris les systemes a laser utilis~s contre les dispositifs optiques, n'est pas vise par l'interdiction enoncee dans Ie present Protocole .

Article 4

Aux fins du present Protocole , on entend par "cecite permanente" une perte de la vue irreversible et non corrigeable , qui est gravement invalidante sans aucune perspective de recouvrement. Une invalidite grave equivaut a une acuite visuelle inferieure a 20/ 200, mesuree aux deux yeux a l'aide du test de Snellen."

ARTICLE 2. ENTRtE EN VIGUEUR

Le present Protocole entre en vigueur ainsi qu'il est prevu aux paragraphes 3 et 4 de l'article 5 de la Convention.

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PROTOCOLO ADICIONAL A LA CONVENCI6N S08RE PROHIBICIONES 0 RESTRICCIONES DEL EHPLEO

DE CIERTAS ARMAS CONVENCIONALES QUE PUEDAN CONS1DERARSE EXCESIVAHENTE NOCIVAS 0 DE [FECTOS INDISCRIHINADOS

NACIONES UNIDAS 1995

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PROTOCOLO ADICIONAL A LA CONVENCI6N SOBRE PRQHIBICIONES 0 RESTRICCIONES DEL EHPLEO DE CIERTAS ARMAS CONVENCIONALES QUE PUEDAN CONSIDERARSE EXCESIVAMEN'rE NOCIVAS 0 DE

EFECTOS INDISCRIHlNADOS

ARTICULO 1 : PROTOCOLO ADICIONAL

El siguiente protooolo S8 anexar~ como Protooolo IV a 1a COnvenci6n sohre prohibiciones 0 restricciones del empleo de ciertas armas convencionales que puedan considerarse excesivamente nocivas 0 de efecto5 indiscriminados (lila Convenci6n"):

Articulo 1

I'ProtOCO!O sobre armas laser cegadoras (Protocolo IV)"

Queda prohibido emplear armas laser especificamente concebidas, CO£n:I Unica 0 una mas de sus funciones de combate, para causar ceguera permanente a 1a vista no amplificada , es decir, a1 ojo descubierto 0 al ojo provisto de dispositivos correctores de 1a vista. Las Altas Partes Contratantes no transfer iran armas de esta indole a ninqUn Estado ni a ninquna entidad no estatal.

ArUC\llQ 2

En e1 empleo de sistemas lc1ser , las Altas Partes Contratantes adoptaran todas las precauciones que sean viables para evitar e1 riesgo de ocasionar cequera permanente a la vista no anplificada. Esas precauciones consistiran en medidas de instrucci6n de sus fuerzas armadas y otras medidas practicas .

Articulo 3

La ceguera corrD efecto fortuit o 0 secundario del empleo legitime con fines militares de sistemas laser I incluido el en;>leo de los sistemas laser utilizados contra equipo 6ptico, no esta oomprendida en la prohibici6n del presente Protocolo .

/ ...

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Articulo 4

A los efectos del presente Protocolo, por "cequera permanente" se entiende una perdida irreversible y no corregible de 1a vista que sea qravemente discapacitante y sin perspectivas de recuperaci6n. La discapacidad grave equivale a una agudeza visual inferior a 20/ 200 en arnb:)s ojos, medida SegUn 1a prueba de Snellen. "

ARTICULO 2: ENTRADA EN VIGOR

E1 presente Protoco!o entrara en vi90r de conformidad con 10 dispuesto en los pArrafos 3 y 4 del articulo 5 de 1a Convenci6n .

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I hereby certify that the foregoing text is a true copy of the Additional Protocol, entitled "Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV)", to the convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be £xcessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate £ffects, adopted by the Conference of the States Parties to the Convention at its 8th plenary meeting on 13 October 1995, the original ot which is deposited with the Secretary- General of the United Nations.

For the Secretary-General, The Legal Counsel

(Under - Secretary-General tor Legal Affairs)

Je certifie que Ie texte qui pr~cede est une copie con forme du Protocole additionnel, intitule "Protocole relatif aux armes a laser aveuglantes ( Protocole IV) " , ala Convention sur I ' interdiction ou 1a limitation de l'emploi de certaines armes c1assiques qui peuvent !tre considerees comme produisant des ettets traumatiques excessits ou comme trappant sans discrimination, adopte par la Conference des Etats Parties A la Convention lors de sa huiti~me session pleni~re Ie 13 octobre 1995, et dont l'original se trouve depose aupres du Secretaire general des Nations Unies.

Pour Ie Secretaire general, Le Conseiller juridique

(Secretaire general adjoint aux affaires juridiquesl

:::Q---Hans Corell )

United Nations, New York 5 December 1995

Organisation des Nations Unies New York, Ie 5 decembre 1995

Certified true copy XXVI.2.a) Copie certifiée conforme XXVI.2 (a) April 2005