Preamble
The States Parties,
Determined to put an end to the suffering and casualties caused by anti-personnel mines, that
kill or maim hundreds of people every week, mostly innocent and defenceless civilians and
especially children, obstruct economic development and reconstruction, inhibit the repatriation of
refugees and internally displaced persons, and have other severe consequences for years after
emplacement,
Believing it necessary to do their utmost to contribute in an efficient and coordinated manner
to face the challenge of removing anti-personnel mines placed throughout the world, and to
assure their destruction,
Wishing to do their utmost in providing assistance for the care and rehabilitation, including the
social and economic reintegration of mine victims,
Recognizing that a total ban of anti-personnel mines would also be an important
confidence-building measure,
Welcoming the adoption of the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines,
Booby-Traps and Other Devices, as amended on 3 May 1996, 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, and calling for the early
ratification of this Protocol by all States which have not yet done so,
Welcoming also United Nations General Assembly Resolution 51/45 S of 10 December 1996
urging all States to pursue vigorously an effective, legally-binding international agreement to ban
the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel landmines,
Welcoming furthermore the measures taken over the past years, both unilaterally and
multilaterally, aiming at prohibiting, restricting or suspending the use, stockpiling, production and
transfer of anti-personnel mines,
Stressing the role of public conscience in furthering the principles of humanity as evidenced by
the call for a total ban of anti-personnel mines and recognizing the efforts to that end undertaken
by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the International Campaign to Ban
Landmines and numerous other non-governmental organizations around the world,
Recalling the Ottawa Declaration of 5 October 1996 and the Brussels Declaration of 27 June
1997 urging the international community to negotiate an international and legally binding
agreement prohibiting the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines,
Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to this Convention, and
determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization in all relevant fora
including, inter alia, the United Nations, the Conference on Disarmament, regional
organizations, and groupings, and review conferences of 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,
Basing themselves on the principle of international humanitarian law that the right of the
parties to an armed conflict to choose methods or means of warfare is not unlimited, on the
principle that prohibits the employment in armed conflicts of weapons, projectiles and materials
and methods of warfare of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering and on
the principle that a distinction must be made between civilians and combatants,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
General obligations
1.Each State Party undertakes never under any circumstances:
a)To use anti-personnel mines;
b)To develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer to anyone, directly or
indirectly, anti-personnel mines;
c)To assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a
State Party under this Convention.
2.Each State Party undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in
accordance with the provisions of this Convention.
Article 2
Definitions
1.”Anti-personnel mine” means a mine designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity or
contact of a person and that will incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons. Mines designed
to be detonated by the presence, proximity or contact of a vehicle as opposed to a person, that
are equipped with anti-handling devices, are not considered anti-personnel mines as a result of
being so equipped.
2.”Mine” means a munition designed to be placed under, on or near the ground or other surface
area and to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person or a vehicle.
3.”Anti-handling device” means a device intended to protect a mine and which is part of, linked
to, attached to or placed under the mine and which activates when an attempt is made to
tamper with or otherwise intentionally disturb the mine.
4.”Transfer” involves, in addition to the physical movement of anti-personnel mines into or from
national territory, the transfer of title to and control over the mines, but does not involve the
transfer of territory containing emplaced anti-personnel mines.
5.”Mined area” means an area which is dangerous due to the presence or suspected presence
of mines.
Article 3
Exceptions
1.Notwithstanding the general obligations under Article 1, the retention or transfer of a number
of anti-personnel mines for the development of and training in mine detection, mine clearance,
or mine destruction techniques is permitted. The amount of such mines shall not exceed the
minimum number absolutely necessary for the above-mentioned purposes.
2.The transfer of anti-personnel mines for the purpose of destruction is permitted.
Article 4
Destruction of stockpiled anti-personnel mines
Except as provided for in Article 3, each State Party undertakes to destroy or ensure the
destruction of all stockpiled anti-personnel mines it owns or possesses, or that are under its
jurisdiction or control, as soon as possible but not later than four years after the entry into force
of this Convention for that State Party.
Article 5
Destruction of anti-personnel mines in mined areas
1.Each State Party undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in
mined areas under its jurisdiction or control, as soon as possible but not later than ten years
after the entry into force of this Convention for that State Party.
2.Each State Party shall make every effort to identify all areas under its jurisdiction or control in
which anti-personnel mines are known or suspected to be emplaced and shall ensure as soon
as possible that all anti-personnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control are
perimeter-marked, monitored and protected by fencing or other means, to ensure the effective
exclusion of civilians, until all anti-personnel mines contained therein have been destroyed. The
marking shall at least be to the standards set out in the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions
on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices, as amended on 3 May 1996, 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.
3.If a State Party believes that it will be unable to destroy or ensure the destruction of all
anti-personnel mines referred to in paragraph 1 within that time period, it may submit a request
to a Meeting of the States Parties or a Review Conference for an extension of the deadline for
completing the destruction of such anti-personnel mines, for a period of up to ten years.
4.Each request shall contain:
a)The duration of the proposed extension;
b)A detailed explanation of the reasons for the proposed extension, including:
(i) The preparation and status of work conducted under national demining programs;
(ii) The financial and technical means available to the State Party for the destruction of all the
anti-personnel mines; and
(iii) Circumstances which impede the ability of the State Party to destroy all the anti-personnel
mines in mined areas;
c)The humanitarian, social, economic, and environmental implications of the extension; and
d)Any other information relevant to the request for the proposed extension.
5.The Meeting of the States Parties or the Review Conference shall, taking into consideration
the factors contained in paragraph 4, assess the request and decide by a majority of votes of
States Parties present and voting whether to grant the request for an extension period.
6.Such an extension may be renewed upon the submission of a new request in accordance with
paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 of this Article. In requesting a further extension period a State Party shall
submit relevant additional information on what has been undertaken in the previous extension
period pursuant to this Article.
Article 6
International cooperation and assistance
1.In fulfilling its obligations under this Convention each State Party has the right to seek and
receive assistance, where feasible, from other States Parties to the extent possible.
2.Each State Party undertakes to facilitate and shall have the right to participate in the fullest
possible exchange of equipment, material and scientific and technological information
concerning the implementation of this Convention. The States Parties shall not impose undue
restrictions on the provision of mine clearance equipment and related technological information
for humanitarian purposes.
3.Each State Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance for the care and rehabilitation,
and social and economic reintegration, of mine victims and for mine awareness programs. Such
assistance may be provided, inter alia, through the United Nations system, international,
regional or national organizations or institutions, the International Committee of the Red Cross,
national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and their International Federation,
non-governmental organizations, or on a bilateral basis.
4.Each State Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance for mine clearance and related
activities. Such assistance may be provided, inter alia, through the United Nations system,
international or regional organizations or institutions, non-governmental organizations or
institutions, or on a bilateral basis, or by contributing to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund
for Assistance in Mine Clearance, or other regional funds that deal with demining.
5.Each State Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance for the destruction of
stockpiled anti-personnel mines.
6.Each State Party undertakes to provide information to the database on mine clearance
established within the United Nations system, especially information concerning various means
and technologies of mine clearance, and lists of experts, expert agencies or national points of
contact on mine clearance.
7.States Parties may request the United Nations, regional organizations, other States Parties or
other competent intergovernmental or non-governmental fora to assist its authorities in the
elaboration of a national demining program to determine, inter alia:
a)The extent and scope of the anti-personnel mine problem;
b)The financial, technological and human resources that are required for the implementation of
the program;
c)The estimated number of years necessary to destroy all anti-personnel mines in mined areas
under the jurisdiction or control of the concerned State Party;
d)Mine awareness activities to reduce the incidence of mine-related injuries or deaths;
e)Assistance to mine victims;
f) The relationship between the Government of the concerned State Party and the relevant
governmental, inter-governmental or non-governmental entities that will work in the
implementation of the program.
8.Each State Party giving and receiving assistance under the provisions of this Article shall
cooperate with a view to ensuring the full and prompt implementation of agreed assistance
programs.
Article 7
Transparency measures
1.Each State Party shall report to the Secretary-General of the United Nations as soon as
practicable, and in any event not later than 180 days after the entry into force of this Convention
for that State Party on:
a)The national implementation measures referred to in Article 9;
b)The total of all stockpiled anti-personnel mines owned or possessed by it, or under its
jurisdiction or control, to include a breakdown of the type, quantity and, if possible, lot numbers
of each type of anti-personnel mine stockpiled;
c)To the extent possible, the location of all mined areas that contain, or are suspected to
contain, anti-personnel mines under its jurisdiction or control, to include as much detail as
possible regarding the type and quantity of each type of anti-personnel mine in each mined area
and when they were emplaced;
d)The types, quantities and, if possible, lot numbers of all anti-personnel mines retained or
transferred for the development of and training in mine detection, mine clearance or mine
destruction techniques, or transferred for the purpose of destruction, as well as the institutions
authorized by a State Party to retain or transfer anti-personnel mines, in accordance with Article
3;
e)The status of programs for the conversion or de-commissioning of anti-personnel mine
production facilities;
f) The status of programs for the destruction of anti-personnel mines in accordance with Articles
4 and 5, including details of the methods which will be used in destruction, the location of all
destruction sites and the applicable safety and environmental standards to be observed;
g) The types and quantities of all anti-personnel mines destroyed after the entry into force of this
Convention for that State Party, to include a breakdown of the quantity of each type of
anti-personnel mine destroyed, in accordance with Articles 4 and 5, respectively, along with, if
possible, the lot numbers of each type of anti-personnel mine in the case of destruction in
accordance with Article 4;
h) The technical characteristics of each type of anti-personnel mine produced, to the extent
known, and those currently owned or possessed by a State Party, giving, where reasonably
possible, such categories of information as may facilitate identification and clearance of
anti-personnel mines; at a minimum, this information shall include the dimensions, fusing,
explosive content, metallic content, colour photographs and other information which may
facilitate mine clearance; and
i) The measures taken to provide an immediate and effective warning to the population in
relation to all areas identified under paragraph 2 of Article 5.
2.The information provided in accordance with this Article shall be updated by the States Parties
annually, covering the last calendar year, and reported to the Secretary-General of the United
Nations not later than 30 April of each year.
3.The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit all such reports received to the
States Parties.
Article 8
Facilitation and clarification of compliance
1.The States Parties agree to consult and cooperate with each other regarding the
implementation of the provisions of this Convention, and to work together in a spirit of
cooperation to facilitate compliance by States Parties with their obligations under this
Convention.
2. If one or more States Parties wish to clarify and seek to resolve questions relating to
compliance with the provisions of this Convention by another State Party, it may submit, through
the Secretary-General of the United Nations, a Request for Clarification of that matter to that
State Party. Such a request shall be accompanied by all appropriate information. Each State
Party shall refrain from unfounded Requests for Clarification, care being taken to avoid abuse. A
State Party that receives a Request for Clarification shall provide, through the Secretary-General
of the United Nations, within 28 days to the requesting State Party all information which would
assist in clarifying this matter.
3.If the requesting State Party does not receive a response through the Secretary-General of
the United Nations within that time period, or deems the response to the Request for
Clarification to be unsatisfactory, it may submit the matter through the Secretary-General of the
United Nations to the next Meeting of the States Parties. The Secretary-General of the United
Nations shall transmit the submission, accompanied by all appropriate information pertaining to
the Request for Clarification, to all States Parties. All such information shall be presented to the
requested State Party which shall have the right to respond.
4.Pending the convening of any meeting of the States Parties, any of the States Parties
concerned may request the Secretary-General of the United Nations to exercise his or her good
offices to facilitate the clarification requested.
5.The requesting State Party may propose through the Secretary-General of the United Nations
the convening of a Special Meeting of the States Parties to consider the matter. The
Secretary-General of the United Nations shall thereupon communicate this proposal and all
information submitted by the States Parties concerned, to all States Parties with a request that
they indicate whether they favour a Special Meeting of the States Parties, for the purpose of
considering the matter. In the event that within 14 days from the date of such communication, at
least one-third of the States Parties favours such a Special Meeting, the Secretary-General of
the United Nations shall convene this Special Meeting of the States Parties within a further 14
days. A quorum for this Meeting shall consist of a majority of States Parties.
6.The Meeting of the States Parties or the Special Meeting of the States Parties, as the case
may be, shall first determine whether to consider the matter further, taking into account all
information submitted by the States Parties concerned. The Meeting of the States Parties or the
Special Meeting of the States Parties shall make every effort to reach a decision by consensus.
If despite all efforts to that end no agreement has been reached, it shall take this decision by a
majority of States Parties present and voting.
7.All States Parties shall cooperate fully with the Meeting of the States Parties or the Special
Meeting of the States Parties in the fulfilment of its review of the matter, including any
fact-finding missions that are authorized in accordance with paragraph 8.
8. If further clarification is required, the Meeting of the States Parties or the Special Meeting of
the States Parties shall authorize a fact-finding mission and decide on its mandate by a majority
of States Parties present and voting. At any time the requested State Party may invite a
fact-finding mission to its territory. Such a mission shall take place without a decision by a
Meeting of the States Parties or a Special Meeting of the States Parties to authorize such a
mission. The mission, consisting of up to 9 experts, designated and approved in accordance
with paragraphs 9 and 10, may collect additional information on the spot or in other places
directly related to the alleged compliance issue under the jurisdiction or control of the requested
State Party.
9.The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall prepare and update a list of the names,
nationalities and other relevant data of qualified experts provided by States Parties and
communicate it to all States Parties. Any expert included on this list shall be regarded as
designated for all fact-finding missions unless a State Party declares its non-acceptance in
writing. In the event of non-acceptance, the expert shall not participate in fact-finding missions
on the territory or any other place under the jurisdiction or control of the objecting State Party, if
the non-acceptance was declared prior to the appointment of the expert to such missions.
10. Upon receiving a request from the Meeting of the States Parties or a Special Meeting of the
States Parties, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall, after consultations with the
requested State Party, appoint the members of the mission, including its leader. Nationals of
States Parties requesting the fact-finding mission or directly affected by it shall not be appointed
to the mission. The members of the fact-finding mission shall enjoy privileges and immunities
under Article VI of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations,
adopted on 13 February 1946.
11. Upon at least 72 hours notice, the members of the fact-finding mission shall arrive in the
territory of the requested State Party at the earliest opportunity. The requested State Party shall
take the necessary administrative measures to receive, transport and accommodate the
mission, and shall be responsible for ensuring the security of the mission to the maximum extent
possible while they are on territory under its control.
12. Without prejudice to the sovereignty of the requested State Party, the fact-finding mission
may bring into the territory of the requested State Party the necessary equipment which shall be
used exclusively for gathering information on the alleged compliance issue. Prior to its arrival,
the mission will advise the requested State Party of the equipment that it intends to utilize in the
course of its fact-finding mission.
13. The requested State Party shall make all efforts to ensure that the fact-finding mission is
given the opportunity to speak with all relevant persons who may be able to provide information
related to the alleged compliance issue.
14. The requested State Party shall grant access for the fact-finding mission to all areas and
installations under its control where facts relevant to the compliance issue could be expected to
be collected. This shall be subject to any arrangements that the requested State Party considers
necessary for:
a)The protection of sensitive equipment, information and areas;
b)The protection of any constitutional obligations the requested State Party may have with
regard to proprietary rights, searches and seizures, or other constitutional rights; or
c)The physical protection and safety of the members of the fact-finding mission.
In the event that the requested State Party makes such arrangements, it shall make every
reasonable effort to demonstrate through alternative means its compliance with this Convention.
15. The fact-finding mission may remain in the territory of the State Party concerned for no more
than 14 days, and at any particular site no more than 7 days, unless otherwise agreed.
16. All information provided in confidence and not related to the subject matter of the fact-finding
mission shall be treated on a confidential basis.
17. The fact-finding mission shall report, through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, to
the Meeting of the States Parties or the Special Meeting of the States Parties the results of its
findings.
18. The Meeting of the States Parties or the Special Meeting of the States Parties shall consider
all relevant information, including the report submitted by the fact-finding mission, and may
request the requested State Party to take measures to address the compliance issue within a
specified period of time. The requested State Party shall report on all measures taken in
response to this request.
19. The Meeting of the States Parties or the Special Meeting of the States Parties may suggest
to the States Parties concerned ways and means to further clarify or resolve the matter under
consideration, including the initiation of appropriate procedures in conformity with international
law. In circumstances where the issue at hand is determined to be due to circumstances beyond
the control of the requested State Party, the Meeting of the States Parties or the Special Meeting
of the States Parties may recommend appropriate measures, including the use of cooperative
measures referred to in Article 6.
20. The Meeting of the States Parties or the Special Meeting of the States Parties shall make
every effort to reach its decisions referred to in paragraphs 18 and 19 by consensus, otherwise
by a two-thirds majority of States Parties present and voting.
Article 9
National implementation measures
Each State Party shall take all appropriate legal, administrative and other measures, including
the imposition of penal sanctions, to prevent and suppress any activity prohibited to a State
Party under this Convention undertaken by persons or on territory under its jurisdiction or
control.
Article 10
Settlement of disputes
1.The States Parties shall consult and cooperate with each other to settle any dispute that may
arise with regard to the application or the interpretation of this Convention. Each State Party may
bring any such dispute before the Meeting of the States Parties.
2.The Meeting of the States Parties may contribute to the settlement of the dispute by whatever
means it deems appropriate, including offering its good offices, calling upon the States parties to
a dispute to start the settlement procedure of their choice and recommending a time-limit for any
agreed procedure.
3.This Article is without prejudice to the provisions of this Convention on facilitation and
clarification of compliance.
Article 11
Meetings of the States Parties
1.The States Parties shall meet regularly in order to consider any matter with regard to the
application or implementation of this Convention, including:
a) The operation and status of this Convention;
b) Matters arising from the reports submitted under the provisions of this Convention;
c) International cooperation and assistance in accordance with Article 6;
d) The development of technologies to clear anti-personnel mines;
e) Submissions of States Parties under Article 8; and
f) Decisions relating to submissions of States Parties as provided for in Article 5.
2.The First Meeting of the States Parties shall be convened by the Secretary-General of the
United Nations within one year after the entry into force of this Convention. The subsequent
meetings shall be convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations annually until the
first Review Conference.
3.Under the conditions set out in Article 8, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall
convene a Special Meeting of the States Parties.
4.States not parties to this Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant
international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of
the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations may be invited to attend these
meetings as observers in accordance with the agreed Rules of Procedure.
Article 12
Review Conferences
1.A Review Conference shall be convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations five
years after the entry into force of this Convention. Further Review Conferences shall be
convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations if so requested by one or more States
Parties, provided that the interval between Review Conferences shall in no case be less than
five years. All States Parties to this Convention shall be invited to each Review Conference.
2.The purpose of the Review Conference shall be:
a) To review the operation and status of this Convention;
b) To consider the need for and the interval between further Meetings of the States Parties
referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 11;
c)To take decisions on submissions of States Parties as provided for in Article 5; and
d)To adopt, if necessary, in its final report conclusions related to the implementation of this
Convention.
3.States not parties to this Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant
international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the
International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations may be
invited to attend each Review Conference as observers in accordance with the agreed Rules of
Procedure.
Article 13
Amendments
1.At any time after the entry into force of this Convention any State Party may propose
amendments to this Convention. Any proposal for an amendment shall be communicated to the
Depositary, who shall circulate it to all States Parties and shall seek their views on whether an
Amendment Conference should be convened to consider the proposal. If a majority of the
States Parties notify the Depositary no later than 30 days after its circulation that they support
further consideration of the proposal, the Depositary shall convene an Amendment Conference
to which all States Parties shall be invited.
2.States not parties to this Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant
international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of
the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations may be invited to attend each
Amendment Conference as observers in accordance with the agreed Rules of Procedure.
3.The Amendment Conference shall be held immediately following a Meeting of the States
Parties or a Review Conference unless a majority of the States Parties request that it be held
earlier.
4.Any amendment to this Convention shall be adopted by a majority of two-thirds of the States
Parties present and voting at the Amendment Conference. The Depositary shall communicate
any amendment so adopted to the States Parties.
5.An amendment to this Convention shall enter into force for all States Parties to this
Convention which have accepted it, upon the deposit with the Depositary of instruments of
acceptance by a majority of States Parties. Thereafter it shall enter into force for any remaining
State Party on the date of deposit of its instrument of acceptance.
Article 14
Costs
1.The costs of the Meetings of the States Parties, the Special Meetings of the States Parties,
the Review Conferences and the Amendment Conferences shall be borne by the States Parties
and States not parties to this Convention participating therein, in accordance with the United
Nations scale of assessment adjusted appropriately.
2.The costs incurred by the Secretary-General of the United Nations under Articles 7 and 8 and
the costs of any fact-finding mission shall be borne by the States Parties in accordance with the
United Nations scale of assessment adjusted appropriately.
Article 15
Signature
This Convention, done at Oslo, Norway, on 18 September 1997, shall be open for signature at
Ottawa, Canada, by all States from 3 December 1997 until 4 December 1997, and at the United
Nations Headquarters in New York from 5 December 1997 until its entry into force.
Article 16
Ratification, acceptance, approval or accession
1.This Convention is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval of the Signatories.
2.It shall be open for accession by any State which has not signed the Convention.
3.The instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the
Depositary.
Article 17
Entry into force
1.This Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the sixth month after the month in
which the 40th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession has been deposited.
2.For any State which deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession
after the date of the deposit of the 40th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or
accession, this Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the sixth month after the date
on which that State has deposited its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or
accession.
Article 18
Provisional application
Any State may at the time of its ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, declare that it
will apply provisionally paragraph 1 of Article 1 of this Convention pending its entry into force.
Article 19
Reservations
The Articles of this Convention shall not be subject to reservations.
Article 20
Duration and withdrawal
1.This Convention shall be of unlimited duration.
2.Each State Party shall, in exercising its national sovereignty, have the right to withdraw from
this Convention. It shall give notice of such withdrawal to all other States Parties, to the
Depositary and to the United Nations Security Council. Such instrument of withdrawal shall
include a full explanation of the reasons motivating this withdrawal.
3.Such withdrawal shall only take effect six months after the receipt of the instrument of
withdrawal by the Depositary. If, however, on the expiry of that six- month period, the
withdrawing State Party is engaged in an armed conflict, the withdrawal shall not take effect
before the end of the armed conflict.
4.The withdrawal of a State Party from this Convention shall not in any way affect the duty of
States to continue fulfilling the obligations assumed under any relevant rules of international law.
Article 21
Depositary
The Secretary-General of the United Nations is hereby designated as the Depositary of this
Convention.
Article 22
Authentic texts
The original of this Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and
Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United
Nations.