2003 Protocol V on the Conventional Weapons Convention on Explosive Remnants of War.pdf
The High Contracting Parties,
Recognising the serious post-conflict humanitarian problems caused by explosive remnants of
war,
Conscious of the need to conclude a Protocol on post-conflict remedial measures of a generic
nature in order to minimise the risks and effects of explosive remnants of war,
And willing to address generic preventive measures, through voluntary best practices specified
in a Technical Annex for improving the reliability of munitions, and therefore minimising the
occurrence of explosive remnants of war,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
General provision and scope of application
1. In conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and of the rules of the international law
of armed conflict applicable to them, High Contracting Parties agree to comply with the
obligations specified in this Protocol, both individually and in co-operation with other High
Contracting Parties, to minimise the risks and effects of explosive remnants of war in
post-conflict situations.
2. This Protocol shall apply to explosive remnants of war on the land territory including internal
waters of High Contracting Parties.
3. This Protocol shall apply to situations resulting from conflicts referred to in Article 1,
paragraphs 1 to 6, of the Convention, as amended on 21 December 2001.
4. Articles 3, 4, 5 and 8 of this Protocol apply to explosive remnants of war other than existing
explosive remnants of war as defined in Article 2, paragraph 5 of this Protocol.
Article 2
Definitions
For the purpose of this Protocol,
1. Explosive ordnance means conventional munitions containing explosives, with the
exception of mines, booby traps and other devices as defined in Protocol II of this Convention
as amended on 3 May 1996.
2. Unexploded ordnance means explosive ordnance that has been primed, fused, armed, or
otherwise prepared for use and used in an armed conflict. It may have been fired, dropped,
launched or projected and should have exploded but failed to do so.
3. Abandoned explosive ordnance means explosive ordnance that has not been used during
an armed conflict, that has been left behind or dumped by a party to an armed conflict, and
which is no longer under control of the party that left it behind or dumped it. Abandoned
explosive ordnance may or may not have been primed, fused, armed or otherwise prepared
for use.
4. Explosive remnants of war means unexploded ordnance and abandoned explosive
ordnance.
5. Existing explosive remnants of war means unexploded ordnance and abandoned explosive
ordnance that existed prior to the entry into force of this Protocol for the High Contracting Party
on whose territory it exists.
Article 3
Clearance, removal or destruction of explosive remnants of war
1. Each High Contracting Party and party to an armed conflict shall bear the responsibilities set
out in this Article with respect to all explosive remnants of war in territory under its control. In
cases where a user of explosive ordnance which has become explosive remnants of war, does
not exercise control of the territory, the user shall, after the cessation of active hostilities,
provide where feasible, inter alia technical, financial, material or human resources assistance,
bilaterally or through a mutually agreed third party, including inter alia through the United
Nations system or other relevant organisations, to facilitate the marking and clearance,
removal or destruction of such explosive remnants of war.
2. After the cessation of active hostilities and as soon as feasible, each High Contracting Party
and party to an armed conflict shall mark and clear, remove or destroy explosive remnants of
war in affected territories under its control. Areas affected by explosive remnants of war which
are assessed pursuant to paragraph 3 of this Article as posing a serious humanitarian risk
shall be accorded priority status for clearance, removal or destruction.
3. After the cessation of active hostilities and as soon as feasible, each High Contracting Party
and party to an armed conflict shall take the following measures in affected territories under its
control, to reduce the risks posed by explosive remnants of war:
(a) survey and assess the threat posed by explosive remnants of war;
(b) assess and prioritise needs and practicability in terms of marking and clearance, removal
or destruction;
(c) mark and clear, remove or destroy explosive remnants of war;
(d) take steps to mobilise resources to carry out these activities.
4. In conducting the above activities High Contracting Parties and parties to an armed conflict
shall take into account international standards, including the International Mine Action
Standards.
5. High Contracting Parties shall co-operate, where appropriate, both among themselves and
with other states, relevant regional and international organisations and non-governmental
organisations on the provision of inter alia technical, financial, material and human resources
assistance including, in appropriate circumstances, the undertaking of joint operations
necessary to fulfil the provisions of this Article.
Article 4
Recording, retaining and transmission of information
1. High Contracting Parties and parties to an armed conflict shall to the maximum extent
possible and as far as practicable record and retain information on the use of explosive
ordnance or abandonment of explosive ordnance, to facilitate the rapid marking and
clearance, removal or destruction of explosive remnants of war, risk education and the
provision of relevant information to the party in control of the territory and to civilian populations
in that territory.
2. High Contracting Parties and parties to an armed conflict which have used or abandoned
explosive ordnance which may have become explosive remnants of war shall, without delay
after the cessation of active hostilities and as far as practicable, subject to these parties?
legitimate security interests, make available such information to the party or parties in control
of the affected area, bilaterally or through a mutually agreed third party including inter alia the
United Nations or, upon request, to other relevant organisations which the party providing the
information is satisfied are or will be undertaking risk education and the marking and
clearance, removal or destruction of explosive remnants of war in the affected area.
3. In recording, retaining and transmitting such information, the High Contracting Parties
should have regard to Part 1 of the Technical Annex.
Article 5
Other precautions for the protection of the civilian population,
individual civilians and civilian objects from the risks and
effects of explosive remnants of war
1. High Contracting Parties and parties to an armed conflict shall take all feasible precautions
in the territory under their control affected by explosive remnants of war to protect the civilian
population, individual civilians and civilian objects from the risks and effects of explosive
remnants of war. Feasible precautions are those precautions which are practicable or
practicably possible, taking into account all circumstances ruling at the time, including
humanitarian and military considerations. These precautions may include warnings, risk
education to the civilian population, marking, fencing and monitoring of territory affected by
explosive remnants of war, as set out in Part 2 of the Technical Annex.
Article 6
Provisions for the protection of humanitarian
missions and organisations from the effects
of explosive remnants of war
1. Each High Contracting Party and party to an armed conflict shall:
(a) Protect, as far as feasible, from the effects of explosive remnants of war, humanitarian
missions and organisations that are or will be operating in the area under the control of the
High Contracting Party or party to an armed conflict and with that party?s consent.
(b) Upon request by such a humanitarian mission or organisation, provide, as far as feasible,
information on the location of all explosive remnants of war that it is aware of in territory where
the requesting humanitarian mission or organisation will operate or is operating.
2. The provisions of this Article are without prejudice to existing International Humanitarian
Law or other international instruments as applicable or decisions by the Security Council of the
United Nations which provide for a higher level of protection.
Article 7
Assistance with respect to existing explosive remnants of war
1. Each High Contracting Party has the right to seek and receive assistance, where
appropriate, from other High Contracting Parties, from states non-party and relevant
international organisations and institutions in dealing with the problems posed by existing
explosive remnants of war.
2. Each High Contracting Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance in dealing with
the problems posed by existing explosive remnants of war, as necessary and feasible. In so
doing, High Contracting Parties shall also take into account the humanitarian objectives of this
Protocol, as well as international standards including the International Mine Action Standards.
Article 8
Co-operation and assistance
1. Each High Contracting Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance for the marking
and clearance, removal or destruction of explosive remnants of war, and for risk education to
civilian populations and related activities inter alia through the United Nations system, other
relevant international, regional or national organisations or institutions, the International
Committee of the Red Cross, national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and their
International Federation, non-governmental organisations, or on a bilateral basis.
2. Each High Contracting Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance for the care and
rehabilitation and social and economic reintegration of victims of explosive remnants of war.
Such assistance may be provided inter alia through the United Nations system, relevant
international, regional or national organisations or institutions, the International Committee of
the Red Cross, national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and their International
Federation, non-governmental organisations, or on a bilateral basis.
3. Each High Contracting Party in a position to do so shall contribute to trust funds within the
United Nations system, as well as other relevant trust funds, to facilitate the provision of
assistance under this Protocol.
4. Each High Contracting Party shall have the right to participate in the fullest possible
exchange of equipment, material and scientific and technological information other than
weapons related technology, necessary for the implementation of this Protocol. High
Contracting Parties undertake to facilitate such exchanges in accordance with national
legislation and shall not impose undue restrictions on the provision of clearance equipment
and related technological information for humanitarian purposes.
5. Each High Contracting Party undertakes to provide information to the relevant databases on
mine action established within the United Nations system, especially information concerning
various means and technologies of clearance of explosive remnants of war, lists of experts,
expert agencies or national points of contact on clearance of explosive remnants of war and,
on a voluntary basis, technical information on relevant types of explosive ordnance.
6. High Contracting Parties may submit requests for assistance substantiated by relevant
information to the United Nations, to other appropriate bodies or to other states. These
requests may be submitted to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, who shall transmit
them to all High Contracting Parties and to relevant international organisations and
non-governmental organisations.
7. In the case of requests to the United Nations, the Secretary-General of the United Nations,
within the resources available to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, may take
appropriate steps to assess the situation and in co-operation with the requesting High
Contracting Party and other High Contracting Parties with responsibility as set out in Article 3
above, recommend the appropriate provision of assistance. The Secretary-General may also
report to High Contracting Parties on any such assessment as well as on the type and scope
of assistance required, including possible contributions from the trust funds established within
the United Nations system.
Article 9
Generic preventive measures
1. Bearing in mind the different situations and capacities, each High Contracting Party is
encouraged to take generic preventive measures aimed at minimising the occurrence of
explosive remnants of war, including, but not limited to, those referred to in part 3 of the
Technical Annex.
2. Each High Contracting Party may, on a voluntary basis, exchange information related to
efforts to promote and establish best practices in respect of paragraph 1 of this Article.
Article 10
Consultations of High Contracting Parties
1. The High Contracting Parties undertake to consult and co-operate with each other on all
issues related to the operation of this Protocol. For this purpose, a Conference of High
Contracting Parties shall be held as agreed to by a majority, but no less than eighteen High
Contracting Parties.
2. The work of the conferences of High Contracting Parties shall include:
(a) review of the status and operation of this Protocol;
(b) consideration of matters pertaining to national implementation of this Protocol, including
national reporting or updating on an annual basis.
(c) preparation for review conferences.
3. The costs of the Conference of High Contracting Parties shall be borne by the High
Contracting Parties and States not parties participating in the Conference, in accordance with
the United Nations scale of assessment adjusted appropriately.
Article 11
Compliance
1. Each High Contracting Party shall require that its armed forces and relevant agencies or
departments issue appropriate instructions and operating procedures and that its personnel
receive training consistent with the relevant provisions of this Protocol.
2. The High Contracting Parties undertake to consult each other and to co-operate with each
other bilaterally, through the Secretary-General of the United Nations or through other
appropriate international procedures, to resolve any problems that may arise with regard to the
interpretation and application of the provisions of this Protocol.
Technical Annex
This Technical Annex contains suggested best practice for achieving the objectives contained
in Articles 4, 5 and 9 of this Protocol. This Technical Annex will be implemented by High
Contracting Parties on a voluntary basis.
1. Recording, storage and release of information for Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) and
Abandoned Explosive Ordnance (AXO)
(a) Recording of information: Regarding explosive ordnance which may have become UXO a
State should endeavour to record the following information as accurately as possible:
(i) the location of areas targeted using explosive ordnance;
(ii) the approximate number of explosive ordnance used in the areas under (i);
(iii) the type and nature of explosive ordnance used in areas under (i);
(iv) the general location of known and probable UXO;
Where a State has been obliged to abandon explosive ordnance in the course of operations, it
should endeavour to leave AXO in a safe and secure manner and record information on this
ordnance as follows:
(v) the location of AXO;
(vi) the approximate amount of AXO at each specific site;
(vii) the types of AXO at each specific site.
(b) Storage of information: Where a State has recorded information in accordance with
paragraph (a), it should be stored in such a manner as to allow for its retrieval and subsequent
release in accordance with paragraph (c).
(c) Release of information: Information recorded and stored by a State in accordance with
paragraphs (a) and (b) should, taking into account the security interests and other obligations
of the State providing the information, be released in accordance with the following provisions:
(i) Content:
On UXO the released information should contain details on:
(1) the general location of known and probable UXO;
(2) the types and approximate number of explosive ordnance used in the targeted areas;
(3) the method of identifying the explosive ordnance including colour, size and shape and other
relevant markings;
(4) the method for safe disposal of the explosive ordnance.
On AXO the released information should contain details on:
(5) the location of the AXO;
(6) the approximate number of AXO at each specific site;
(7) the types of AXO at each specific site;
(8) the method of identifying the AXO, including colour, size and shape;
(9) information on type and methods of packing for AXO;
(10) state of readiness;
(11) the location and nature of any booby traps known to be present in the area of AXO.
(ii) Recipient: The information should be released to the party or parties in control of the
affected territory and to those persons or institutions that the releasing State is satisfied are, or
will be, involved in UXO or AXO clearance in the affected area, in the education of the civilian
population on the risks of UXO or AXO.
(iii) Mechanism: A State should, where feasible, make use of those mechanisms established
internationally or locally for the release of information, such as through UNMAS, IMSMA, and
other expert agencies, as considered appropriate by the releasing State.
(iv) Timing: The information should be released as soon as possible, taking into account such
matters as any ongoing military and humanitarian operations in the affected areas, the
availability and reliability of information and relevant security issues.
2. Warnings, risk education, marking, fencing and monitoring
Key terms
(a) Warnings are the punctual provision of cautionary information to the civilian population,
intended to minimise risks caused by explosive remnants of war in affected territories.
(b) Risk education to the civilian population should consist of risk education programmes to
facilitate information exchange between affected communities, government authorities and
humanitarian organisations so that affected communities are informed about the threat from
explosive remnants of war. Risk education programmes are usually a long term activity.
Best practice elements of warnings and risk education
(c) All programmes of warnings and risk education should, where possible, take into account
prevailing national and international standards, including the International Mine Action
Standards.
(d) Warnings and risk education should be provided to the affected civilian population which
comprises civilians living in or around areas containing explosive remnants of war and civilians
who transit such areas.
(e) Warnings should be given, as soon as possible, depending on the context and the
information available. A risk education programme should replace a warnings programme as
soon as possible. Warnings and risk education always should be provided to the affected
communities at the earliest possible time.
(f) Parties to a conflict should employ third parties such as international organisations and
non-governmental organisations when they do not have the resources and skills to deliver
efficient risk education.
(g) Parties to a conflict should, if possible, provide additional resources for warnings and risk
education. Such items might include: provision of logistical support, production of risk
education materials, financial support and general cartographic information.
Marking, fencing, and monitoring of an explosive remnants of war affected area
(h) When possible, at any time during the course of a conflict and thereafter, where explosive
remnants of war exist the parties to a conflict should, at the earliest possible time and to the
maximum extent possible, ensure that areas containing explosive remnants of war are
marked, fenced and monitored so as to ensure the effective exclusion of civilians, in
accordance with the following provisions.
(i) Warning signs based on methods of marking recognised by the affected community should
be utilised in the marking of suspected hazardous areas. Signs and other hazardous area
boundary markers should as far as possible be visible, legible, durable and resistant to
environmental effects and should clearly identify which side of the marked boundary is
considered to be within the explosive remnants of war affected area and which side is
considered to be safe.
(j) An appropriate structure should be put in place with responsibility for the monitoring and
maintenance of permanent and temporary marking systems, integrated with national and local
risk education programmes.
3. Generic preventive measures
States producing or procuring explosive ordnance should to the extent possible and as
appropriate endeavour to ensure that the following measures are implemented and respected
during the life-cycle of explosive ordnance.
(a) Munitions manufacturing management
(i) Production processes should be designed to achieve the greatest reliability of munitions.
(ii) Production processes should be subject to certified quality control measures.
(iii) During the production of explosive ordnance, certified quality assurance standards that are
internationally recognised should be applied.
(iv) Acceptance testing should be conducted through live-fire testing over a range of conditions
or through other validated procedures.
(v) High reliability standards should be required in the course of explosive ordnance
transactions and transfers.
(b) Munitions management
In order to ensure the best possible long-term reliability of explosive ordnance, States are
encouraged to apply best practice norms and operating procedures with respect to its storage,
transport, field storage, and handling in accordance with the following guidance.
(i) Explosive ordnance, where necessary, should be stored in secure facilities or appropriate
containers that protect the explosive ordnance and its components in a controlled atmosphere,
if necessary.
(ii) A State should transport explosive ordnance to and from production facilities, storage
facilities and the field in a manner that minimises damage to the explosive ordnance.
(iii) Appropriate containers and controlled environments, where necessary, should be used by
a State when stockpiling and transporting explosive ordnance.
(iv) The risk of explosions in stockpiles should be minimised by the use of appropriate
stockpile arrangements.
(v) States should apply appropriate explosive ordnance logging, tracking and testing
procedures, which should include information on the date of manufacture of each number, lot
or batch of explosive ordnance, and information on where the explosive ordnance has been,
under what conditions it has been stored, and to what environmental factors it has been
exposed.
(vi) Periodically, stockpiled explosive ordnance should undergo, where appropriate, live-firing
testing to ensure that munitions function as desired.
(vii) Sub-assemblies of stockpiled explosive ordnance should, where appropriate, undergo
laboratory testing to ensure that munitions function as desired.
(viii) Where necessary, appropriate action, including adjustment to the expected shelf-life of
ordnance, should be taken as a result of information acquired by logging, tracking and testing
procedures, in order to maintain the reliability of stockpiled explosive ordnance.
(c) Training
The proper training of all personnel involved in the handling, transporting and use of explosive
ordnance is an important factor in seeking to ensure its reliable operation as intended. States
should therefore adopt and maintain suitable training programmes to ensure that personnel
are properly trained with regard to the munitions with which they will be required to deal.
(d) Transfer
A State planning to transfer explosive ordnance to another State that did not previously
possess that type of explosive ordnance should endeavour to ensure that the receiving State
has the capability to store, maintain and use that explosive ordnance correctly.
(e) Future production
A State should examine ways and means of improving the reliability of explosive ordnance that
it intends to produce or procure, with a view to achieving the highest possible reliability.