Content deleted Content added
Hairy Dude (talk | contribs) →Limitations: punctuation Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
first2, last2 |
||
(30 intermediate revisions by 22 users not shown) | |||
Line 1:
{{Use dmy dates|date=
The '''Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons''', Protocol IV of the 1980 [[Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons]], was issued by the United Nations on 13 October 1995.<ref name="UNTreatyInfo" /> It came into force on 30 July 1998.<ref name="UNTreatyInfo">{{cite web |date=12 Nov 2021 |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) |url=https://treaties.
==History==
The [[Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons]] and three annexed protocols were adopted on 10 October 1980 and opened for signature on 10 April 1981.<ref name="ICRCProtocolInfo">{{cite web |title=Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV to the 1980 Convention), 13 October 1995 |url=http://www.icrc.org/applic/ihl/ihl.nsf/Treaty.xsp?action=openDocument&documentId=70D9427BB965B7CEC12563FB0061CFB2 |website=International Committee of the Red Cross |accessdate=4 July 2014 }}</ref> In 1986, Sweden and Switzerland pushed for the Blinding Laser Protocol.<ref name="ICRC1995Announcement" /> During 1989–91, the [[International Committee of the Red Cross]] (ICRC) held four international meetings of experts on the topic and in 1993 published ''Blinding Weapons''.<ref name="ICRC1995Announcement" />
==Protocol text==
===Article 1===
It is prohibited to employ [[laser]] weapons specifically designed, as their sole combat function or as one of their combat functions, to cause permanent blindness to unenhanced [[Visual perception|vision]], that is to the [[naked eye]] or to the eye with
===Article 2===
Line 14:
===Article 3===
Blinding as an incidental or collateral effect of the legitimate military employment of laser systems, including laser systems used against
===Article 4===
Line 20:
==Historical significance==
ICRC welcomed the ban on blinding lasers as "a significant breakthrough in international humanitarian law," adding:<ref name="ICRC1995Announcement">{{cite web |title=Vienna Diplomatic Conference Achieves New Prohibition on Blinding Laser Weapons and Deadlock on Landmines |url=http://www.icrc.org/eng/resources/documents/misc/57jmlc.htm |website=International Committee of the Red Cross |accessdate=4 July 2014 |date=13 Oct 1995 }}</ref>
{{
This was also the first international agreement regulating use of lasers during war.<ref name="CarnahanRobertson1996" /> (Use of lasers during peace had been previously mentioned in Article IV of the US-Soviet Union [[wikisource:Prevention of Dangerous Military Activities Agreement|Prevention of Dangerous Military Activities Agreement]] of 1989.)<ref name="CarnahanRobertson1996">{{cite journal |
==Limitations==
The Protocol does not prohibit attacks against binoculars, periscopes, telescopes, and other optical equipment because it was unknown whether laser attacks on such devices could cause permanent blindness.<ref name="CarnahanRobertson1996" /> Article 3 allows for attacks on electronic optical equipment, because damaging it would not cause human injury.<ref name="CarnahanRobertson1996" />
[[Ophthalmologist]] John Marshall argues that despite the Protocol's ban, countries continue to develop and use "[[Laser rangefinder|rangefinders]], target illuminators, and anti-sensor systems" that "are still effectively antipersonnel laser weapons" because these technologies have the potential to be employed against people in addition to their intended uses. For example, "a laser system that will [[Dazzler (weapon)|dazzle]] at
==References==
Line 35:
==External links==
*[http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/0/49de65e1b0a201a7c125641f002d57af?OpenDocument Text]
*[http://treaties.un.org/pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-2-a&chapter=26&lang=en Ratifications] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017164549/http://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-2-a&chapter=26&lang=en |date=17 October 2013 }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blinding Laser Weapons Protocol}}
[[Category:United Nations treaties]]
[[Category:Non-lethal weapons
[[Category:Energy weapons
[[Category:International humanitarian law treaties]]
[[Category:Military lasers
[[Category:Treaties concluded in 1995]]
[[Category:Treaties entered into force in 1998]]
Line 51:
[[Category:Treaties of Australia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Austria]]
[[Category:Treaties of Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Treaties of Belarus]]
Line 84 ⟶ 85:
[[Category:Treaties of Grenada]]
[[Category:Treaties of Guatemala]]
[[Category:Treaties of the Holy See]]
[[Category:Treaties of Honduras]]
Line 98 ⟶ 100:
[[Category:Treaties of Kuwait]]
[[Category:Treaties of Latvia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Lesotho]]
[[Category:Treaties of Liberia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Liechtenstein]]
Line 116 ⟶ 119:
[[Category:Treaties of Nicaragua]]
[[Category:Treaties of Niger]]
[[Category:Treaties of North Macedonia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Norway]]
[[Category:Treaties of Pakistan]]
Line 141 ⟶ 145:
[[Category:Treaties of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Treaties of Tajikistan]]
▲[[Category:Treaties of the Republic of Macedonia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Tunisia]]
[[Category:Treaties of Turkey]]
Line 149 ⟶ 152:
[[Category:Treaties of Uruguay]]
[[Category:Treaties of Uzbekistan]]
[[Category:Treaties
[[Category:Treaties extended to Greenland]]
▲[[Category:Treaties extended to the Faroe Islands]]
[[Category:1995 in Austria]]
[[Category:Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons]]
▲[[Category:Treaties extended to the Caribbean Netherlands]]
|