CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE,
STOCKPILING, PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF
ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES AND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION
 
 

                          18 September 1997

                          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 ye ars 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 fo r 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 Secr etary-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 t his 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 re quested 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 sh all 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 Convent ion 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 inv ited 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 inv ited 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 Deposi tary 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 inv ited 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 fo rce 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 ac cordance 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 in to 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 inst rument 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 shal l 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.