CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, 
STOCKPILING, PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF ANTI-
PERSONNEL MINES AND THEIR DESTRUCTION  g S.L.365.09 1
SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION 365.09
CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE 
USE, STOCKPILING, PRODUCTION AND 
TRANSFER OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES
AND THEIR DESTRUCTION REGULATIONS
27th April, 2001
LEGAL NOTICE 97 of 2001.
Citation.
Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of
Anti-Personnel Mines and their Destruction Regulations.
Interpretation.
"the Convention" means the Convention on the Prohibition of the
Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines
and their Destruction signed at Ottawa, Canada on 4 December
1997;
"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;
"anti-personnel mine" means a mine designed to be exploded by
the presence, proximity or contact of a person and to incapacitate,
injure or kill one or more persons;
"transfer" involves, in addition to the physical movement of anti-
personnel mines into or from a national territory, the transfer of
title to and control over the mines.
Text of 
Convention.
Cap. 365.
3. (1) For the purpose of article 3(2) of the National Interest
(Enabling Powers) Act, hereinafter referred to as "the Act", the text
of the Resolution of the House of Representatives dated 9 February
2001 and passed on the 20th March, 2001 is being published in the
First Schedule.
(2) For the purpose of article 3(4) of article 3 of the Act, the
Convention is published in the English Language in the Second
Schedule.
Prohibition of the 
use, development, 
production 
stockpiling, 
retention or 
transfer of anti-
personnel mines.
4. (1) Notwithstanding any other law -
( a ) the use of anti-personnel mines;
( b ) the development, production, or otherwise the
acquisition, stockpiling, retention or transfer to
anyone, directly or indirectly, of anti-personnel mines;
( c ) the assistance, encouragement or inducement, in any
way, to anyone to engage in any activity described in
paragraphs ( a ) and ( b ),
by any person in Malta or by any citizen or permanent resident of
Malta, whether in Malta or elsewhere, is prohibited.
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CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, 
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PERSONNEL MINES AND THEIR DESTRUCTION 
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subregulation (1), the
retention of a number of anti-personnel mines for development and
training in mine detection, mine clearance, or mine destruction
techniques by the Armed Forces of Malta is permitted.
Penalty. 5. Any person found guilty of an offence against these
regulations shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine ( multa ) not
exceeding fifty thousand liri.
CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, 
STOCKPILING, PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF ANTI-
PERSONNEL MINES AND THEIR DESTRUCTION  g S.L.365.09 3
FIRST SCHEDULE
Regulation 3(1)
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
MALTA
9th February, 2001
The Minister of Foreign Affairs proposes that the House of Representatives,
Having considered that on 4 December, 1997 Malta signed the Convention on the
Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel
Mines and their Destruction at Ottawa, Canada;
Having considered that on ratifying this Convention, Malta would join one
hundred and ten countries which have ratified this Convention and thus would form
part of the will expressed by the international community towards a world free from
the scourge of landmines;
Having considered the Ratification of Treaties Act (Cap. 304) and article 3(2) of
the National Interest (Enabling Powers) Act, (Cap. 365);
Resolves to authorise the ratification of the Convention on the Prohibition of the
Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and their
Destruction.
(sgd.) Jog Borg
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CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, 
STOCKPILING, PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF ANTI-
PERSONNEL MINES AND THEIR DESTRUCTION 
SECOND SCHEDULE
Regulation 3(2)
CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, STOCKPILING, 
PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES
AND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION
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 fore 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
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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 monition 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.
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CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, 
STOCKPILING, PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF ANTI-
PERSONNEL MINES AND THEIR DESTRUCTION 
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 programmes;
(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
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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 programmes. 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 programme 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 programme;
(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;
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CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, 
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PERSONNEL MINES AND THEIR DESTRUCTION 
(e) Assistance to mine victims;
(f) The relationship between the Government of the concerned State Party
and the relevant governmental, intergovernmental or non-governmental
entities that will work in the implementation of the programme.
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 programmes.
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 programmes for the conversion or decommissioning of
anti-personal mine production facilities;
(f) The status of programmes 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;
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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 chat 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
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STOCKPILING, PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF ANTI-
PERSONNEL MINES AND THEIR DESTRUCTION 
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 Parries 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 itv 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 nine 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 Parries. 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
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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
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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;
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(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 oh 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
14 g S.L.365.09
CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, 
STOCKPILING, PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF ANTI-
PERSONNEL MINES AND THEIR DESTRUCTION 
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
CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, 
STOCKPILING, PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF ANTI-
PERSONNEL MINES AND THEIR DESTRUCTION  g S.L.365.09 15
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.
