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Anti-Personnel Mines Decree 2011

GOVERNMENT OF FIJI
______________

ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES DECREE 2011
(DECREE No.19 of 2011)

SECTIONS

PART 1-PRELIMINARY

1. Short title and commencement
2. Interpretation

PART 2-INFORMATION-GATHERING POWERS

3. Obtaining information and documents
4. Failure to comply and providing false information

PART 3-POWERS OF FACT-FINDING MISSIONS

5. Members of Fact-finding missions
6. Appointment of domestic inspectors
7. Powers of the domestic inspectors
8. Identification cards
9. Allocation of functions to the domestic inspectors by the Minister
10. Impersonating a domestic or international inspector
11. General powers of fact-finding missions in relation to premises
12. Power of a member of a fact-finding mission to enter premises
13. Member of fact-finding mission must produce identity card on request
14. Announcement before entry
15. Occupier entitled to be present during the search
16. Monitoring warrants
17. Equipment for fact-finding missions
18. Offences and penalties

PART 4--DESTRUCTION OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES

19. Delivery or notification of anti-personnel mines
20. Destruction of anti-personnel mines
21. Marking, monitoring and protection
22. Permission to retain or transfer

PART 5-PROHIBITIONS AND OFFENCES

23. Prohibited conduct
24. Offences and penalties
25. Extra-territorial application
26. Exceptions: conduct which is permitted

PART 6 - GENERAL

27. Regulations
28. Decree binding on the State
29. Saving and transitional arrangements

SCHEDULE

Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-personnel Mines and on their Destruction

____________

ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES DECREE 2011
(DECREE No.19 of 2011)

IN exercise of the power vested in me as the President of the Republic of Fiji and the Commander in Chief of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces by virtue of the Executive Authority of Fiji Decree 2009, I hereby make the following Decree-

TO GIVE EFFECT TO THE CONVENTION ON THE PROHIBITION OF THE USE, STOCKPILING, PRODUCTION AND TRANSFER OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES AND ON THEIR DESTRUCTION IN FIJI.

PART 1-PRELIMINARY

Short title and commencement

1. This Decree may be cited as the Anti-Personnel Mines Decree 2011 and shall come into effect on the date appointed by the Minister by notice in the Gazette.

Interpretation

2. In this Decree unless the context otherwise requires -

'anti-handling device' includes 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;

`anti-personnel mine' includes a mine designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person and that will impede, 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;

`Convention' means the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction, 18 September 1997, set out in the Schedule to this Decree, as amended from time to time in accordance with Article 13 of the Convention;

'domestic inspector' means a person appointed under section 6;

`international inspector' means a person appointed under section 5;

`mine' includes 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;

`mined area' includes an area which .is dangerous due to the presence or suspected presence of mines;

`Minister' means the Minister responsible for Defence, National Security and Immigration;

`occupier' includes a person present at the premises who is in apparent control of the premises;

`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.

Terms that are not defined in the Decree are accorded their Convention meaning.

PART 2-INFORMATION-GATHERING POWERS

Obtaining information and documents

3. The Minister may, by written notice served on any person, require him or her to give to the Minister such information or documents as is specified in the notice if the Minister has reason to believe that the person has information or a document relevant to -

(a) the administration or enforcement of this Decree;

(b) Fiji's obligation to report under Article 7 of the Schedule to the Convention; or

Failure to comply and providing false Information

4. Any person who -

(a) without reasonable excuse fails to comply with a notice served on him or her by the Minister; or

(b) knowingly makes a false or misleading statement in response to a notice served on him or her;

shall be guilty of an offence and liable, on conviction, to imprisonment not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units or both.

PART 3-POWERS OF FACT-FINDING MISSIONS

Member of fact-finding missions

5. If a fact-finding mission to Fiji is authorised under Article 8 of the Convention, the Minister must, by writing, appoint each member of the mission as an international inspector.

Appointment of domestic inspectors

6. The Minister shall, in writing appoint any of the following persons as a domestic inspector for the purpose of accompanying a member or members of the fact-finding mission during the time such mission is within Fiji -

(a) an officer of the Government; or

(b) a person who is a member of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.

Powers of the domestic inspectors

7.- (1) In exercising powers or performing functions as a domestic inspector appointed under section 6, the person must comply with written directions of the Minister in regards to assisting the fact-finding mission.

(2) A person appointed as a domestic inspector under section 6 must not exercise power or perform functions as an inspector unless the person is accompanied by an international inspector appointed under section 5.

Identity Cards

8. The Minister must issue identity cards to all inspectors providing the following -

(a) the full name of the member, a recent photograph of the member, indicating the member's status and authority to conduct a fact-finding mission to Fiji; and

(b) stating that the member enjoys the privileges and immunities under Article VI of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations.

Allocation of functions to the domestic inspectors by the Minister

9. The Minister shall by Regulation prescribe the following functions to the domestic inspectors -

(a) take the necessary measures to receive, transport and accommodate the fact-finding mission;

(b) be responsible for ensuring the security of members of the fact- finding mission to the maximum extent possible during their presence;

(c) make all efforts to ensure that opportunity is given to the mission to speak with all persons who may be able to provide information relevant to the alleged compliance issue; and

(d) grant the mission access to all areas and installations under the control of the State where facts relevant to the alleged compliance issue could be expected to be collected.

Impersonating a domestic or international inspector

10. A person who impersonates a domestic or international inspector of the fact-finding mission on an occasion when the inspector is required to do an act or attend, receive, transport and accommodate the mission commits an offence and is liable on conviction to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 years or a fine not exceeding 150 penalty units or both.

General powers of Fact-finding Missions in relation to premises

11.- (l) A fact-finding mission authorised under Article 8 of the Convention may enter the premises to collect information relevant to the alleged compliance issue and in particular shall have the power to -

(a) search the premise and anything on the premise;

(b) inspect, examine, take measurements of, or conduct tests (including taking samples) concerning anything on the premises that relates to an anti-personnel mine;

(d) inspect any book, record or document on the premises;

(e) take extracts from or make copies of any such book, record or document;

(f) take any equipment and materials onto premises as required to exercise powers in relation to the premises; and

(g) require the occupier or any persons present on the premises to answer any questions put by the member of the fact-finding mission or produce any book, record or document requested by the member of the fact-finding mission.

(2) The Minister may designate a person to accompany any member of a fact-finding mission in order to facilitate the carrying out of the functions of the mission.

Powers of a member of a fact-finding Mission to enter premises

12. (1) For the purpose of collecting information relevant to the alleged compliance issue, a member of a Fact-finding mission may, subject to subsection (2) -

(a) enter any premise in accordance to section 11(1); and

(b) exercise therein the powers set out in section 9.

(2) A member of a fact-finding mission is not authorised to enter premises under subsection (1) unless-

(a) the occupier of the premises has consented to the entry; or

(b) the entry is made under a warrant issued under section 16.

Member of a fact-finding mission must produce identity card on request

13. Subject to section 12, a member of a fact-finding mission is not entitled to exercise any powers under this part of the Decree in relation to premises if -

(a) the occupier of the premises has required the member of a fact-finding mission to produce his or her identity card for inspection by the occupier; and

(b) the member of a fact-finding mission fails to comply with the requirement.

Announcement before entry

14.-(1) A member of a fact-finding-mission must, before entering the premises under a warrant issued under section 16 -

(a) announce that he or she is authorised to enter the premises;

(b) identify himself or herself by producing his or her identity card to the occupier;

(c) make available to the occupier or another person who apparently represents the occupier who is present on the premises, a copy of the warrant; and

(d) give any person at the premises an opportunity to allow entry to the premises.

(2) A member of a fact-finding mission is not required to comply with subsection (1) if he or she believes on reasonable grounds that immediate entry to the premises is required-

(a) to ensure the safety of a person;

(b) to prevent serious damage to the environment; or

Occupier entitled to be present during search

15.-(1) If a warrant in relation to premises is being executed and the occupier of the premises or another person who apparently represents the occupier is present at the premises, the person is entitled to observe the search being conducted.

(2) The right to observe the search being conducted ceases if the person impedes the search.

(3) This section does not prevent two or more areas of the premises being searched at the same time.

Monitoring warrants

16. - (1) A member of a fact-finding mission may apply to a magistrate for a warrant to enter premises under this Decree.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), the magistrate may issue the warrant if the magistrate is satisfied, on information given on oath, that it is reasonably necessary that one or more members of a fact-finding mission should have access to the premises for purposes relevant to the alleged compliance issue.

(3) The magistrate must not issue the warrant unless the member of a fact-finding mission or some other person has given to the magistrate, either orally or by affidavit, such further information (if any) as the magistrate requires concerning the grounds on which the issue of the warrant is being sought.

(4) The warrant must -

(a) authorise one or more members of a fact-finding mission (whether or not named in the warrant), with such assistance and by such force as is necessary and reasonable -

(i) to enter the premises; and

(ii) to exercise the powers set out in subsection 11(1) in relation to the premises; and

(b) state whether the entry is authorised to be made at any time of the day or night or during specified hours of the day or night;

(c).specify the day (not more than 6 months after the issue of the warrant) on which the warrant ceases to have effect; and

(d) state the purpose for which the warrant is issued.

Equipment for fact-finding missions

17.-(1) A member of a fact-finding mission authorised under Article 8 of the Convention may import on written notice to the Minister the necessary equipment to be used exclusively in carrying out a fact-finding mission, and may export the equipment at the end of the mission.

(2) Such import and export of equipment shall be exempted from all duty and tax.

Offences and Penalties

18.-(1) Any person who knowingly makes a false or misleading statement in an application for a warrant under section 16 commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years or a fine not exceeding 200 penalty units or both.

(2) Any person who willfully obstructs, hinders, resists or deceives any member of a fact-finding mission undertaking an inspection in Fiji commits an offence and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 1 year or a fine not exceeding 50 penalty units or both.

PART 4 - DESTRUCTION OF ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES

Delivery or notification of Anti-Personnel Mines

19. - (1) Any person who knowingly possesses an anti-personnel mine otherwise than in accordance with section 26, must, without delay, deliver it or notify the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and make arrangements for the anti-personnel mines collection and destruction.

(2) If an anti-personnel mine is delivered to a member of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, or a police officer, in accordance to section 19(1), the member or the officer, as the case may be, must ensure the destruction or permanent deactivation of the mine.

Destruction of Anti-Personnel Mines

20. - (1) Subject to section 22, the Minister shall ensure the destruction of all-

(a) stockpiled anti-personnel mines owned or possessed by Fiji or under its jurisdiction or control;

(b) anti-personnel mines in mined areas under the jurisdiction or control of Fiji; and

Marking, monitoring and protection

21. Where an area is identified as a mined area or is suspected to be a mined area, the Minister shall, as soon as possible,

(a) ensure that such area is perimeter-marked and protected by fencing; and

(b) employ such means as are necessary to notify civilians of the presence of anti-personnel mines,

until all anti-personnel mines contained therein are destroyed.

Permission to retain or transfer

22. The Minister may, in writing, grant permission for a specified number of anti-personnel mines to be in the custody of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces -

(a) to be placed under, on or near the ground or other surface area, or

(b) be possessed; or

(d) be physically moved, or for the purpose of development of, and training in any or all of the following -

(i) mine detection techniques;

(ii) mine clearance techniques;

(iii) mine destruction techniques; and/or

(iv) mine deactivation techniques.

PART 5-PROHIBITIONS AND OFFENCES

Prohibited conduct

23. - (1) Subject to section 22, no person shall -

(a) use an anti-personnel mine;

(b) develop or produce an anti-personnel mine;

(d) possess, retain or stockpile an anti-personnel mine; and/or

(e) transfer to anyone, either directly or indirectly, an anti-personnel mine.

(2) Subject to section 26, no person shall assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in conduct referred to in subsection (1) above.

Offences and Penalties

24. - (1) A person is guilty of an offence if the person -

(a) places an anti-personnel mine under, on or near the ground or other surface area; or

(b) knowingly is in the possession of an anti-personal mine; or

(d) stockpiles anti-personnel mines; or

(e) transfer ownership or control of an anti-personnel mine; whether directly or indirectly, to another person.

(2) Any person who contravenes section 24 shall be guilty of an offence and liable upon conviction to -

(a) in the case of an individual, imprisonment for a term not exceeding 14 years, and

(b) in the case of a body corporate, a fine not exceeding 500 penalty units.

(3) Where an offence under subsection (1) which is committed by a body corporate is proved to have been committed with the consent and connivance of, or to be attributable to any negligence on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body corporate, or any person who was purporting to act in such capacity, he as well as the body corporate shall be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished in accordance with subsection (3)(a).

(4) Any court which convicts a person under subsections 3(a) and (b) may order that the anti-personnel mine or component part used or otherwise involved in the commission of the offence be forfeited to the State.

Extra-territorial application

25. Section 24 extends to conduct outside the territory of Fiji, the citizens of Fiji and bodies corporate incorporated or registered under the laws of Fiji.

Exceptions: conduct which is permitted

26. Section 23 does not apply to-

(a) the placement, possession, retention or transfer of an anti-personnel mine in accordance with a permission in force under section 22;

(b) the possession, retention or transfer of an anti-personnel mine by a member of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, a police officer, a court official, a customs official or any other such person appointed by the Minister by notice in writing in the course of that person's duties for the purpose of -

(i) the conduct of criminal proceedings;

(ii) rendering an anti-personnel mine harmless;

(iii) retaining an anti-personnel urine for future destruction; and

(iv) delivering anti-personnel mine to appropriate armed forces unit for destruction.

PART 6 - GENERAL

Regulations

27. The Minister may make regulations prescribing matters required or permitted to be prescribed, or that are necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for carrying out or giving effect to this Decree.

Decree binding on the State

28. This Decree binds the State.

Saving and transitional arrangements

29.- (1) Except as specifically provided herein, nothing in this Decree affects the validity of any other written laws made prior to the commencement of this Decree, and all such duties and responsibilities shall be carried out in accordance with the laws applying at the time that they were made.

(2) No procedure used to enforce any duties and responsibilities under this Decree shall be invalid by reason of the use of forms and processes applying to the enforcement of powers and seizure prior to the commencement of this Decree, unless a regulation made under this Decree requires the use of other forms or processes.

Given under my hand this 28th day of April 2011.

EPELI NAILATIKAU
President of the Repblic of Fiji

_____________

SCHEDULE

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 defence-less 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 o£ anti-personnel mines and recognizing the efforts to that end undertaken by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines and numerous other non-governmental organizations around the world,

Recalling the Ottawa Declaration of 5 October 1996 and the Brussels Declaration of 27 June 1997 urging the international community to negotiate an international and legally binding agreement prohibiting the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines,

Emphasizing the desirability of attracting the adherence of all States to this Convention, and determined to work strenuously towards the promotion of its universalization in all relevant fora including, inter alia, the United Nations, the Conference on Disarmament, regional organizations, and groupings, and review conferences of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects,

Basing themselves on the principle of international humanitarian law that the right of the parties to an armed conflict to choose methods or means of warfare is not unlimited, on the principle that prohibits the employment in armed conflicts of weapons, projectiles and materials and methods of warfare of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering and on the principle that a distinction must be made between civilians and combatants,

Have agreed as follows:

ARTICLE 1

General obligations

1. Each State Party undertakes never under any circumstances:

(a) To use anti-personnel mines;

(b) To develop, produce, otherwise acquire, stockpile, retain or transfer to anyone, directly or indirectly, anti-personnel mines;

(c) To assist, encourage or induce, in any way, anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention.

2. Each State Party undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in accordance with the provisions of this Convention.

ARTICLE 2

Definitions

1. "Anti-personnel mine" means a mine designed to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person and that will incapacitate, injure or kill one or more persons. Mines designed to be detonated by the presence, proximity or contact of a vehicle as opposed to a person, that are equipped with anti-handling devices, are not considered anti-personnel mines as a result of being so equipped.

2. "Mine" means a munition designed to be placed under, on or near the ground or other surface area and to be exploded by the presence, proximity or contact of a person or a vehicle.

3. "Anti-handling device" means a device intended to protect a mine and which is part of, linked to, attached to or placed under the mine and which activates when an attempt is made to tamper with or otherwise intentionally disturb the mine.

4. "Transfer" involves, in addition to the physical movement of anti-personnel mines into or from national territory, the transfer of title to and control over the mines, but does not involve the transfer of territory containing emplaced anti-personnel mines.

5. "Mined area" means an area which is dangerous due to the presence or suspected presence of mines.

ARTICLE 3

Exceptions

1. Notwithstanding the general obligations under Article 1, the retention or transfer of a number of anti-personnel mines for the development of and training in mine detection, mine clearance, or mine destruction techniques is permitted. The amount of such mines shall not exceed the minimum number absolutely necessary for the above-mentioned purposes.

2. The transfer of anti-personnel mines for the purpose of destruction is permitted.

ARTICLE 4

Destruction of stockpiled anti personnel mines

Except as provided for in Article 3, each State Party undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all stockpiled anti-personnel mines it owns or possesses, or that are under its jurisdiction or control, as soon as possible but not later than four years after the entry into force of this Convention for that State Party.

ARTICLE 5

Destruction of anti-personnel mines in mined areas

1. Each State Party undertakes to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control, as soon as possible but not later than ten years after the entry into force of this Convention for that State Party.

2. Each State Party shall make every effort to identify all areas under its jurisdiction or control in which anti-personnel mines are known or suspected to be emplaced and shall ensure as soon as possible that all anti-personnel mines in mined areas under its jurisdiction or control are perimeter-marked, monitored and protected by fencing or other means, to ensure the effective exclusion of civilians, until all anti-personnel mines contained therein have been destroyed. The marking shall at least be to the standards set out in the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices, as amended on 3 May 1996, annexed to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects.

3. If a State Party believes that it will be unable to destroy or ensure the destruction of all anti-personnel mines referred to in paragraph 1 within that time period, it may submit a request to a Meeting of the States Parties or a Review Conference for an extension of the deadline for completing the destruction of such anti-personnel mines, for a period of up to ten years.

4. Each request shall contain:

(a) The duration of the proposed extension;

(b) A detailed explanation of the reasons for the proposed extension, including:

(i) The preparation and status of work conducted under national demining programs;

(ii) The financial and technical means available to the State Party for the destruction of all the anti-personnel mines; and

(iii) Circumstances which impede the ability of the State Party to destroy all the anti-personnel mines in mined areas;

(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 nines, in accordance with Article 3;

(e) The status of programs for the conversion or de-commissioning of anti-personnel mine production facilities;

(f) The status of programs for the destruction of anti-personnel mines in accordance with Articles 4 and 5, including details of the methods which will be used in destruction, the location of all destruction sites and the applicable safety and environmental standards to be observed;

(g) The types and quantities of all anti-personnel mines destroyed after the entry into force of this Convention for that State Party, to include a breakdown of the quantity of each type of anti-personnel mine destroyed, in accordance with Articles 4 and 5, respectively, along with, if possible, the lot numbers of each type of anti-personnel mine in the case of destruction in accordance with Article 4;

(h) The technical characteristics of each type of anti-personnel mine produced, to the extent known, and those currently owned or possessed by a State Party, giving, where reasonably possible, such categories of information as may facilitate identification and clearance of anti-personnel mines; at a minimum, this information shall include the dimensions, fusing, explosive content, metallic content, colour photographs and other information which may facilitate mine clearance; and

(i) The measures taken to provide an immediate and effective warning to the population in relation to all areas identified under paragraph 2 of Article 5.

2. The information provided in accordance with this Article shall be updated by the States Parties annually, covering the last calendar year, and reported to the Secretary-General of the United Nations not later than 30 April of each year.

3. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit all such reports received to the States Parties.

ARTICLE 8

Facilitation and clarification of compliance

1. The States Parties agree to consult and cooperate with each other regarding the implementation of the provisions of this Convention, and to work together in a spirit of cooperation to facilitate compliance by States Parties with their obligations under this Convention.

2. If one or more States Parties wish to clarify and seek to resolve questions relating to compliance with the provisions of this Convention by another State Party, it may submit, through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, a Request for Clarification of that matter to that State Party. Such a request shall be accompanied by all appropriate information. Each State Party shall refrain from unfounded Requests for Clarification, care being taken to avoid abuse. A State Party that receives a Request for Clarification shall provide, through the Secretary-General of the United Nations, within 28 days to the requesting State Party all information which would assist in clarifying this matter.

3. If the requesting State Party does not receive a response through the Secretary-General of the United Nations within that time period, or deems the response to the Request for Clarification to be unsatisfactory, it may submit the matter through the Secretary-General of the United Nations to the next Meeting of the States Parties. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall transmit the submission, accompanied by all appropriate information pertaining to the Request for Clarification, to all States Parties. All such information shall be presented to the requested State Party which shall have the right to respond.

4. Pending the convening of any meeting of the States Parties, any of the States Parties concerned may request the Secretary-General of the United Nations to exercise his or her good offices to facilitate the clarification requested.

5. The requesting State Party may propose through the Secretary-General of the United Nations the convening of a Special Meeting of the States Parties to consider the matter. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall thereupon communicate this proposal and all information submitted by the States Parties concerned, to all States Parties with a request that they indicate whether they favour a Special Meeting of the States Parties, for the purpose of considering the matter. In the event that within 14 days from the date of such communication, at least one-third of the States Parties favours such a Special Meeting, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene this Special Meeting of the States Parties within a further 14 days. A quorum for this Meeting shall consist of a majority of States Parties.

6. The Meeting of the States Parties or the Special Meeting of the States Parties, as the case may be, shall first determine whether to consider the matter further, taking into account all information submitted by the States Parties concerned. The Meeting of the States Parties or the Special Meeting of the States Parties shall make every effort to reach a decision by consensus. If despite all efforts to that end no agreement has been reached, it shall take this decision by a majority of States Parties present and voting.

7. All States Parties shall cooperate fully with the Meeting of the States Parties or the Special Meeting of the States Parties in the fulfilment of its review of the matter, including any fact-finding missions that are authorized in accordance with paragraph 8.

8. If further clarification is required, the Meeting of the States Parties or the Special Meeting of the States Parties shall authorize a fact-finding mission and decide on its mandate by a majority of States Parties present and voting. At any time the requested State Party may invite a fact-finding mission to its territory. Such a mission shall take place without a decision by a Meeting of the States Parties or a Special Meeting of the States Parties to authorize such a mission. The mission, consisting of up to 9 experts, designated and approved in accordance with paragraphs 9 and 10, may collect additional information on the spot or in other places directly related to the alleged compliance issue under the jurisdiction or control of the requested State Party.

9. The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall prepare and update a list of the names, nationalities and other relevant data of qualified experts provided by States Parties and communicate it to all States Parties. Any expert included on this list shall be regarded as designated for all fact-finding missions unless a State Party declares its non-acceptance in writing. In the event of non-acceptance, the expert shall not participate in fact-finding missions on the territory or any other place under the jurisdiction or control of the objecting State Party, if the non-acceptance was declared prior to the appointment of the expert to such missions.

10. Upon receiving a request from the Meeting of the States Parties or a Special Meeting of the States Parties, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall, after consultations with the requested State Party, appoint the members of the mission, including its leader. Nationals of States Parties requesting the fact-finding mission or directly affected by it shall not be appointed to the mission. The members of the fact-finding mission shall enjoy privileges and immunities under Article VI of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, adopted on 13 February 1946.

11. Upon at least 72 hours notice, the members of the fact-finding mission shall arrive in the territory of the requested State Party at the earliest opportunity. The requested State Party shall take the necessary administrative measures to receive, transport and accommodate the mission, and shall be responsible for ensuring the security of the mission to the maximum extent possible while they are on territory under its control.

12. Without prejudice to the sovereignty of the requested State Party, the fact-finding mission may bring into the territory of the requested State Party the necessary equipment which shall be used exclusively for gathering information on the alleged compliance issue. Prior to its arrival, the mission will advise the requested State Party of the equipment that it intends to utilize in the course of its fact-finding mission.

13. The requested State Party shall make all efforts to ensure that the fact-finding mission is given the opportunity to speak with all relevant persons who may be able to provide information related to the alleged compliance issue.

14. The requested State Party shall grant access for the fact-finding mission to all areas and installations under its control where facts relevant to the compliance issue could be expected to be collected. This shall be subject to any arrangements that the requested State Party considers necessary for:

(a) The protection of sensitive equipment, information and areas;

(b) The protection of any constitutional obligations the requested State Party may have with regard to proprietary rights, searches and seizures, or other constitutional rights; or .

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;

(d) The development of technologies to clear anti-personnel mines;

(e) Submissions of States Parties under Article 8; and

(f) Decisions relating to submissions of States Parties as provided for in Article 5.

2. The First Meeting of the States Parties shall be convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations within one year after the entry into force of this Convention. The subsequent meetings shall be convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations annually until the first Review Conference.

3. Under the conditions set out in Article 8, the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall convene a Special Meeting of the States Parties.

4. States not parties to this Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations may be invited to attend these meetings as observers in accordance with the agreed Rules of Procedure.

ARTICLE 12

Review Conferences

1. A Review Conference shall be convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations five years after the entry into force of this Convention. Further Review Conferences shall be convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations if so requested by one or more States Parties, provided that the interval between Review Conferences shall in no case be less than five years. All States Parties to this Convention shall be invited to each Review Conference.

2. The purpose of the Review Conference shall be:

(a) To review the operation and status of this Convention;

(b) To consider the need for and the interval between further Meetings of the States Parties referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 11;

(d) To adopt, if necessary, in its final report conclusions related to the implementation of this Convention.

3. States not parties to this Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations may be invited to attend each Review Conference as observers in accordance with the agreed Rules of Procedure.

ARTICLE 13

Amendments

1. At any time after the entry into force of this Convention any State Party may propose amendments to this Convention. Any proposal for an amendment shall be communicated to the Depositary, who shall circulate it to all States Parties and shall seek their views on whether an Amendment Conference should be convened to consider the proposal. If a majority of the States Parties notify the Depositary no later than 30 days after its circulation that they support further consideration of the proposal, the Depositary shall convene an Amendment Conference to which all States Parties shall be invited.

2. States not parties to this Convention, as well as the United Nations, other relevant international organizations or institutions, regional organizations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and relevant non-governmental organizations may be invited to attend each Amendment Conference as observers in accordance with the agreed Rules of Procedure.

3. The Amendment Conference shall be held immediately following a Meeting of the States Parties or a Review Conference unless a majority of the States Parties request that it be held earlier.

4. Any amendment to this Convention shall be adopted by a majority of two-thirds of the States Parties present and voting at the Amendment Conference. The Depositary shall communicate any amendment so adopted to the States Parties.

5. An amendment to this Convention shall enter into force for all States Parties to this Convention which have accepted it, upon the deposit with the Depositary of instruments of acceptance by a majority of States Parties. Thereafter it shall enter into force for any remaining State Party on the date of deposit of its instrument of acceptance.

ARTICLE 14

Costs

1. The costs of the Meetings of the States Parties, the Special Meetings of the States Parties, the Review Conferences and the Amendment Conferences shall be borne by the States Parties and States not parties to this Convention participating therein, in accordance with the United Nations scale of assessment adjusted appropriately.

2. The costs incurred by the Secretary-General of the United Nations under Articles 7 and 8 and the costs of any fact-finding mission shall be borne by the States Parties in accordance with the United Nations scale of assessment adjusted appropriately.

ARTICLE 15

Signature

This Convention, done at Oslo, Norway, on 18 September 1997, shall be open for signature at Ottawa, Canada, by all States from 3 December 1997 until 4 December 1997, and at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 5 December 1997 until its entry into force.

ARTICLE 16

Ratification, acceptance, approval or accession

1. This Convention is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval of the Signatories.

2. It shall be open for accession by any State which has not signed the Convention.

3. The instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the Depositary.

ARTICLE 17

Entry into force

1. This Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the sixth month after the month in which the 40th instrument of ratification acceptance, approval or accession has been deposited.

2. For any State which deposits its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession after the date of the deposit of the 40th instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, this Convention shall enter into force on the first day of the sixth month after the date on which that State has deposited its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

ARTICLE 18

Provisional application

Any State may at the time of its ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, declare that it will apply provisionally paragraph 1 of Article 1 of this Convention pending its entry into force.

ARTICLE 19

Reservations

The Articles of this Convention shall not be subject to reservations.

ARTICLE 20

Duration and withdrawal

1. This Convention shall be of unlimited duration.

2. Each State Party shall, in exercising its national sovereignty, have the right to withdraw from this Convention. It shall give notice of such withdrawal to all other States Parties, to the Depositary and to the United Nations Security Council. Such instrument of withdrawal shall include a full explanation of the reasons motivating this withdrawal.

3. Such withdrawal shall only take effect six months after the receipt of the instrument of withdrawal by the Depositary. If, however, on the expiry of that six-month period, the withdrawing State Party is engaged in an armed conflict, the withdrawal shall not take effect before the end of the armed conflict.

4. The withdrawal of a State Party from this Convention shall not in any way affect the duty of States to continue fulfilling the obligations assumed under any relevant rules of international law,

ARTICLE 21

Depositary

The Secretary-General of the United Nations is hereby designated as the Depositary of this Convention.

ARTICLE 22

Authentic texts

The original of this Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

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