The United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons entered into force on the 2nd of December 1983. The negotiations concluded in Geneva on the 10th of October 1980, and the treaty became effective three years later.
By the end of July 2024, 128 state parties had joined the agreement. Some nations adopted only two of the five protocols as a minimum requirement for participation.
Protocol IV outlaws laser weapons specifically designed to cause permanent blindness. Parties must take feasible precautions to avoid incidental blinding from other laser systems.
The significant amendment to Protocol II entered into force on the 3rd of December 1998. This update extended restrictions on landmine use to cover internal armed conflicts as well as international ones.
Negotiations failed to achieve consensus on adding a compliance mechanism because China and Russia opposed restrictions requiring anti-vehicle mines to self-deactivate. These diplomatic hurdles prevented stronger enforcement measures from being adopted during that period.