Additional Protocol to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be Excessively Injurious or to have Indiscriminate Effects

Parties with reservations, declarations and objections

Party	Reservations / Declarations	Objections
Australia	Yes	No
Austria	Yes	No
Belgium	Yes	No
Canada	Yes	No
Germany	Yes	No
Greece	Yes	No
Ireland	Yes	No
Israel	Yes	No
Italy	Yes	No
Liechtenstein	Yes	No
Netherlands, the Kingdom of the	Yes	No
Poland	Yes	No
South Africa	Yes	No
Sweden	Yes	No
Switzerland	Yes	No
United Kingdom	Yes	No
United States of America	Yes	No

Australia

22-08-1997

Declaration:
It is the understanding of the Government of Australia that the provisions of Protocol IV shall apply in all circumstances.

Austria

27-07-1998

Declaration in relation to article 1:
It is the understanding of Austria that the provisions of the Additional Protocol which by their contents or nature may also be applied in peacetime, shall be observed at all times.

Belgium

10-03-1999

Declaration:
It is the understanding of the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium that the provisions of Protocol IV which by their contents or nature may also be applied in peacetime, shall be observed at all times.

Canada

19-10-1998

Declaration in relation to article 1:
It is the understanding of Canada that the provisions of the Additional Protocol which by their contents or nature may also be applied in peacetime, shall be observed at all times.

Germany

27-06-1997

Declaration in relation to article 1:
It is the understanding of Germany that the provisions of the Additional Protocol which by their contents or nature may also be applied in peacetime, shall be observed at all times.

Greece

05-08-1997

Declaration in relation to article 1:
It is the understanding of Greece that the provisions of the Additional Protocol which by their contents or nature may also be applied in peacetime, shall be observed at all times.

Ireland

27-03-1997

Declaration in relation to article 1:
It is the understanding of Ireland that the provisions of the Additional Protocol which by their contents or nature may also be applied in peacetime, shall be observed at all times.

Israel

30-10-2000

Declaration:
With reference to the scope of application defined in Article 1 of the Convention, the Government of the State of Israel will apply the provisions of the Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons as well as the Convention and those annexed Protocols to which Israel has agreed to become bound, to all armed conflicts involving regular armed forces of States referred to in article 2 common to the Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949, as well as to all armed conflicts referred to in Article 3 common to the Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949.

Italy

13-01-1999

Declaration in relation to article 1:
It is the understanding of Italy that the provisions of the Additional Protocol which by their contents or nature may also be applied in peacetime, shall be observed at all times.

Liechtenstein

19-11-1999

Declaration in relation to article 1:
It is the understanding of Liechtenstein that the provisions of the Additional Protocol which by their contents or nature may also be applied in peacetime, shall be observed at all times.

Netherlands, the Kingdom of the

25-03-1999

Declaration:
With regard to Article 1:
The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands takes the view that the provisions of Protocol IV which, given their content or nature, can also be applied in peacetime must be observed in all circumstances.

Poland

23-09-2004

The Republic of Poland believes that the provisions of the Additional Protocol should also be applied in peacetime.

South Africa

26-06-1998

Declaration in relation to article 1:
It is the understanding of South Africa that the provisions of the Additional Protocol which by their contents or nature may also be applied in peacetime, shall be observed at all times.

Sweden

15-01-1997

Declarations:
-Sweden intends to apply the Protocol to all types of armed conflict;
-Sweden intends to pursue an international agreement by which the provisions of the Protocol shall be applicable to all types of armed conflict;
-Sweden has since long strived for explicit prohibition of the use of blinding laser which would risk causing permanent blindness to soldiers. Such an effect, in Sweden's view is contrary to the principle of international law prohibiting means and methods of warfare which cause unnecessary suffering.

Switzerland

24-03-1998

Declaration:
It is the understanding of the Government of Switzerland that the provisions of Protocol IV shall apply in all circumstances.

United Kingdom

11-02-1999

Declaration:
In relation to Protocol IV, the Government of the United Kingdom declare that their application of its provisions will not be limited to the situations set out in Article 1 of the [1980] Convention.

United States of America

21-01-2009

It is the understanding of the United States of America with respect to Article 2 that any decision by any military commander, military personnel, or any other person responsible for planning, authorizing or executing military action shall only be judged on the basis of that person’s assessment of the information reasonably available to the person at the time the person planned, authorized or executed the action under review, and shall not be judged on the basis of information that comes to light after the action under review was taken.