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10 AOUT 1998. - An Act to approve the 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, adopted in New York on 13 October 1995 (1)

ALBERT II, King of the Belgians,
To all, present and to come, Hi.
The Chambers adopted and We sanction the following:
Article 1^er. This Act regulates a matter referred to in Article 77 of the Constitution.
Art. 2. The 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, adopted in New York on 13 October 1995, will come out its full and complete effect.
Promulgate this Act, order that it be put on the State Seal and published by the Belgian Monitor.
Given at Châteauneuf-de-Grasse on 10 August 1998.
ALBERT
By the King:
Minister of Foreign Affairs,
E. DERYCKE
Minister of National Defence,
J.-P. PONCELET
Seen and sealed the state seal:
Minister of Justice,
T. VAN PARYS
____
Note
(1) Session 1997-1998.
Senate:
Documents. - Bill tabled on 15 April 1998, No. 1-954/1. - Report, no. 1-954/2. - Text adopted in session and transmitted to the Chamber, No. 1-954/3.
Annales parliamentarians. - Discussion, meeting of 9 July 1998. - Vote, meeting of 9 July 1998.
House of Representatives:
Documents. - Project transmitted by the Senate, No. 1649/1.
Annales parlementaire.- Discussion, meeting of July 16, 1998. - Vote, meeting of 16 July 1998.
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
Article 1
Additional Protocol
The following protocol is 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 ("the Convention") as Protocol IV.
« Protocol on blinding laser weapons (Protocol IV)
Article 1
It is forbidden to use laser weapons specifically designed in such a way that their only combat function or one of their combat functions is to cause permanent blindness in people whose vision is not improved, that is, who look at the naked eye or who wear corrective lenses. The High Contracting Parties shall not transfer such weapons to any State or entity other than a State.
Article 2
In the use of laser systems, the High Contracting Parties take all feasible precautions to avoid permanent blindness cases in persons whose vision is not improved. Such precautions include the instruction of their armed forces and other practical measures.
Article 3
The blinding as a fortuitous or collateral effect of legitimate military use of laser systems, including laser systems used against optical devices, is not subject to the prohibition set out in this Protocol.
Article 4
For the purposes of this Protocol, "permanent blindness" means a loss of irreversible and non-corrosive vision, which is severely invalid without any prospect of recovery. A severe disability is equivalent to a visual acuity less than 20/200, measured in both eyes using the Snellen test. »
Article 2
Entry into force
This Protocol shall enter into force as provided for in Article 5, paragraphs 3 and 4, of the Convention.

PROTOCOL ADDITIONAL PROTOCOL TO THE CONVENTION ON PROHIBITIONS OR RESTRICTION OF CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS WHICH MAY BE DEEMED TO BE EXCESSIVELY DISCRIMINATION, ADOPTED TO NEW YORK ON 13 OCTOBER 1995
Related States
For the consultation of the table, see image
Belgium has filed the following statement:
“The Government of the Kingdom considers that the provisions of Protocol IV which, by their content or nature may also be applied in peacetime, must be respected in all circumstances. »