Geneva, Switzerland
One thematic issue that has been the subject of discussion in this and other Standing Committees is that of Claymore mines and OZM-72 antipersonnel mines. Both of these types of mines can typically be used in either command-detonated mode or victim-activated mode (the latter with a tripwire). Use in victim-activated mode is prohibited by the Mine Ban Treaty.
Following numerous discussions in earlier years, Standing Committee co-chairs have urged States Parties to take steps to ensure that the means for victim activation are permanently removed, and that armed forces are instructed as to their legal obligations regarding these types of mines. They have also urged that States Parties should voluntarily report in their Article 7 submissions on stockpiled Claymore-type and OZM-72 mines and steps taken to ensure their use in command-detonated mode only.
A total of 30 States Parties have declared that they retain stocks of Claymore-type and/or OZM-72 mines; 30 other States Parties have declared that they do not possess or have destroyed these types of mines. The vast majority of States Parties, more than 90, have not declared whether their forces possess these types of mines.
Belarus, Denmark, Lithuania, Moldova, New Zealand, and Sweden have reported in their Article 7 reports on the measures taken to modify Claymore-type and OZM-72 mines
Some States Parties have chosen to physically modify the mine to accept only electric detonation and some have physically removed and destroyed the tripwire assembly and appropriate blasting cap.
Earlier this week, Bosnia and Herzegovina provided the best example of how to deal with these mines, when it said it was in the process of destroying nearly 15,000 MRUD (Claymore-type) mines it has found in stockpiles. It said it was doing this as a humanitarian measure, since such mines could be used as antipersonnel mines.
But if States Parties choose to keep Claymore or OZM-72 mines, they should, in order to be fully compliant and fully transparent, take measures to ensure the means for victim activation are permanently removed, and that armed forces are instructed as to their legal obligations regarding these types of mines, and States Parties should report on these steps to ensure their use in command-detonated mode only in Article 7 reports.
Thank you.
