With new parties, pact to clear unexploded war ordnance will take effect – UN

The horrendous legacy of unexploded ordnance that continues to kill and maim people, especially children, years after the wars that seeded it have ended may at last be mitigated now that a United Nations-backed protocol has received sufficient ratifications to enter into force in November.

Under Protocol V on Explosive Remnants of War, part of the Conventional Weapons Convention (CCW), parties to armed conflicts must mark, clear and destroy all explosive remnants of war in territories under their control.

Late on Friday, Liechtenstein and Switzerland deposited their instruments of consent to the Protocol, enabling it to enter into force on 12 November, a UN spokesman announced today.

Protocol V was adopted by 92 countries at UN headquarters in Geneva in November 2003. Ever since its adoption, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has been urging countries to ratify it.