472-(12)

II SÉRIE-A — NÚMERO 21

tained and when feasible marked on the ground at the earliest opportunity. The total number and type of mines laid, the date and time of laying and the self-destruction

time periods shall also be recorded.

c) Copies of records shall be held at a level of command sufficient to guarantee their safety as far as

possible.

d) The use of mines produced after the entry into force of this Protocol is prohibited unless they are marked in English or in the respective -national language or languages with the following information:

i) Name of the country of origin;

ii) Month and year of production; and Hi) Serial number or lot number.

The marking should be visible, legible, durable and resistant to environmental effects, as far as possible.

2 — Specifications on detecteblllty

a) With respect to anti-personnel mines produced after 1 January 1997, such mines shall incorporate in their construction a material or device that enables the mine to be detected by commonly-available technical mine detection equipment and provides a response signal equivalent to a signal from 8 grammes or more of iron in a single coherent mass.

b) With respect to anti-personnel mines produced before 1 January 1997, such mines shall either incorporate in their constrution, or have attached prior to their emplacement, in a manner not easily removable, a material or device that enables the mine to be detected by commonly-available technical mine detection equipment and provides a response signal equivalent to a signal from 8 grammes or more of iron in a single coherent mass.

c) In the event that a High Contracting Parties determines that it cannot immediately comply with sub-paragraph 6), it may declare at the time of its notification of consent to be bound by this Protocol that it will defer compliance with subparagraph b) for a period not to exceed 9 years from the entry into force of this Protocol. In the meantime it shall, to the extent feasible, minimize the use of anti-personnel mines that do not so comply.

3 — Specifications on self-destruction and self-deactivation

a) All remotely-delivered anti-personnel mines shall be designed and constructed so that no more than 10% of activated mines will fail to self-destruct within 30 days after emplacement, and each mine shall have a back-up self-deactivation feature designed and constructed so that, in combination with the self-destruction mechanism, no more than one in one thousand activated mines will function as a mine 120 days after emplacement.

b) All non-remotely delivered anti-personnel mines, used outside marked areas, as defined in article 5 of this Protocol, shall comply with the requirements for self-destruction and self-deactivation stated in subparagraph a).

c) In the event that a High Contracting Parties determines that it cannot immediately comply with sub-paragraphs a) and/or b), it may declare at the time of its notification of consent to be bound by this Protocol

that it will, with respect to mines produced prior to the entry into force of this Protocol, defer compliance with subparagraphs a) and/or b) for a period not to

exceed 9 years from the entry into force of this Protocol

During this period of deferral, the High Contracting Party shall:

/') Undertake to minimize, to the extent feasible, the use of anti-personnel mines that do not so comply; and

ii) With respect to remotely-delivered anti-personnel mines, comply with either the requirements for self-destruction or the requirements for self-deactivation and, with respect to other anti-personnel mines comply with at least the requirements for self-deactivation.

4 — International signs for minefields and mined areas

Signs similar to the example attached and as specified below shall be utilized in the marking of minefields and mined areas to ensure their visibility and recognition by the civilian population:

a) Size and shape: a triangle or square no smaller than 28 centimetres (11 inches) by 20 centimetres (7.9 inches) for a triangle, and 15 centimetres (6 inches) per side for a square;

b) Colour: red or orange with a yellow reflecting border;

c) Symbol: the symbol illustrated in the attachment, or an alternative readily recognizable in the area in which the sign is to be displayed as identifying a dangerous area;

d) Language: the sign should contain the word 'mines' in one of the six official languages of the Convention (Arabic, Chinese, Engd'sh, French, Russian and Spanish) and the language or languages prevalent in that area; and

e) Spacing: signs should be placed around the minefield or mined area at a distance sufficient to ensure their visibility at any point by a civilian approaching the area.»

attachment

Warning Sign for Areas Containing Mines

"VER DIÁRIO ORIGINAL"

ARTICLE 2 Entry into force

This amended Protocol shall enter into force as provided for in paragraph 1, b), of article 8 of the Convention.