Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V to the 1980 Convention), 28
November 2003
The High Contracting Parties,
Recognising the serious post-conflict humanitarian problems caused by explosive remnants of
war,
Conscious of the need to conclude a Protocol on post-conflict remedial measures of a generic
nature in order to minimise the risks and effects of explosive remnants of war,
And willing to address generic preventive measures, through voluntary best practices specified
in a Technical Annex for improving the reliability of munitions, and therefore minimising the
occurrence of explosive remnants of war,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
General provision and scope of application
1. In conformity with the Charter of the United Nations and of the rules of the international law
of armed conflict applicable to them, High Contracting Parties agree to comply with the
obligations specified in this Protocol, both individually and in co-operation with other High
Contracting Parties, to minimise the risks and effects of explosive remnants of war in
post-conflict situations.
2. This Protocol shall apply to explosive remnants of war on the land territory including internal
waters of High Contracting Parties.
3. This Protocol shall apply to situations resulting from conflicts referred to in Article 1,
paragraphs 1 to 6, of the Convention, as amended on 21 December 2001.
4. Articles 3, 4, 5 and 8 of this Protocol apply to explosive remnants of war other than existing
explosive remnants of war as defined in Article 2, paragraph 5 of this Protocol.
Article 2
Definitions
For the purpose of this Protocol,
1. Explosive ordnance means conventional munitions containing explosives, with the
exception of mines, booby traps and other devices as defined in Protocol II of this Convention
as amended on 3 May 1996.
2. Unexploded ordnance means explosive ordnance that has been primed, fused, armed, or
otherwise prepared for use and used in an armed conflict. It may have been fired, dropped,
launched or projected and should have exploded but failed to do so.
3. Abandoned explosive ordnance means explosive ordnance that has not been used during
an armed conflict, that has been left behind or dumped by a party to an armed conflict, and
which is no longer under control of the party that left it behind or dumped it. Abandoned
explosive ordnance may or may not have been primed, fused, armed or otherwise prepared