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The
Protocol does not prohibit attacks against binoculars, periscopes, telescopes, and other optical equipment because it was unknown whether laser attacks on such devices could cause permanent blindness. Article 3 allows for attacks on electronic optical equipment, because damaging it would not
159:
at 1 mile away may permanently blind at closer range." The only way to prevent all possible eye injuries by combat lasers would be to ban such lasers, but the countries negotiating the
Protocol saw this as neither feasible militarily nor even desirable from a humanitarian standpoint because
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In the employment of laser systems, the High
Contracting Parties shall take all feasible precautions to avoid the incidence of permanent blindness to unenhanced vision. Such precautions shall include training of their armed forces and other practical measures.
183:"2 .a 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 (Protocol IV, entitled Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons)"
155:, target illuminators, and anti-sensor systems" that "are still effectively antipersonnel laser weapons" because these technologies have the potential to be employed against people in addition to their intended uses. For example, "a laser system that will
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The prohibition, in advance, of the use of an abhorrent new weapon the production and proliferation of which appeared imminent is an historic step for humanity. It represents the first time since 1868, when the use of exploding bullets
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For the purpose of this protocol "permanent blindness" means irreversible and uncorrectable loss of vision which is seriously disabling with no prospect of recovery. Serious disability is equivalent to visual acuity of less than 20/200
94:
Blinding as an incidental or collateral effect of the legitimate military employment of laser systems, including laser systems used against optical equipment, is not covered by the prohibition of this
36:
and three annexed protocols were adopted on 10 October 1980 and opened for signature on 10 April 1981. In 1986, Sweden and
Switzerland pushed for the Blinding Laser Protocol. During 1989–91, the
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132:
This was also the first international agreement regulating use of lasers during war. (Use of lasers during peace had been previously mentioned in
Article IV of the US-Soviet Union
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24:, was issued by the United Nations on 13 October 1995. It came into force on 30 July 1998. As of the end of April 2018, the protocol had been agreed to by 109 nations.
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Carnahan, Burrus M.; Robertson, Marjorie (July 1996). "The
Protocol on "Blinding Laser Weapons": A New Direction for International Humanitarian Law".
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weapons specifically designed, as their sole combat function or as one of their combat functions, to cause permanent blindness to unenhanced
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ICRC welcomed the ban on blinding lasers as "a significant breakthrough in international humanitarian law," adding:
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target-marking and rangefinding lasers are important for keeping munitions on target and away from civilians.
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John
Marshall argues that despite the Protocol's ban, countries continue to develop and use "
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40:(ICRC) held four international meetings of experts on the topic and in 1993 published
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318:"Blinding Laser Weapons: Still Available on the Battlefield"
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Prevention of
Dangerous Military Activities Agreement
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316:Marshall, John (29 November 1997).
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77:to any State or non-State entity.
18:Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons
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71:corrective eyesight devices
57:It is prohibited to employ
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111:measured using both eyes.
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20:, Protocol IV of the 1980
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379:17 October 2013 at the
115:Historical significance
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641:Treaties of Honduras
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511:Treaties of Cameroon
506:Treaties of Cambodia
496:Treaties of Bulgaria
145:cause human injury.
956:Treaties of Uruguay
941:Treaties of Ukraine
931:Treaties of Tunisia
856:Treaties of Romania
851:Treaties of Moldova
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711:Treaties of Liberia
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681:Treaties of Jamaica
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651:Treaties of Iceland
646:Treaties of Hungary
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611:Treaties of Germany
591:Treaties of Finland
586:Treaties of Estonia
576:Treaties of Ecuador
566:Treaties of Denmark
546:Treaties of Croatia
481:Treaties of Bolivia
476:Treaties of Belgium
471:Treaties of Belarus
461:Treaties of Bahrain
456:Treaties of Austria
436:Treaties of Algeria
431:Treaties of Albania
69:or to the eye with
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916:Treaties of Sweden
861:Treaties of Russia
836:Treaties of Poland
816:Treaties of Panama
806:Treaties of Norway
756:Treaties of Mexico
701:Treaties of Latvia
696:Treaties of Kuwait
671:Treaties of Israel
616:Treaties of Greece
596:Treaties of France
556:Treaties of Cyprus
516:Treaties of Canada
491:Treaties of Brazil
401:Non-lethal weapons
189:. 12 November 2021
901:Treaties of Spain
846:Treaties of Qatar
796:Treaties of Niger
776:Treaties of Nauru
746:Treaties of Malta
686:Treaties of Japan
676:Treaties of Italy
656:Treaties of India
601:Treaties of Gabon
526:Treaties of Chile
245:. 13 October 1995
65:, that is to the
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661:Treaties of Iraq
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90:Article 3
81:Article 2
67:naked eye
53:Article 1
377:Archived
96:Protocol
352:9418079
343:2127879
295:2204074
109:Snellen
75:weapons
28:History
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249:4 July
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193:4 July
157:dazzle
63:vision
299:S2CID
291:JSTOR
59:laser
369:Text
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32:The
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