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.
 Geneva, 10 October 1980.

The High Contracting Parties,

"Recalling" that every State has the duty, in conformity with the Charter of the United Nations, to refrain in its international relations from the threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.

"Further recalling" the general principle of the protection of the civilian population against the effects of hostilities,

"Basing themselves" on the principle of international law that the right of the parties to an armed conflict to choose methods or means of warfare is not unlimited, and on the principle that prohibits the employment in armed conflicts of weapons, projectiles and material and methods of warfare of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering,

"Also recalling" that it is prohibited to employ methods or means of warfare which are intended, or may be expected, to cause widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment,