Practice Relating to Rule 45. Causing Serious Damage to the Natural Environment
Colombia’s Basic Military Manual (1995) states that “the use of weapons which cause unnecessary and indiscriminate, widespread, long-term and severe damage to persons and the environment” is prohibited.
Colombia’s Penal Code (2000) imposes a criminal sanction on “anyone who, during an armed conflict, uses methods or means of warfare which are intended to cause widespread, long-term and severe damage to the natural environment”.