Canada
Practice Relating to Rule 12. Definition of Indiscriminate Attacks
Canada’s LOAC Manual (2001) states in its chapter on targeting:
Indiscriminate attacks are those that may strike legitimate targets and civilians or civilian objects without distinction. They are prohibited. Indiscriminate attacks are:
a. those which are not directed at a specific legitimate target.
Canada's LOAC Manual (1999) states:
Indiscriminate attacks are those that may strike legitimate targets and civilians or civilian objects without distinction. They are prohibited. Indiscriminate attacks are:
a. those which are not directed at a specific target.
Canada’s LOAC Manual (1999) states:
Indiscriminate attacks are those that may strike legitimate targets and civilians or civilian objects without distinction. They are prohibited. Indiscriminate attacks are:
…
b. those which employ a method or means of combat which cannot be directed at a specific legitimate target according to LOAC.
Canada’s LOAC Manual (2001) states in its chapter on targeting:
Indiscriminate attacks are those that may strike legitimate targets and civilians or civilian objects without distinction. They are prohibited. Indiscriminate attacks are:
…
b. those which employ a method or means of combat which cannot be directed at a specific legitimate target.
At the CDDH, Canada stated:
The definition of indiscriminate attack contained in paragraph 4 of Article 46 [now Article 51of the 1977 Additional Protocol I] is not intended to mean that there are means of combat the use of which would constitute an indiscriminate attack in all circumstances. It is our view that this definition takes account of the circumstances, as evidenced by the examples listed in paragraph 5 to determine the legitimacy of the use of means of combat.
Canada’s LOAC Manual (1999) states:
Indiscriminate attacks are those that may strike legitimate targets and civilians or civilian objects without distinction. They are prohibited. Indiscriminate attacks are:
…
c. those which employ a method or means of combat, the effects of which cannot be limited as required by the LOAC.
In a section on indiscriminate weapons and ammunition, the manual states:
A weapon is indiscriminate if it might strike or affect legitimate targets and civilians or civilian objects without distinction. Therefore, a weapon that cannot be directed at a specific legitimate target or the effects of which cannot be limited as required by the LOAC is prohibited.
Canada’s LOAC Manual (2001) states in its chapter on targeting:
Indiscriminate attacks are those that may strike legitimate targets and civilians or civilian objects without distinction. They are prohibited. Indiscriminate attacks are:
…
those which employ a method or means of combat, the effects of which cannot be limited as required by the LOAC.
At the CDDH, Canada stated:
The definition of indiscriminate attack contained in paragraph 4 of Article 46 [now Article 51 of the 1977 Additional Protocol I] is not intended to mean that there are means of combat the use of which would constitute an indiscriminate attack in all circumstances. It is our view that this definition takes account of the circumstances, as evidenced by the examples listed in paragraph 5 to determine the legitimacy of the use of means of combat.