The Vienna Conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons (Part II) – The obvious disproportionality of nuclear weapons under international law

In our previous post on the Vienna Conference on the humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons, we compared the ongoing process focusing on the disastrous effects of nuclear weapons on the human being and its natural environment with the Ottawa and Oslo Processes, which were both crowned by the successful conclusion of the respective international treaties…

Cluster Munition Use in Eastern Ukraine: Learning from the experience of Syria and its accession to the CWC!

According to a report of Human Rights Watch of 20 October 2014 (see here), cluster munitions have been used massively in the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine. It can be recalled here that, in 2008, the Convention on Cluster Munitions (Oslo Convention), that prohibits the use, development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retainment and transfer of these weapons (Article 1 § 1),…

The Vienna Conference on the “Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons” – or: What is the Difference between a Landmine and a Nuclear Weapon?

Dear Reader, I attended the third Conference on the “Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons”, perfectly organized by the Austrian Government in the fantastic premisses of the Hofburg on 8 and 9 December 2014. For the results of the Conference and the progressive “pledge” of the Austrian Government, please click here. What are my personal ideas and conclusions of this Conference? On…

Disarmament before International Court of Justice (ICJ)

On 24 April 2014, the Government of the Republic of the Marshall Islands simultaneously filed in the Registry of the Court separate Applications against nine States (China, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, France, India, Israel, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United States of America) accusing…

Arms Trade Treaty to come into force!

The landmark Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), regulating the international trade in conventional arms – from small arms to battle tanks, combat aircraft and warships – will enter into force on 24 December 2014, 90 days after the 50th ratification. CONGRATULATION!! For the text of the Treaty, click here For the list of State Parties, click…

Vienna Conference on humanitarian impact of nuclear weapons

On 8 and 9 December, Austria is hosting the 3rd Conference on this topic. For more information, click here. One of the questions is whether the Nuclear Weapons States will be absent, as they have been during the Oslo and Nayarit (Mexico). For the time being, it is impossible to predict the outcome of the Conference. In any…