Interpretation of Articles 11 and 97 of the Japanese Constitution – do they guarantee effective rights to “future generations”?

Guest post by Tsubasa Shinohara† Outline Introduction Common understanding of Articles 11 and 97 The meaning of the term “future generations” for nuclear disarmament Conclusions Introduction The Japanese Constitution contains some important provisions, in particular Articles 11 and 97, using the term “future generations”. On the basis of those Articles, some scholars have justified their…

US NUCLEAR WEAPONS POLICY VIOLATES THE RIGHT TO LIFE

SUBMISSION FOR THE UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW, 36TH SESSION OF THE UPR WORKING GROUP, APRIL – MAY 2020 Submitted 3 October 2019 by: LAWYERS COMMITTEE ON NUCLEAR POLICY http://www.lcnp.org; johnburroughs@lcnp.org WESTERN STATES LEGAL FOUNDATION http://www.wslfweb.org and SWISS LAWYERS FOR NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT A. Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons 1. In paragraph 66…

“Der INF-Vertrag vor dem Aus. Jetzt Atomwaffen ächten, das Recht auf Frieden entwickeln“

Referat in Stuttgart, 3. Mai 2019, anlässlich der Jahresversammlung von IPPNW Deutschland Dr.iur. Daniel Rietiker[1] Sehr geehrter Herr Bürgermeister, sehr geehrte Frau Pastorin, sehr geehrte Damen und Herren, Ich möchte mich zuerst ganz herzlich bei IPPNW Deutschland, insbesondere Frau Inga Blum, für die nette Einladung bedanken. Es ist für mich als Schweizer Jurist eine Freude…

Illegality of nuclear weapons under international law, and its relevance for the divestment debate

Daniel Rietiker This is a presentation delivered at the conference “Move the Nuclear Weapons Money”, Basel 12 April 2019. Dear colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, I thank Alyn Ware and Andi Niedecker very much for inviting me to this very promissing and important event. I was proposed the title “Illegality of nuclear weapons under international law”.…

Too much policy, not enough law: US suspension and potential withdrawal from the INF Treaty is not only unwise, but also problematic under international law

Dr.iur. Daniel Rietiker[1] Introduction The announcement of 1st of February 2019 on the suspension and potential withdrawal by the USA from the Treaty on the elimination of intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles (hereafter: INF Treaty), a key instrument with Russia that has been a centerpiece of European security since the Cold War, followed by Russia’s prompt…

Threat and use of nuclear weapons contrary to right to life, says UN Human Rights Committee

By Daniel Rietiker Introduction On 30 October 2018, the UN Human Rights Committee (HRC), which is in charge of the implementation of the 1966 International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), has adopted its General Comment (GC) no. 36 relating to the right to life (Article 6 ICCPR). It is in many respects a…

Why Swiss neutrality is no obstacle to joining the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)

By Daniel Rietiker Introduction Neutrality is a holy cow for Switzerland and, for good reasons, one of the unifying and integrating values of its citizens. Unfortunately, this concept is often invoked in a misleading way, most recently in the debate about whether Switzerland should join the TPNW. Last week, a strong majority (16) of the…