Weapons and the Law of Armed Conflict

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boothby William H
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Novel Technologies ◽  
Weapon Systems ◽  
Arms Trade ◽  
Logical Sequence ◽  
The Law

This book brings the legal rules governing the use of weapons in armed conflict together into a single volume and interprets and applies those principles and rules to particular weapons technologies. It is the essential reference book for anyone dealing or concerned with the international law applying to weaponry. After relating the historical evolution of weapons law, identifying its sources and discussing the important customary principles that are the foundation of the subject, the book explains to the reader in a logical sequence of chapters how treaty and customary rules apply to particular categories of weapon or to relevant technologies, both traditional and novel. Having explained to the reader how the existing law applies across the full range of weapons technologies, the book discusses how this dynamic field of international law may be expected to develop in the years ahead. This new edition tackles challenging weapons law issues such as the new treaty law on expanding bullets and on the arms trade, novel technologies in the fields of chemistry and biology, the topical controversies associated with autonomous and automated weapon systems, and how law applies to weapons in outer space and to cyber weapons. The law applicable in non-international armed conflicts is summarized; compliance and weapon reviews are carefully explained; and recent international and national military manuals, and other developments in the wider literature, are thoroughly reflected throughout the text.

1 Introduction

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boothby William H
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Use Of Force ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Important Distinction ◽  
Legal Rules ◽  
Arms Trade ◽  
Law Of Armed Conflict ◽  
The Law

This relatively brief chapter introduces the book as a whole. It positions weapons law within the framework of international law in general, and of the law of armed conflict in particular, noting the important distinctions between international and non-international armed conflicts, and between the law on the resort to the use of force and that which regulates the conduct of hostilities. The logical flow of the book is presented, and certain terms that are vital to the ensuing discussion, namely weapons, means of warfare and methods of warfare are explained. The all-important distinction between weapons law and the legal rules that regulate targeting is noted. A concluding section addresses the recently-adopted Arms Trade Treaty.

San Remo Manual on International Law Applicable to Armed Conflicts at Sea

1995 ◽  
Vol 35 (309) ◽  
pp. 595-637 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Geneva Convention ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
International Institute ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Geneva Conventions ◽  
Law Of Armed Conflict ◽  
The Law ◽  
Naval Operations

The San Remo Manual was prepared during the period 1988–1994 by a group of legal and naval experts participating in their personal capacity in a series of Round Tables convened by the International Institute of Humanitarian Law. The purpose of the Manual is to provide a contemporary restatement of international law applicable to armed conflicts at sea. The Manual includes a few provisions which might be considered progressive developments in the law but most of its provisions are considered to state the law which is currently applicable. The Manual is viewed by the participants of the Round Tables as being in many respects a modern equivalent to the Oxford Manual on the Laws of Naval War Governing the Relations Between Belligerents adopted by the Institute of International Law in 1913. A contemporary manual was considered necessary because of developments in the law since 1913 which for the most part have not been incorporated into recent treaty law, the Second Geneva Convention of 1949 being essentially limited to the protection of the wounded, sick and shipwrecked at sea. In particular, there has not been a development for the law of armed conflict at sea similar to that for the law of armed conflict on land with the conclusion of Protocol I of 1977 additional to the Geneva Conventions of 1949. Although some of the provisions of Additional Protocol I affect naval operations, in particular those supplementing the protection given to medical vessels and aircraft in the Second Geneva Convention of 1949, Part IV of the Protocol, which protects civilians against the effects of hostilities, is applicable only to naval operations which affect civilians and civilian objects on land.

3 Scope of Application of International Humanitarian Law

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kleffner Jann K
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
International Humanitarian Law ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Public International Law ◽  
Scope Of Application ◽  
The Law ◽  
Humanitarian Values ◽  
The One

This chapter addresses the scope of application of international humanitarian law. International humanitarian law regulates, and as a rule applies in times of, armed conflicts. Accordingly, it is also referred to as the law of armed conflict or jus in bello. The three interchangeable terms denote the only branch of public international law that is specifically designed to strike a balance during armed conflicts between preserving humanitarian values, on the one hand, and considerations of military necessity, on the other by protecting those who do not or no longer directly participate in hostilities and by limiting the right of parties to the conflict to use armed force only to the amount necessary to achieve the aim of the conflict, which is to weaken the military potential of the enemy. While international humanitarian law specifically regulates situations of armed conflicts, it does not automatically supersede all other areas of public international law in the event of an armed conflict. The chapter then focuses on the law enforcement aspects, the continued relevance of rules of international law of peace during armed conflict, and the relevance of humanitarian law in peacetime and post-conflict military operations.

16 Maritime and Outer Space Weapons

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Boothby William H
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Law Of Armed Conflict ◽  
Outer Space Treaty ◽  
The Law ◽  
Space Weapons ◽  
The Uk

This chapter explores the law of armed conflict with regard to the weapons used in sea warfare. It addresses automatic contact mines, nuclear mines, submarines, missiles, and torpedoes. Relevant elements of the treaties of 1907, of instruments adopted in 1930 and 1936, of the writings of experts and in particular of the San Remo Manual and of the UK Manual are considered in relation to each class of weapon. A discrete section looks at weapons in outer space, noting the application of international law to outer space by virtue of article III of the Outer Space Treaty, and the important provisions of article IV of that treaty. The issues that a reviewer of an outer space weapon would need to consider are set forth in that section.

Conclusion

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kubo Mačák
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Law Of Armed Conflict ◽  
The Law

This chapter presents the conclusions of the book. It summarizes the argument of the book and makes some general observations about the process and effects of internationalization of armed conflicts in international law. Specifically, the chapter builds on the preceding analysis to argue that the study stands for a specific understanding of the notion of internationalized armed conflicts, one that is subject to an extensive application of the law of armed conflict. It further highlights some of the gaps in the legal regulation that result from the particular features of internationalized conflicts. The chapter closes by sketching potential directions in which the law and practice may develop in order to address those lacunae.

scholarly journals Debating Autonomous Weapon Systems, their Ethics, and their Regulation under International Law

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Anderson ◽  
Matthew C. Waxman
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Target Selection ◽  
Legal Regulation ◽  
International Treaty ◽  
International Debate ◽  
Weapon Systems ◽  
Law And Ethics ◽  
Law Of Armed Conflict ◽  
The Law

An international public debate over the law and ethics of autonomous weapon systems (AWS) has been underway since 2012, with those urging legal regulation of AWS under existing principles and requirements of the international law of armed conflict in argument with opponents who favour, instead, a preemptive international treaty ban on all such weapons. This chapter provides an introduction to this international debate, offering the main arguments on each side. These include disputes over defining an AWS, the morality and law of automated targeting and target selection by machine, and the interaction of humans and machines in the context of lethal weapons of war. Although the chapter concludes that a categorical ban on AWS is unjustified morally and legally—favouring the law of armed conflict’s existing case-by-case legal evaluation—it offers an exposition of arguments on each side of the AWS issue.

scholarly journals Armed Conflicts in Outer Space

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 335-357
Author(s):  
Juan Felipe Idrovo Romo
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
International Humanitarian Law ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Dual Use ◽  
Public International Law ◽  
Unique Nature ◽  
Rules And Principles

The paper critically explores those scenarios (hypothetical, but probable) in which armed conflicts take place in outer space. First, the problem regarding the definition and delimitation of outer space will be analyzed. In this regard, the reasons why there is no consensus among the States, and even within the scientific community, will be explained. Subsequently, the relevant branches (for the topic) of Public International Law will be introduced (International Space Law, International Humanitarian Law, and Ius ad Bellum) and their key regulations will be identified. At this point, the main reasons why International Humanitarian Law shall be applied in the event that an armed conflict develops in outer space will be explained taking into account PIL formal and auxiliary sources. Likewise, specific challenges, that result from the application of International Humanitarian Law in outer space, will be exposed and analyzed. These challenges include: (i) attacks on dual-use objects; (ii) the obligations of the parties to the conflict when there is human direct or physical participation; and (iii) the applicable regulations for the development and use of new weapons. For each problem raised, possible solutions based on the rules and principles of current law will be provided. Finally, the need for the eventual creation of a specific treaty to regulate the matter will be emphasized, in view of the unique nature of this type of conflict.

Displacement of Civilians during Armed Conflict in the Light of the Case Law of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 823-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
ALLEHONE MULUGETA ABEBE
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
International Humanitarian Law ◽  
State Responsibility ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Civilian Population ◽  
The Law

AbstractThe awards on liability and damages for violations of international humanitarian law of the Eritrea-Ethiopia Claims Commission uncover both the extent of state responsibility for unlawful displacement and deportation of civilian population resulting from wrongful actions of belligerents under international law and the availability of remedies for victims of such violations. The Commission reached a number of important decisions based on government-to-government claims brought by Ethiopia and Eritrea for injuries, losses, and damage suffered by individuals and groups uprooted by the war. While these decisions bring to light the potential of international humanitarian law in addressing the plight of the displaced, they also expose the limitations of the tribunal's mandate and its interpretation of existing law. The aim of this essay is to analyse the case law of the Commission in the light of international law applicable to situations of displacement of civilians triggered by international armed conflicts, and evaluate the relevance of the Commission's jurisprudence for the development of the law in the field.

The Principle of Proportionality in an Era of High Technology

2018 ◽  
pp. 261-288
Author(s):  
Jack Beard
Keyword(s):  
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Outer Space ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Law Of Armed Conflict ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Technological Developments ◽  
The Law ◽  
Principle Of Proportionality ◽  
Weapons Systems

This chapter explores the application of a key principle of the law of armed conflict—proportionality—in the context of new and emerging weapons systems and methods of warfare. The relentless pursuit of new military technologies by States continues to yield expanding lists of technology-related issues for lawyers to consider in applying the law of armed conflict in complex battlespaces on land, on sea, in air, in space, and in cyberspace. Foremost among these issues is the challenge presented by the principle of proportionality, requiring military forces to refrain from causing excessive damage to civilians and civilian objects when attacking military objectives. New weapons systems in complex battlespaces continue to increasingly force lawyers and decision makers to revisit, re-evaluate, and struggle in new contexts with the “equitable balance between humanitarian requirements and the sad necessities of war.” Some technological developments may, however, also present opportunities for the principle of proportionality to achieve greater relevance to the conduct of armed conflicts and even contribute to improved compliance by States. To illustrate these challenges and opportunities, this chapter examines the application of the principle of proportionality in modern armed conflicts with respect to several critical yet still evolving military technologies: unmanned aerial vehicles, autonomous weapons systems, cyber capabilities, and outer space technologies.

Internationalized Armed Conflicts in International Law

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kubo Macak
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
International Law ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Prima Facie ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Post Cold War ◽  
Internal Conflicts ◽  
Legal Questions ◽  
Legal Nature ◽  
The Law

This book examines and analyses the concept, the process, and the consequences of conflict internationalization from the perspective of international law. In a world defined by the twin forces of globalization and fragmentation, very few armed conflicts remain isolated from foreign involvement and confined to the territory of one state. Instead, many begin as internal conflicts that gradually acquire international characteristics of varying degree and nature. This holds true for nearly all major conflicts that have shaped the post-Cold War era: ex-Yugoslavia, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, and so on. Accordingly, this book searches for the tipping points that convert non-international armed conflicts into international armed conflicts. On that basis, it argues for a specific conceptualization of ‘internationalized armed conflict’ in international law, understood to comprise prima facie non-international armed conflicts, whose legal nature has transformed, thus triggering the applicability of the law of international armed conflict to them. The book then puts forward a comprehensive catalogue of modalities of the process of internationalization that includes outside intervention, state dissolution, and recognition of belligerency. Turning to the consequences of internationalization, the book highlights that the intra-state origin of internationalized conflicts provides for an uneasy match with many of the precepts of the law of international armed conflict, which has historically evolved as a regulatory framework for inter-state wars. Of those, the regulation of combatancy and the law of belligerent occupation are where the principal legal questions lie and which are examined in depth in this book.

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