Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T19:39:42.319Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The development of new anti-personnel weapons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 April 2017

Louise Doswald-Beck  and
Gérald C. Cauderay
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Extract

Article 36 of Additional Protocol I of 1977 states that:

“In the study, development, acquisition or adoption of a new weapon, means or method of warfare, a High Contracting Party is under an obligation to determine whether its employment would, in some or all circumstances, be prohibited by this Protocol or by any other rule of international law applicable to the High Contracting Party”.

The provision is not new law, but codifies the customary law duty of implementing a treaty or customary rule in good faith. Article 36 does, however, draw attention to the fact that new developments in weapons are quietly going on, and that care must be taken, before their deployment, that their use in some or all circumstances does not violate international humanitarian law. Although the duty to determine in advance the legality of the use of new weapons lies with the State developing them, other States have a legal interest in ensuring that this is done.

Type
Tenth Anniversary of the 1980 Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons
Information
International Review of the Red Cross (1961 - 1997) , Volume 30 , Issue 279 , December 1990 , pp. 565 - 577
Copyright
Copyright © International Committee of the Red Cross 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Selected References

Cooper, G. J., and Ryan, J. M., “Interaction of penetrating missiles with tissues”, British Journal of Surgery, Vol. 77, June 1990, pp. 607–610.Google ScholarPubMed
Kneubuehl, B., “Kaliberverkleinerung bei Handfeuerwaffen”, Allgemeine Schweizerische Militär Zeitschrift, No. 5, 1981.Google Scholar
Berlin, R. H., et al., “A proposed standard methodology for estimating the wounding capacity of small-calibre projectiles or others missiles”, Acta Chir. Scand., Suppl., 1982, p. 508.Google ScholarPubMed
Ludvigsen, E. C., “New Technologies for Combat Rifles”, ARMY, June 1989, pp. 60–63.Google Scholar
Fackler, M. L., “ACR candidates: assessing their wounding potential”, International Defense Review, 8/1989, pp. 1091–1092.Google Scholar
Geisenheyner, S., “FAE development; disturbing trends”, Jane's Defence Weekly, 21 February 1987.Google Scholar
Bellamy, C., «Le potentiel de l'Armée rouge en artillerie et en missiles», Revue internationale de défense, 4/1988.Google Scholar
Munro, N., “Army Tests Hand-Held Laser Rifles”, Defense News, 5 March 1990, p. 4.Google Scholar
Munro, N., “US Army to seek 48 Stingray Lasers to Help Blind Enemy Vehicles, Troops”, Defense News, 26 March 1990.Google Scholar
Rowles, J. W., “Laser Weapons on the Battlefield”, Defense Electronics, August 1989, pp. 77–85.Google Scholar
Anderberg, B., (Brig.), “The Low-Energy Laser aimed at the eye as a potential Anti-Personnel Weapon”, The RUSI Journal, Spring 1988, The Royal United Services Institute.Google Scholar
Anderberg, B. and Wolbarsht, M., , “Blinding lasers: the nastiest weapon?”, Military Technology, 3/90.Google Scholar
Tennenbaum, J., “Les armes antipersonnel électromagnétiques”, Défense et armement, Héraclès International, No 73.Google Scholar