PROHIBITION OF CHEMICAL WEAPONS UNDER INTERNATIONAL
HUMANITARIAN LAW
29
THGENOCIDE NETWORK MEETING 24 MARCH 2021
Dr. Nele Verlinden, Legal Advisor, ICRC
Overview
1. Chemical Weapons: specific IHL rules
2. Chemical Weapons: general IHL rules
3. Chemical Weapons: criminal provisions
1. Chemical weapons: specific IHL rules
• Ancient prohibition to use poison
• 1899 Martens clause: ‘laws of humanity’
• 1899: Hague Declaration (IV,2) concerning Asphyxiating Gases - Prohibition to use of projectiles for diffusion of asphyxiating or
deleterious gases - Reciprocal obligation
Imperial war Museum, London, 1918
1. Chemical weapons: specific IHL rules
ICRC Archives, 1914-1918
1. Chemical weapons: specific IHL rules
ICRC Archives, Poland
• ICRC’s appeal to the belligerents, 8/2/1918:
‘we unhesitatingly demand a ban on this appalling method of waging war’
1. Chemical weapons: specific IHL rules
• 1925: Geneva Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use of
Asphyxiating, Poisonous or Other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare
- Prohibits use on war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of all analogous liquids materials or devices + bacteriological methods of warfare
- Reservations: retaliation possible
ICRC Archives, 1914-1918
1. Chemical Weapons: specific IHL rules
• 1972 Biological Weapons Convention
• 1993: Chemical Weapons Convention
- Prohibits the use, development, production, stockpiling, retention and transfer of chemical weapons (= all toxic chemicals)
In IAC and NIAC
Chemical weapons = toxic chemicals + munition/device/equipment to use them Except industrial, agricultural, research, medical, pharmaceutical or other peaceful purposes, protective purpose, law enforcement (riot control) - Requires their destruction
- Coercive verification system (OPCW)
• Customary IHL (Rule 74):
The use of chemical weapons is prohibited (IAC + NIAC)
=> ABSOLUTE PROHIBITION
2. Chemical Weapons: general IHL rules
• Principle of distinction
(Art. 48, 51 and 52 AP I, Art. 13 AP II, Rule 1 CIHL)
• Principle of proportionality (Art. 51 and 57 AP I, Rule 14 CIHL)
• Prohibition to use means of methods that cause superfluous injury and unnecessary suffering (SIRUS)
(Art. 35 AP I, Rule 70 CIHL)
• Prohibition to attack, destroy,… objects indispensable for the survival of the civilian population
(Art. 54 AP I, Art. 14 AP II, Rule 54 CIHL)
-> includes the pollution of water sources with chemical or other agents, rendering them useless
3. Chemical Weapons: criminal provisions
Art. VII(1)(a) CWC: obligation to criminalize violations of the Convention domestically + extraterritorial application to nationals
Rome Statute
• Art. 8(2)(b) (IAC)
(xvi) Employing poison or poisoned weapons
(xviii) Employing asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases […]
• Art. 8(2)(e) (NIAC)
(xvi) Employing poison or poisoned weapons
(xviii) Employing asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases […]
+ possible other war crimes Numerous Military Manuals
Thank you!
Questions?
nverlinden@icrc.org
ICRC Archives, Poland
