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11 March 2004
Report
available |
“Non-Lethal”
Weapons: Emerging Technologies and their Consequences for International
Law
The term “non-lethal”
weapon is among the most controversial in international and domestic
security circles. For some, “non-lethal” weapons offer
the reassuring possibility of minimising injury among soldiers and
civilians in situations of international and domestic conflict.
Others see them as providing a means for oppressing domestic populations,
for incapacitating combatants prior to killing them, or for inflicting
pain, suffering and, despite their name, death.
“Non-lethal”
weapons technologies have undergone significant advancement in recent
years. The result has been the development of weapons that, until
recently, might have been dismissed as being in the realm of science
fiction. Examples are weapons systems that rely on high power microwave,
laser, vortex generators, strong odours, light or noise to incapacitate
opponents, temporarily or otherwise.
Important legal
questions surround the development and deployment of such weapons.
“Non-lethal” weapons systems that rely on biochemical
processes have obvious implications for the Chemical Weapons Convention
(CWC) and the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC). Weapons
that may be deemed to cause unnecessary suffering or to have indiscriminate
effects fall under the purview of the Convention on Certain Conventional
Weapons (CCW). In addition, questions of international humanitarian
and human rights law are relevant to the debate on “non-lethal”
weapons.
This seminar
used as the basis of its discussion the most recent report of the
Non-Lethal Weapons Research Project of the University of Bradford
in the UK. The report’s co-authors, Mr. Neil Davison and Prof.
Nick Lewer of Bradford University, presented an overview
of emerging “non-lethal” technologies. Dr. Robin
Coupland, Medical Advisor at the ICRC, addressed, from the perspective
of international humanitarian law, some of the concerns raised by
the development and deployment of such weapons.
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Prof.
Nick Lewer, Director, Non-lethal Weapons Research Project,
University of Bradford.
Mr.
Neil Davison, Project Coordinator, Non-lethal Weapons Research
Project, University of Bradford.
Dr.
Robin Coupland, Medical Advisor, International Committee
of the Red Cross. |