A comparative study of the scope of the prohibition of assisting or ‎encouraging prohibited activities in global disarmament treaties

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of International Law, Faculty of Law, Qom University, Qom, Iran‎

2 Corresponding Author; Department of International Law, Faculty of Law,University of Qom, Qom, ‎Iran‎

Abstract

In some disarmament treaties, assisting, encouraging, or inducing prohibited activities is declared illegal. Prohibited activities are actions that States are prohibited from doing according to the disarmament treaty.However, the exact scope of this prohibition is still debated by experts.The basic question is: what is the extent of the prohibition of assist, encouragement and inducement? what it's boundaries? For this purpose, the provision of assistance in the five main disarmament treaties has been investigated and two important findings have been obtained by using library data and the application of the analytical descriptive method: First, although the lack of a consensus definition for assistance, encouragement or inducement and the States' lack of interest in explaining the issue In the domestic and international pactice, it has led to continuation of ambiguity in the scope of this provision, but this ambiguity also has benefits. Second, the views of the States in the preliminary negotiations and their subsequent practices confirm the narrow interpretation of the assisting provision. Therefore, any action that contradicts the purpose and subject of the treaty and is done knowingly with the intention of facilitating the commission of prohibited acts or incitement to commit them is considered as prohibited assistance or encouragement.

Keywords

Main Subjects

  1. Aust,H. (2011). Complicity and the Law of State Responsibility, Cambridge University Press.
  2. Australian Department of Defence (2016). “Defence White Paper”
  3. Basic Provisions of a Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, CD/294, July 21, 1982 (U.S.S.R. version).
  4. Bernauer, T. (1993). The end of chemical warfare, Security Dialogue, 24(1),97-112.
  5. Biological Weapons Convention,1972
  6. Black-Branch, J. (2021). The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. cambridge.
  7. Bowman, S. (2001). Biological weapons: a primer. N.Y, Novinka Books.
  8. British Proposal Submitted to the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament,Aug. 18, 1970, CCD/225/Rev.2
  9. Chemical Weapons Convention,1993
  10. Cluster Munitions Convention,2008
  11. Communist Draft Convention (Biological) Weapons and Toxins and on Their Destruction, art. III, Mar. 30, 1971,CCD/325/Rev.1
  12. Convention on Cluster Munitions: Interoperability and National Legislation—The View of the ICRC(2012), Int’l Comm. of The Red Cross 2 , http://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/2012/cluster munitionsinteroperability-icrc-2012-09-12.pdf.(visited:17/03/2023)
  13. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (APMBC),1997.
  14. Draft articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, with commentaries, 2001; text adopted by the International Law Commission (ILC)
  15. Email of Ambassador Thomas Hajnoczi, Head, Disarmament Department, Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2018.
  16. Final Declaration of the eighth Review Conference, BWC/CONF.VIII/CRP2,2016
  17. Final Declaration of the Sixth Review Conference,BWC/CONF.VI/6, Nov. 20-Dec. 8, 2006
  18. Final Report, 115, APLC/CONF/2004/5 (Feb. 9, 2005).
  19. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-5&chapter=26&clang=_en#EndDec(last visit 12/1/2023)
  20. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nuclear-india-usa-factbox idUSN1816567020061218(last visited:7/4/2023)
  21. Human Rights Watch et al., Banning Cluster Munitions: Government policy and practice,2009
  22. Human Rights Watch(2010), Meeting the Challenge: Protecting Civilians Through the Convention on Cluster Munitions at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/armsclusters1110webwcover.pdf(visited:07/02/2023)
  23. ICJ, Case Concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbia and Montenegro), Judgment, 26 February 2007
  24. ICRC briefing note at:https://www.icrc.org/en/download/file/93626/assistance-treaty-prohibition-nuclear-weapons-briefing-note-icrc.pdf (last visit:25/1/2023)
  25. International Law and Policy Institute(2016), “Under my Umbrella”, http://nwp.ilpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/BP21-16_UMBRELLA.pdf.
  26. Kmentt, A. (2021). The Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons: How it was Achieved and Why it Matters (1st ed.). Routledge.
  27. Krutzsch,W. & Trapp,R. (2014). the Chemical Weapons Convention A Commentary. Oxford University Press.
  28. Letter from Henk Swarttouw, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 26 February 2009.
  29. Loi de 4 juin portant approbation de la Convention sur les armes à sous munitions (3Dec 2008) ,art 2 1.41
  30. Maaike Beenes and Susi Snyder (2018) Don’t Bank on the Bomb. Utrecht, the Netherlands:.at: https://www.dontbankonthebomb.com/2018_report_web/.https://www.dontbankonthebomb.com/wp content/uploads/2018/03/2018_Report.pdf.(27/04/2023)
  31. Maslen, S. (2001). Anti-Personnel Mines under International Humanitarian Law: a view from the vanishing point. Brill.
  32. Maslen,S. (2005). Commentaries on Arms Control Treaties: the convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mine and on their destruction,Oxford.
  33. Moynihan, H. (2016). Aiding and Assisting: Challenges in Armed Conflict and Counterterrorism, Research Paper, Chatham House.
  34. NATO, “NATO 2022 Strategic Concept ”, June 30,2022 at https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2022/6/pdf/290622-strategic-concept.pdf(29/11/2022)
  35. Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor preliminary research(2018) at: https://banmonitor.org/files/Nuclear-Weapons-BanMonitor_2018.pdf(visited:17/03/2023)
  36. Nystuen, G. & Casey-Maslen, S. (2010). The Convention on Cluster Munitions: A commentary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  37. Oxford English Dictionary (2004). Oxford University Press.
  38. Rajah,T. & Dawson,G. (2019). The Chemical Weapons Convention and the Contribution of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to Sustainable Development, Journal of Conflict and Security Law,24(3), 617–629
  39. Ricketts,P.,(2018)National Security Relations with France after Brexit. at: https://rusi.org/sites/default/files/briefingpaper-france-uk-2017.pdf(17/01/2023)
  40. Statement made by Austria on 19 June 2017 (15th meeting) UN Conference.
  41. Statement made by Brazil on 19 June 2017 (15th meeting) UN Conference.
  42. Statement of Bangladesh, 16 Jun 2017 (14th meeting) United Nations Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons (UN Conference).
  43. Statement of Switzerland, 16 Jun 2017 (14th meeting) United Nations Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons(UN Conference).
  44. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons,2017
  45. United Kingdom Intervention on Article 1, Standing Committee on the General Status and Operations of the Convention, 16 May 2003, available online at http://www.apminebanconvention.org/fileadmin/APMBC/IWP/SC_may03/speeches_gs/UK_Art_1.pdf(visited:03/02/2023)
  46. Wiebe,V. (2010). Art.1 General Obligations and Scope of Application, in The Convention on Cluster Munitions: A Commentary, Nystuen and Casey-Maslen (eds.) 95-138
  47. hrw.org/news/2012/08/22/australia-cluster-munitions-law-seriously-flawed.(visited:12/01/2023)
  48. icanw.org/nuclear_arsenals(last visit:5/4/2023)
  49. legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1974/6/contents(visit:3/1/2023)
  50. mjusticia.gob.es/es/AreaTematica/DocumentacionPublicaciones/Documents/Criminal_Code_2016.pdf(last visit: 18/02/2023)
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    ب) انگلیسی

    1. Aust,H. (2011). Complicity and the Law of State Responsibility, Cambridge University Press.
    2. Australian Department of Defence (2016). “Defence White Paper”
    3. Basic Provisions of a Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Chemical Weapons and on Their Destruction, CD/294, July 21, 1982 (U.S.S.R. version).
    4. Bernauer, T. (1993). The end of chemical warfare, Security Dialogue, 24(1),97-112.
    5. Biological Weapons Convention,1972
    6. Black-Branch, J. (2021). The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. cambridge.
    7. Bowman, S. (2001). Biological weapons: a primer. N.Y, Novinka Books.
    8. British Proposal Submitted to the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament,Aug. 18, 1970, CCD/225/Rev.2
    9. Chemical Weapons Convention,1993
    10. Cluster Munitions Convention,2008
    11. Communist Draft Convention (Biological) Weapons and Toxins and on Their Destruction, art. III, Mar. 30, 1971,CCD/325/Rev.1
    12. Convention on Cluster Munitions: Interoperability and National Legislation—The View of the ICRC(2012), Int’l Comm. of The Red Cross 2 , http://www.icrc.org/eng/assets/files/2012/cluster munitionsinteroperability-icrc-2012-09-12.pdf.(visited:17/03/2023)
    13. Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on their Destruction (APMBC),1997.
    14. Draft articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts, with commentaries, 2001; text adopted by the International Law Commission (ILC)
    15. Email of Ambassador Thomas Hajnoczi, Head, Disarmament Department, Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 1 May 2018.
    16. Final Declaration of the eighth Review Conference, BWC/CONF.VIII/CRP2,2016
    17. Final Declaration of the Sixth Review Conference,BWC/CONF.VI/6, Nov. 20-Dec. 8, 2006
    18. Final Report, 115, APLC/CONF/2004/5 (Feb. 9, 2005).
    19. https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XXVI-5&chapter=26&clang=_en#EndDec(last visit 12/1/2023)
    20. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nuclear-india-usa-factbox idUSN1816567020061218(last visited:7/4/2023)
    21. Human Rights Watch et al., Banning Cluster Munitions: Government policy and practice,2009
    22. Human Rights Watch(2010), Meeting the Challenge: Protecting Civilians Through the Convention on Cluster Munitions at: http://www.hrw.org/sites/default/files/reports/armsclusters1110webwcover.pdf(visited:07/02/2023)
    23. ICJ, Case Concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina Serbia and Montenegro), Judgment, 26 February 2007
    24. ICRC briefing note at:https://www.icrc.org/en/download/file/93626/assistance-treaty-prohibition-nuclear-weapons-briefing-note-icrc.pdf (last visit:25/1/2023)
    25. International Law and Policy Institute(2016), “Under my Umbrella”, http://nwp.ilpi.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/BP21-16_UMBRELLA.pdf.
    26. Kmentt, A. (2021). The Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons: How it was Achieved and Why it Matters (1st ed.). Routledge.
    27. Krutzsch,W. & Trapp,R. (2014). the Chemical Weapons Convention A Commentary. Oxford University Press.
    28. Letter from Henk Swarttouw, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 26 February 2009.
    29. Loi de 4 juin portant approbation de la Convention sur les armes à sous munitions (3Dec 2008) ,art 2 1.41
    30. Maaike Beenes and Susi Snyder (2018) Don’t Bank on the Bomb. Utrecht, the Netherlands:.at: https://www.dontbankonthebomb.com/2018_report_web/.https://www.dontbankonthebomb.com/wp content/uploads/2018/03/2018_Report.pdf.(27/04/2023)
    31. Maslen, S. (2001). Anti-Personnel Mines under International Humanitarian Law: a view from the vanishing point. Brill.
    32. Maslen,S. (2005). Commentaries on Arms Control Treaties: the convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel mine and on their destruction,Oxford.
    33. Moynihan, H. (2016). Aiding and Assisting: Challenges in Armed Conflict and Counterterrorism, Research Paper, Chatham House.
    34. NATO, “NATO 2022 Strategic Concept ”, June 30,2022 at https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2022/6/pdf/290622-strategic-concept.pdf(29/11/2022)
    35. Nuclear Weapons Ban Monitor preliminary research(2018) at: https://banmonitor.org/files/Nuclear-Weapons-BanMonitor_2018.pdf(visited:17/03/2023)
    36. Nystuen, G. & Casey-Maslen, S. (2010). The Convention on Cluster Munitions: A commentary. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
    37. Oxford English Dictionary (2004). Oxford University Press.
    38. Rajah,T. & Dawson,G. (2019). The Chemical Weapons Convention and the Contribution of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to Sustainable Development, Journal of Conflict and Security Law,24(3), 617–629
    39. Ricketts,P.,(2018)National Security Relations with France after Brexit. at: https://rusi.org/sites/default/files/briefingpaper-france-uk-2017.pdf(17/01/2023)
    40. Statement made by Austria on 19 June 2017 (15th meeting) UN Conference.
    41. Statement made by Brazil on 19 June 2017 (15th meeting) UN Conference.
    42. Statement of Bangladesh, 16 Jun 2017 (14th meeting) United Nations Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons (UN Conference).
    43. Statement of Switzerland, 16 Jun 2017 (14th meeting) United Nations Conference to Negotiate a Legally Binding Instrument to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons(UN Conference).
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    53. regjeringen.no/en/historical-archive/Bondeviks-2nd-Government/ministry-of-finance/tema-og-redaksjonelt-innhold/Advisory-Commission-Documents/Advisory-Commission/id413581/(visited:08/02/2023)
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    55. Yearbook of the International Law Commission,2001
Comparative Law Review
Volume 14, Issue 2
Autumn $ Winter 2023-2024
January 2024
Pages 913-935

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