Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons, Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (Request for Advisory Opinion by the General Assembly of the United Nations)

Résumé

The International Court of Justice complied with the request for an advisory opinion by the United Nations General Assembly, and delivered its opinion by a vote of thirteen to one. The wording of the question by the General Assembly was: “Is the threat or use of nuclear weapons in any circumstance permitted under international law?” The Court received written statements by a number of States as well as oral statements in public sittings. It interpreted the mayor international Treaties referring to Nuclear issues and conflicts as well as related Court decisions and finally replied in the following manner to the question put by the General Assembly: 1. There is in neither customary nor conventional international law any specific authorization of the threat or use of nuclear weapons; (Unanimously). 2. There is in neither customary nor conventional international law any comprehensive and universal prohibition of the threat or use of nuclear weapons as such; (By eleven votes to three). 3. A threat or use of force by means of nuclear weapons that is contrary to Article 2, paragraph 4, of the United Nations Charter and that fails to meet all the requirements of Article 51, is unlawful; (Unanimously). 4. A threat or use of nuclear weapons should also be compatible with the requirements of the international law applicable in armed conflict particularly those of the principles and rules of international humanitarian law, as well as with specific obligations under treaties and other undertakings which expressly deal with nuclear weapons: (Unanimously). 5. It follows from the above -mentioned requirements that the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict, and in particular the principles and rules of humanitarian law. 6. However, in view of the current state of International law, and of the elements of fact at its disposal, the Court cannot conclude definitively whether the threat or use of nuclear weapons would be lawful or unlawful in an extreme circumstance of self-defense, in which the very survival of a State would be at stake; (By seven votes to seven, by the President’s casting vote). 7. There exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control; (Unanimously).

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Convention sur l'interdiction de la mise au point, de la fabrication, du stockage et de l'emploi des armes chimiques et sur leur destruction

Traité | Multilatéral | Paris; Geneva | Sep 3, 1992

Mot clé: Infractions/sanctions, Procédures judiciaires/procédures administratives, Réforme du droit/harmonisation/dérégulation, Mise en application, Activités militaires, Organisation internationale, Transport/dépôt, Inspection, Toxicité/empoisonnement, Règlement des différends, Collecte de données/déclarations

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-001163)

Traité sur les principes régissant les activités des Etats en matière d'exploration et d'utilisation de l'espace extra-atmosphérique, y compris la lune et les autres corps célestes (London Version)

Traité | Multilatéral | London; Moscow; Washington D.C. | Jan 27, 1967

Mot clé: Espace extra-atmosphérique, Relations internationales/coopération, Exploration, Activités militaires, Recherche

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000413)

Traité interdisant de placer des armes nucléaires et d'autres armes de destruction massive sur le fond des mers et des océans ainsi que dans leur sous-sol (London Version)

Traité | Multilatéral | London; Moscow; Washington D.C. | Fév 11, 1971

Mot clé: Énergie nucléaire, Fonds marins, Pollution radioactive, Activités militaires

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000416)

Traité sur la non-prolifération des armes nucléaires (London Version)

Traité | Multilatéral | London; Moscow; Washington D.C. | Jul 1, 1968

Mot clé: Énergie nucléaire, Activités militaires, Déchets radioactifs

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000414)

Convention sur l'interdiction d'utiliser des techniques de modification de l'environnement à des fins militaires ou toutes autres fins hostiles

Traité | Multilatéral | Geneva | Mai 18, 1977

Mot clé: Règlement des différends, Institution, Activités militaires, Relations internationales/coopération

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000140)

Traité visant l'interdiction des armes nucléaires en Amérique latine

Traité | Multilatéral | Mexico City | Fév 14, 1967

Mot clé: Collecte de données/déclarations, Monitorage, Énergie nucléaire, Institution, Organisation internationale, Activités militaires

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000572)

Convention sur l'interdiction de la mise au point, de la fabrication et du stockage des armes bactériologiques (biologiques) et à toxines et sur leur destruction (London Version)

Traité | Multilatéral | London; Moscow; Washington D.C. | Avr 10, 1972

Mot clé: Toxicité/empoisonnement, Activités militaires, Substances dangereuses, Agents biologiques

Source: IUCN (ID: TRE-000419)