Article

Reviewing the legality of new weapons, means and methods of warfare

Kathleen Lawand

• International review of the Red Cross, Vol. 88, no. 864, December 2006, p. 925-930

English

Parties to an armed conflict are limited in their choice of weapons, means and methods of warfare by the rules of international humanitarian law (IHL) governing the conduct of hostilities. Relevant rules include the prohibition on using means and methods of warfare of a nature to cause superfluous injury or unnecessary suffering and the prohibition on using means of warfare that are incapable of distinguishing between civilians or civilian objects and military targets, which are the ""cardinal rules'' of IHL applying to weapons. In addition, particular treaties and customary rules impose specific prohibitions or limitations on the use of certain weapons, for example anti-personnel mines and blinding laser weapons.

• Full text

• International review of the Red Cross / ICRC
• International review of the Red Cross [Vol. 88, no. 864, December 2006] / ICRC