Article

Differences in the law of weaponry when applied to non-international armed conflicts

William H. Boothby

• International law studies, Vol. 88, 2012, p. 197-210

English

Article également publié dans: Israel Yearbook on Human Rights, vol. 42, 2012

It is sensible to pose the question whether there is a meaningful distinction between the weapons law that applies during international armed conflict and that which governs hostilities during a non-international armed conflict. After all, philosophically, it could be argued that there is no rational basis for such a distinction. Why, the rhetorical question would go, should it be legitimate to expose individuals during a civil war to injuring mechanisms that have been found to be unacceptable for employment during wars between States?! If this is seen as a plea that the law applicable in these classes of conflict be merged, that is not the purpose of this article. Rather, the intent is to consider whether there are in fact such differences in the law as it is, to identify the precise extent of any such divergences and to ask whether they make sense.

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• International law studies
• International law studies [Vol. 88, 2012]