World Court Delivers Opinion on Legality of Nuclear Weapons Use

Carnahan, Burrus M., Arms Control Today

IN A LANDMARK case addressing the legality of nuclear weapons, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on July 8 unanimously agreed that any use or threat to use nuclear weapons would have to comply with those provisions of the UN Charter which prohibit the use of force except in cases of self-defense, and with the rules of international law applicable to armed conflict. However, a majority of the 14 participating judges (11-3) agreed that in current international law there is no "comprehensive and universal prohibition of the threat or use of nuclear weapons."

The ICJ, known also as the World Court, was responding to a request from the UN General Assembly for a non-binding …

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Publication information: Article title: World Court Delivers Opinion on Legality of Nuclear Weapons Use. Contributors: Carnahan, Burrus M. - Author. Magazine title: Arms Control Today. Volume: 26. Issue: 5 Publication date: July 1996. Page number: 24. © 2003 Arms Control Association. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All Rights Reserved.

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