International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms, InternationalPeace Bureau
InternationalNetwork of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility
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| International Physicians for the Prevention of NuclearWar, Abolition2000 Europe International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms, InternationalPeace Bureau InternationalNetwork of Engineers and Scientists for Global Responsibility |
| In 1996 the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the highest court in the
world, confirmed that all states are legally obliged to pursue negotiations
in good faith on nuclear disarmament. “Good Faith” means negotiating sincerely and flexibly to achieve the desired result - global nuclear disarmament. The objective should be pursued consistently with real political will. The conclusion should be reached with all deliberate speed and the parties must avoid policies which contradict the very purpose of the negotiations. How are the nuclear-armed states measuring up to the Good Faith Obligation? Not very well it seems. Instead they: |
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aim to keep their nuclear weapons indefinitely, | |
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maintain or expand the role of nuclear weapons, | |
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reject stringent verification of nuclear arms reductions, | |
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fail to make all reductions irreversible, | |
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refuse even to begin nuclear disarmament negotiations. |
| Therefore we are planning to ask the judges whether the nuclear states are
complying with their Good Faith obligation and to explain what
compliance would require. We believe this will bring more legal pressure
on the minority of states with nuclear weapons to keep their promise to
work towards a world free from the menace of nuclear weapons. This will be an exciting project; and a demanding one. It will need the support of citizens worldwide. |
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| Yes, I would like to be kept in touch with the project to return to the ICJ |