Disarmament
The end of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty
February 22, 2019Russian president, Vladimir Putin, held his yearly ‘State of the Union’ to the Russian federal assembly on Wednesday 20 February 2019. In his speech he addressed the recent tensions between the United States and Russia, following the suspension of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF-treaty) dating from 1987. Putin said that Russia will not hesitate to deploy new nuclear weapons targeting the United States if the United States deploy such weapons in Europe. Russia has no intentions of deploying these weapons first, but feels forced to do so if the United States continue to place weapons in Europe, namely in Romania and Poland.
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Could Trump and Kim agree to a Peace Treaty ending the Korean War?
June 14, 2018Please, check our Library special ‘A World Free of Nuclear Weapons’ for international law publications on nuclear disarmament.
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The Washington Naval Treaty: Averting the Allied Arms Race
November 2, 2017The 1916 US Naval Act and its 1918 proposed expansion triggered a Naval Arms Race between it and it’s allied nations of Great Britain and Japan.
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Finally, the United States Government invited the principal naval powers to a conference to discuss the situation and end the Naval Arms Race.
A bold opening suggestion from the US government resulted in the scrapping and halting of most naval capital ships.
The Washington Naval Treaty signed on the 6th of February 1922
Peace and Security Salon on Biological and Chemical Weapons
April 28, 2016The Peace Palace Library is pleased to invite you to our upcoming Peace and Security Salon on the 11th of May, with biological and chemical weapons as the theme of our evening. The Salon is part of a new lecture series of the Peace Palace Library on peace and security issues. The Salon will include lectures by several experts on the different aspects of biological and chemical weapons. The Salon will take place in an informal setting with room for discussion. The language will be English. Please note that the number of seats is limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Time: Wednesday 11 May 2016, 19.30-22.30 hrs (doors open at 18.30 hrs).
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Nuclear security: Dangers and Achievements
March 28, 2014Nuclear security is generally accepted to mean “the prevention of, detection of, and response to, criminal or intentional unauthorized acts involving or directed at nuclear material, other radioactive material, associated facilities, or associated activities”. In short it is about preventing terrorists from acquiring radioactive material or attacking nuclear facilities. Since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, nuclear security concerns have been heightened, but how real is the danger and what are the legal instruments to combat nuclear terrorism?
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Events around the Nuclear Security Summit
March 17, 2014A number of cultural and socially-engaged institutions in The Hague are organising a special ‘Summit Week’ from 19 to 26 March. You can attend films or follow debates on the summit’s theme: Nuclear Security.
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3D Printed Weapons: A Threat to National and International Security?
December 13, 2013Chesspieces, automotive parts, chairs, geometrical objects, food, medical protheses, toys, paperweights and jewelry are a few of the examples of the items that can be made with a 3D printer. There are many types of 3D printers, ranging from a simple 3D printer for home use to a very big industrial type with which large objects can be created. The machines can use any substance in liquid or powder form.
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A Nobel Prize for the OPCW’s Work in Syria
October 17, 2013Last Friday, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize of 2013 ‘for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons’. The OPCW is an intergovernmental organization which was created in 1997 to enforce the Chemical Weapons Convention. The OPCW has as its mission to dismantle all chemical weapons arsenals and to monitor and prevent the use of chemical substances as a means of warfare. Chemical weapons have been used since the early existance of mankind. There are many documented examples of the use of chemical weapons by our ancestors. The use of chemical weapons has been prohibited by international law.
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Fortunately this is not the only way to breathe
September 6, 2013Poster against chemical weapons of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Image: a mainly blue print depicting a girl with a gas mask.
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Fordert: Verbot der Atomwaffen
June 12, 2013Poster against nuclear weapons by the Deutschen Friedensrat with the slogan “Fordert: Verbot der Atomwaffen!” [Demand: prohibition of nuclear weapons] Image: A strong hand grabs a snake that curls around a globe. On the snake “Atomkrieg” is written.
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