Disarmament As Humanitarian Action

In post-conflict situations, the success of humanitarian efforts is closely linked to the effectiveness of multilateral disarmament efforts, and both would benefit from a greater understanding of human security issues. This publication sets out case studies of humanitarian approaches that have had, or could have, a positive impact on disarmament processes. Cases studies included cover negotiations on anti-personnel mines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and small arms, as well as emerging issues relating to gender and human security.

SCOTT (copy 1): From the John Holmes Library collection.

This book analyses the politics of the humanitarian disarmament community—a loose coalition of activist and advocacy groups, humanitarian agencies and diplomats—who have successfully achieved international treaties banning landmines, cluster munitions and nuclear weapons, as well as restricting the global arms trade. Two campaigns have won Nobel Peace Prizes. Disarmament has long been a dirty word in the international relations lexicon. But the success of the humanitarian disarmament agenda shows that people often choose to prohibit or limit certain violent technologies, for reasons of security, honour, ethics or humanitarianism. This edited volume showcases interdisciplinary research by scholars and practitioners seeking to understand the dynamics and impact of the new global activism on weapons. While some raise concerns that humanitarian disarmament may be piecemeal and depoliticizing, others see opportunities to breathe new life into moribund arms control policymaking. Foreword by 1997 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Jody Williams.

This publication contains four papers: 'Rethinking multilateral negotiations: disamament as humanitarian action'; 'Modelling armed violence: a tool for humanitarina dialogue in disarmament and arms control'; 'Deconstructing disarmament: the challenge of making the disarmament and arms control machinery responsive to the humanitarian imperative'; 'A comparisonbetween arms control and other multilateral negotiation processes'.

Success in multilateral disarmament and arms control negotiations has been scarce in recent years. There is need for new approaches--to "think outside the box"--in order to make them work better because continued failure has real human costs. This volume offers new practical tools and perspectives to inform and help the ongoing efforts of multilateral disarmament practitioners, drawing from a range of contributors in civil society, diplomacy, and the policy and research fields. Publishing Agency: United Nations (UN).

Humanitarian disarmament is not new, but instead represents a re-emergence of a long-standing sensibility in disarmament discourse

There is renewed and deep international concern about the catastrophic humanitarian consequences that would result from the detonation of nuclear weapons in populated areas. Yet 25 years after the end of the Cold War, nuclear weapons and nuclear deterrence remain central to the security doctrines of a significant number of states. Drawing on a range of perspectives, this volume explores what viewing nuclear weapons through a humanitarian lens entails, and why it is of value. Recent developments in this respect are also examined, and what these could mean for nuclear arms control in the near future.

"This paper considers the relevance of viewing nuclear weapons through a humanitarian lens--along with some criticisms of it--with a view to informing contemporary policy debate."--Page [1].