Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty: A Paper Crane in the Sky of International Law?

On July 2017, as a result of a humanitarian discourse the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was adopted by the UNGA Conference to ensure that nuclear weapons are never used again and are completely eliminated. Many States and NGOs supported this initiative and some others including the Nuclear States heavily criticized it because in their view the TPNW could undermine the legitimacy of nuclear deterrence and the strategic stability established by the NPT. The TPNW, with reference to general principles of IHL and IHRL includes a comprehensive set of prohibitions on participating in any nuclear weapon activities. These include undertakings not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons.
This article, while reviewing the contents of the TPNW, will discuss the impacts of the new treaty on international law of nuclear weapons.
The TPNW, with reference to general principles of IHL and IHRL includes a comprehensive set of prohibitions on participating in any nuclear weapon activities. These include undertakings not to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons.
This article, while reviewing the contents of the TPNW, will discuss the impacts of the new treaty on international law of nuclear weapons.