Geneva
Protocol
During World War I, the use of poison gas resulted in over one million
military casualties and over 100,000 civilian casualties. In 1925,
riding the momentum of the Versailles treaty, which put an end to WWI,
a convention was held in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss the use of chemical
and biological weapons. Representatives from the governments of France,
Poland and the United States drew up a proposal that stated, among other
things, that "the use in war of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases,
and of all analogous liquids, materials or devices, has been justly condemned
by the general opinion of the civilized world." This protocol, which
eventually became the Geneva
Protocol was signed on June 17, 1925. However, many countries
did not agree with the protocol due to provisions about riot control agents
and did not ratify it until amendments were made (i.e United States,
1975 ). For a complete list of the state parties and their ratification
dates, click here.
Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention
Those amendments did not occur until nearly fifty years, two failed attempts and another World War later. World War II and the advent of the cold war saw the development and stockpiling of many new types of chemical and biological weapons. The threat of their use was very eminent. In 1972, the govervments of the United States and the Soviet Union provided separate but identical proposals to the United Nations. These proposals, known as the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC), prohibited " biological agents, or toxins whatever their origin or method of production, of types and in quantities that have no jurisdiction for prophylactic, protective or other peaceful purposes." It also condemned the use of any equipment meant for the delivery of such agents for war. Another important article of the BTWC was the one requiring states to destroy all such materials within nine months of the signing of the convention. This was signed by many countries in London, Moscow and Washington D.C on April 10, 1972 and ratified by the United States on December 26, 1975. For a complete list of signatories, click here.
But the most recent and perhaps most important doctrine yet set forth by
the United Nations is the Chemical
Weapons Convention (CWC). After the years of heavy controversy
surrounding the Gulf War with Sadaam Hussein’s ever present chemical and
biological weapon arsenal, a new and improved doctrine was needed.
The CWC was opened
for signing on January 13, 1993 in Paris, France. With over 140 pages,
24 articles, 3 annexes and a preamble, it represents one of the most complex
international doctrines ever signed. The convention reaffirms the
rules set forth in Geneva as well as the BTWC
and also creates regulations regarding new advances in chemical weaponry
and the destruction of them. However, as with the other two conventions,
the CWC was not
immediately ratified by the United States. After four long years
of battles between President Clinton and Congress, the United States
finally ratified the CWC
on April 25, 1997, four days before the convention officially went into
effect.
At the present time, 116 countries have ratified the CWC.
This is a global map of the states that have ratified the CWC
as of October 5, 1998. The states that have ratified are in green.
Those states that have signed but not ratified are in yellow.
And those who have not signed or ratified are in red.
The United States’ stand on chemical and
biological weapons is similar to that of the United Nations General Assembly.
After being criticized heavily for its use of Agent Orange in Vietnam,
the US, under President Reagan, set forth laws requiring the destruction
of its chemical weapons arsenal. The United States does not stand
for the use of chemical and biological weapons and is in staunch opposition
of any country who uses them.
