States and some organisations have expressed their views about the utility, purpose, scope and process of the legal review of weapons in various different contexts. Some of these views have been recorded domestic documents, such as military manuals on the law of armed conflict. Increasingly, however, States and organisations have articulated their positions in a range of international fora, either through written submissions or oral interventions.
This database compiles and organises publicly expressed views in relation to legal reviews, without prejudice to their relative significance or effect (for example, in terms of the development of customary international law). The database aims to comprehensively reflect the views of states but only covers the positions of a small number of selected organisations.
This database currently contains 379 positions and is continuously updated. Any corrections, or suggestions to add material, are welcome.
3 positions France (remove filter) Domestic (remove filter) Clear all
2022
France, Military Manual
5.6. The legal review of new weapons, means and methods of warfare Under Article 36 of AP I, in the study, development, acquisition or adoption of a new weapon, means or method of warfare, States parties are under an obligation to determine whether its employment …
2021
Opinion on the Integration of Autonomy into Lethal Weapon Systems
c) Compliance: ensure legality is correctly monitored throughout the life cycle of weapon systems (126) Article 36 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949 relating to the protection of victims of international armed conflicts of 8 June 1977 (Protocol I) …
2020
Parliamentary Commission Report
En France, le ministère des Armées a remis à plat les procédures internes relatives à l’examen de la licéité des armes ; une instruction a été communiquée en 2019 afin d’expliquer sa mise en application. Le champ d’application de l’article 36 du premier protocole additionnel …