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.
11 positions New Zealand (remove filter)
2024
Voluntary Report on the Implementation of IHL in New Zealand
Procedures For Assessing New Weapons 91. New Zealand is required to assess the legality of new weapons or means or methods of warfare.83 As part of the assessment, New Zealand must determine whether employment would, in some or all circumstances, violate the rules of Additional …
Submission by New Zealand to the Secretary-General
17. Weapons reviews4 are an important part of national obligations to respect and ensure respect for IHL, and New Zealand supports their strengthening. While weapons reviews are necessary for AWS, New Zealand sees these as insufficient on their own to address concerns about AWS and …
2022
Working paper
1. This Working Paper sets out the following considerations and elements for the future work of the Group. The GGE should: … 13. Recall the obligation for States to conduct national weapon reviews, as codified in Article 36 of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva …
2021
Comments by New Zealand on the Chair’s paper
We welcome the inclusion of this section on weapons reviews. New Zealand believes weapons reviews, including article 36 reviews, will continue to play an important role in weapons development. Our overarching comment is that we think consideration should be given to making these reviews more …
Joint submission on possible consensus recommendations
IV. Weapons Reviews Weapons reviews, including art. 36 reviews, will continue to play an important role in weapons development. In the evaluation of weapons systems based on emerging technologies in the area of LAWS, key challenges in the regulation and the nature of the systems …
2019
Statement by New Zealand
As one of the few countries that undertakes Article 36 reviews for new weapons, munitions, methods and means of warfare, New Zealand encourages all States parties to [AP I] to fulfil their existing legal obligations for weapons reviews. New Zealand also supports any initiatives which …
Statement by New Zealand
Among the outcomes from this Group, New Zealand would like to see clear recognition of the importance of strengthening the operation of Art 36 reviews. We welcome the efforts being made by the ICRC to progress work on sharing best practice methods for conducting reviews …
New Zealand, Military Manual
Section 4 – Weapons and Munitions Review 7.4.1 Members of the NZDF responsible for the development, acquisition or bringing into service of weapons and munitions for use by the NZDF are to ensure that those weapons and munitions comply with LOAC. As early as possible …
2018
Statement by New Zealand
At this stage, we are particularly interested in the existing obligation that all States Parties to [AP I] have to assess the compliance with IHL of all weapons, means and methods of warfare, including LAWS — through weapons reviews. These reviews serve as an existing …
2017
Statement by New Zealand
We can also see much value in pursuing greater transparency and information exchange regarding the conduct of Article 36 reviews. At the same time, we can see that no one approach is sufficient to resolve the many concerns that have been raised about LAWS, in …
2005
IHL and ERW: Response from New Zealand
19. All new weapons and ammunition types that are under consideration for acquisition by or for the NZDF are to be vetted by Directorate of Legal Services (DLS) to ensure that they comply with LOAC. 20. Vetting of weapon and ammunition types will include regard …