International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons
Encyclopedia
The International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons (ICBUW) is a global coalition of 155 groups in 32 countries. ICBUW was formed in 2003 in Berlaar
, Belgium
to promote a campaign based on reliable information on depleted uranium weapons at a time when the most vocal opposition to uranium weapons had become increasingly speculative.
ICBUW campaigns for a ban on the use, transport, manufacture, sale and export of all conventional weapon systems containing uranium (usually called depleted uranium
weapons). It also seeks health monitoring and compensation for communities affected by the use of uranium weapons and the environmental remediation of such sites.
Although ICBUW believes that the use of weapons containing uranium should already be illegal under International Humanitarian this is not the view held by Carla Del Ponte
, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
who said in 2001 that NATO's use of depleted uranium in former Yugoslavia could be investigated as a possible war crime. Louise Arbour
, Del Ponte's predecessor as chief prosecutor, had created a small, internal committee, made up of staff lawyers, to assess the allegation. Their findings, that were accepted and endorsed by Del Ponte, concluded that:
Subsequent legal opinions have sought to highlight the fact that, while the secondary effects of uranium weapons have similarities to other classes of banned weapons, their primary role as an anti-materiel weapon means that they do fit well into existing legislation. Nevertheless an acceptance of the hazards inherent in their use should support a legal instrument based on the precautionary principle
.
and the Cluster Munition Coalition
. ICBUW’s grassroots member organisations lobby at a national level, while ICBUW itself works with supranational bodies such as the European Parliament and the United Nations. A global ban is supported by EUROMIL
- the European Military Union.
has passed four resolutions calling for a moratorium on the weapons in 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2008. Depleted uranium has been the focus of four United Nations General Assembly
resolutions. The first, sponsored by Iraq was not passed but subsequent resolutions sponsored by the Non-Aligned Movement
in 2007 (62/30), 2008 (63/54) and 2010 (65/55) have passed with increasing majorities. They have highlighted the potential risks from depleted uranium; called for increased research in affected states and called on the user of the weapons to transfer targeting data to affected states when requested to do so.
ICBUW's member organisations have been instrumental in promoting domestic legislation on depleted uranium weapons in Belgium , Costa Rica and Ireland . The Belgian ban was followed by a state ban on investment into the producers of depleted uranium weapons.
Berlaar
Berlaar is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Berlaar proper and Gestel . On January 1, 2006 Berlaar had a total population of 10,612. The total area is 24.57 km² which gives a population density of 432 inhabitants per km².-History:The...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
to promote a campaign based on reliable information on depleted uranium weapons at a time when the most vocal opposition to uranium weapons had become increasingly speculative.
ICBUW campaigns for a ban on the use, transport, manufacture, sale and export of all conventional weapon systems containing uranium (usually called depleted uranium
Depleted uranium
Depleted uranium is uranium with a lower content of the fissile isotope U-235 than natural uranium . Uses of DU take advantage of its very high density of 19.1 g/cm3...
weapons). It also seeks health monitoring and compensation for communities affected by the use of uranium weapons and the environmental remediation of such sites.
Current legal status of depleted uranium weapons
ICBUW believes that the use of conventional weapons containing uranium runs counter to existing principle of International Humanitarian, Human Rights and Environmental Laws. However, as has been seen with chemical and biological weapons, land mines and cluster bombs, an explicit treaty has proved the best solution for confirming the illegality of such weapons. ICBUW anticipates that such a treaty would not only outlaw the use of uranium weapons, but would include the prohibition of their production, the destruction of stockpiles, the decontamination of battlefields and rules on compensation for victims.Although ICBUW believes that the use of weapons containing uranium should already be illegal under International Humanitarian this is not the view held by Carla Del Ponte
Carla Del Ponte
Carla Del Ponte is a former Chief Prosecutor of two United Nations international criminal law tribunals. A former Swiss attorney general, she was appointed prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda in August...
, the chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia
The International Tribunal for the Prosecution of Persons Responsible for Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law Committed in the Territory of the Former Yugoslavia since 1991, more commonly referred to as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia or ICTY, is a...
who said in 2001 that NATO's use of depleted uranium in former Yugoslavia could be investigated as a possible war crime. Louise Arbour
Louise Arbour
Louise Arbour, is the former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, a former justice of the Supreme Court of Canada and the Court of Appeal for Ontario and a former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda...
, Del Ponte's predecessor as chief prosecutor, had created a small, internal committee, made up of staff lawyers, to assess the allegation. Their findings, that were accepted and endorsed by Del Ponte, concluded that:
There is no specific treaty ban on the use of DU projectiles. There is a developing scientific debate and concern expressed regarding the impact of the use of such projectiles and it is possible that, in future, there will be a consensus view in international legal circles that use of such projectiles violate general principles of the law applicable to use of weapons in armed conflict. No such consensus exists at present.
Subsequent legal opinions have sought to highlight the fact that, while the secondary effects of uranium weapons have similarities to other classes of banned weapons, their primary role as an anti-materiel weapon means that they do fit well into existing legislation. Nevertheless an acceptance of the hazards inherent in their use should support a legal instrument based on the precautionary principle
Precautionary principle
The precautionary principle or precautionary approach states that if an action or policy has a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or to the environment, in the absence of scientific consensus that the action or policy is harmful, the burden of proof that it is not harmful falls on those...
.
Draft convention
ICBUW has prepared a draft Convention for such a ban on depleted uranium weapons. ICBUW's Draft Convention contains a general and comprehensive prohibition of the development, production, transport, storage, possession, transfer and use of uranium ammunition, uranium armour-plate and of any other military use of uranium. The Convention also outlines obligations concerning the abolition of uranium weapons and the destruction of uranium weapons construction facilities. In addition it obliges states to ensure a rapid decontamination of radioactive battlefields and test ranges, emphasising the protection of, and assistance to, civilians living in these areas and obliges states to compensate the victims.Example of landmines and cluster munitions
In advocating for a treaty ban on uranium weapons, ICBUW states that is following the example of the International Campaign to Ban LandminesInternational Campaign to Ban Landmines
The International Campaign to Ban Landmines is a coalition of non-governmental organizations working for a world free of anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions, where mine and cluster munitions survivors see their rights respected and can lead fulfilling lives.The coalition was formed in...
and the Cluster Munition Coalition
Cluster Munition Coalition
The Cluster Munition Coalition is an international civil society movement campaigning against the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions. Cluster munitions are a type of explosive weapon widely stockpiled by more than 80 states...
. ICBUW’s grassroots member organisations lobby at a national level, while ICBUW itself works with supranational bodies such as the European Parliament and the United Nations. A global ban is supported by EUROMIL
EUROMIL
The European Organisation of Military Associations is a politically independent, not-for-profit organisation of free, democratic associations of military personnel in Europe...
- the European Military Union.
Developments at an international and national level
The European ParliamentEuropean Parliament
The European Parliament is the directly elected parliamentary institution of the European Union . Together with the Council of the European Union and the Commission, it exercises the legislative function of the EU and it has been described as one of the most powerful legislatures in the world...
has passed four resolutions calling for a moratorium on the weapons in 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2008. Depleted uranium has been the focus of four United Nations General Assembly
United Nations General Assembly
For two articles dealing with membership in the General Assembly, see:* General Assembly members* General Assembly observersThe United Nations General Assembly is one of the five principal organs of the United Nations and the only one in which all member nations have equal representation...
resolutions. The first, sponsored by Iraq was not passed but subsequent resolutions sponsored by the Non-Aligned Movement
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
in 2007 (62/30), 2008 (63/54) and 2010 (65/55) have passed with increasing majorities. They have highlighted the potential risks from depleted uranium; called for increased research in affected states and called on the user of the weapons to transfer targeting data to affected states when requested to do so.
ICBUW's member organisations have been instrumental in promoting domestic legislation on depleted uranium weapons in Belgium , Costa Rica and Ireland . The Belgian ban was followed by a state ban on investment into the producers of depleted uranium weapons.