Nuclear Information: Statutory International Law Applicable to Nuclear Weapons

Based on information contained in the Trident Ploughshares handbook

Declaration of St. Petersburg, 1868.

Avoidance and, in any event minimising, incidental loss of civilian life.
Not causing unnecessary suffering.

Hague Convention, 1907.

Not causing unnecessary suffering.
Inviolability of neutral nations.
Applications of the provisions to new technologies (Martens Clause).

Nuremberg principles, 1946.

Personal culpability of individuals, including heads of state, for crimes against the peace, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Genocide Convention, 1948.

Prohibition of Genocide

Universal Declaration of Human Rights, 1948.

Right to life and health

Geneva Conventions, 1949.

Protection of the wounded, sick, the infirm, expectant mothers, civilian hospitals and health workers.

European convention on Human Rights, 1950.

Right to life and health
Right to family life

Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), 1968.

Immunity of non-nuclear nations from nuclear attack.
Prohibition on transfer of nuclear weapons to non-nuclear states (Articles I and II).
Obligation to pursue, in good faith, disarmament negotiations (Article VI).

Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions, 1977.

Compliance of armed forces with international law.