I. Introduction From World War I to shortly after World War II, the Western world created numerous significant treaties and agreements including the Treaty of Versailles, the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, and The Protocol for the Prohibition of the Use in War of Asphyxiating, Poisonous or other Gases, and of Bacteriological Methods of Warfare, otherwise known as the Geneva Protocol. However, the Geneva Protocol is one of the most comprehensive and arguably successful agreements to come from the time period despite being short in comparison to similar documents. The Geneva Protocol aimed to prohibit the use of “of asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of all analogous liquids, materials or devices [in warfare ... as well as] bacteriological
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The Geneva Protocol remains active today almost a century after it was enacted, growing from 38 original signatories to 140 parties. Compared to other agreements from the era of World War I, including the Covenant of the League of Nations, the institution in which the protocol was developed, the protocol has lasted and remained relevant for an impressive duration. The protocol lasted long enough to be adopted in December 1969 by the successor of the League, The United Nations, in Resolution 2603A (XXIV), citing that the Geneva Protocol “embodies the generally recognized rules of international law prohibiting the use in international armed conflicts of all biological and chemical methods of warfare, regardless of any technical developments.” Adopted 83-3 with 36 abstentions, the resolution indicates “although the vote cannot be regarded as a resounding affirmation[... there is] a very substantial amount of support.” The protocol was reaffirmed in 1989 by 140 states in the Declaration of the Conference on Chemical Weapons Use in which all states agreed to "solemnly affirm their commitments not to use chemical weapons and condemn such use." The Geneva Protocol has remained relevant for almost a century, supporting that it is a strong and well-supported …show more content…
Because there is almost universal abhorrence and acception of chemical and biological methods of warfare as weapon of mass destruction, the global community is more likely to accept a reasonable agreement on the issue. The wide range of actors who signed originally and or became party to the protocol subsequently demonstrates this universal stance. However, the agreement is limited by its vagueness and lack of enforcement and verification means. Despite these weaknesses, the protocol improves upon earlier agreements on these types of warfare and sets the precedent for future legislation on the issue. The Geneva Protocol of 1925 is a key example of imperfect yet effective global
The Geneva Protocol remains active today almost a century after it was enacted, growing from 38 original signatories to 140 parties. Compared to other agreements from the era of World War I, including the Covenant of the League of Nations, the institution in which the protocol was developed, the protocol has lasted and remained relevant for an impressive duration. The protocol lasted long enough to be adopted in December 1969 by the successor of the League, The United Nations, in Resolution 2603A (XXIV), citing that the Geneva Protocol “embodies the generally recognized rules of international law prohibiting the use in international armed conflicts of all biological and chemical methods of warfare, regardless of any technical developments.” Adopted 83-3 with 36 abstentions, the resolution indicates “although the vote cannot be regarded as a resounding affirmation[... there is] a very substantial amount of support.” The protocol was reaffirmed in 1989 by 140 states in the Declaration of the Conference on Chemical Weapons Use in which all states agreed to "solemnly affirm their commitments not to use chemical weapons and condemn such use." The Geneva Protocol has remained relevant for almost a century, supporting that it is a strong and well-supported …show more content…
Because there is almost universal abhorrence and acception of chemical and biological methods of warfare as weapon of mass destruction, the global community is more likely to accept a reasonable agreement on the issue. The wide range of actors who signed originally and or became party to the protocol subsequently demonstrates this universal stance. However, the agreement is limited by its vagueness and lack of enforcement and verification means. Despite these weaknesses, the protocol improves upon earlier agreements on these types of warfare and sets the precedent for future legislation on the issue. The Geneva Protocol of 1925 is a key example of imperfect yet effective global