DISARMAMENT

 Disarmament refers to the reduction or elimination of military forces, weapons, and

related capabilities.
 It involves the voluntary or negotiated actions taken by states to decrease their
military capabilities, with the ultimate goal of promoting peace, security, and stability.
 Disarmament can pertain to various types of weapons, including nuclear, chemical,
biological, conventional, and small arms.
 Objective of disarmament is to create a world with less weapons and military forces
thereby, reducing the consequences of armed conflicts and their consequences on
world peace, security and stability.
ARMS CONTROL
 focuses on regulating and managing the acquisition, possession, deployment, and use
of weapons
 It involves formal agreements, treaties, or arrangements between states to establish
measures regarding the development, deployment, and use of weapons.
 does not necessarily involve the complete elimination of weapons. Aims to estb rules
and regulations to mitigate the risks associated with their use.
 Arms control measures are often implemented as practical steps towards
disarmament, aiming to reduce the risks and tensions caused by the presence of
weapons while maintaining strategic stability.
UN CHARTER AND ITS PROVISIONS FOR DISARMAMENT.
 The UNC plays an imp role to estab the stand of Un and majority states on the
issue of Arms and Disarmament.
 plays a crucial role in addressing the issue of disarmament. The UNGA and UNSC
are responsible for discussing and taking actions related to disarmament.
 Preamble: The preamble of the UN Charter sets out the purposes and principles
of the United Nations. While it does not explicitly mention disarmament, it
emphasizes the importance of promoting international peace, security, and
cooperation among nations.
 Article 11: Article 11 of the UN Charter states that the General Assembly, which
is the principal organ of the UN, may discuss and make recommendations to
members/UNSC/both on any issues within the scope of the Charter. This includes
matters related to disarmament.
 Article 26: Article 26 of the UN Charter deals with the regulation of armaments.
It calls for the establishment of a system for the regulation of armaments to
maintain international peace and security. The purpose is to prevent the threat or
use of force between nations and promote the peaceful resolution of disputes.
 Article 43: Article 43 of the UN Charter outlines the provisions for the
establishment of armed forces by UN member states. It states that member states
shall make available to the Security Council, on its call, armed forces, assistance,
and facilities to maintain international peace and security. This article is relevant
 to disarmament efforts as it highlights the potential role of member states in
contributing to collective security measures.
 Article 45: Article 45 of the UN Charter assigns the responsibility to the Security
Council for formulating plans for the establishment of a system for the regulation
of armaments. It directs the Security Council to take into consideration the
strategic, economic, and other interests of the member states in its disarmament
recommendations.
 Article 47: Article 47 of the UN Charter addresses the composition and functions
of the UN Military Staff Committee. The Military Staff Committee is responsible
for assisting the Security Council in carrying out its duties related to the use of
armed forces for maintaining international peace and security. While this article
does not directly pertain to disarmament, it is relevant to discussions and
coordination on disarmament matters within the framework of the Security
Council.
These provisions reflect the UN's commitment to addressing disarmament as an essential
component of promoting international peace, security, and cooperation among nations.
 Some imp treaties on Disarmament:
1) Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, 1968- There are 2 kinds of states involved
in this – Nuclear Weapon States and Non-Nuclear Weapon States.
- There exist some obligations on the Nuclear Weapon States. They
undertake - a). Not to transfer any nuclear weapons or explosive devices.
They will also not transfer any control over such weapons or devices
directly or indirectly. b). Not to assist, encourage or indulge in
manufacture or production or acquiring of nuclear weapons.
- The Non-Nuclear Weapon States undertake – a). Not to receive any
nuclear weapons or other devices or control over them. b). Not to produce,
manufacture or acquire such nuclear weapons or devices.
- The parties to the treaty undertake to facilitate and participate in the
exchange of equipment, materials and scientific information for the
purpose of peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
2) Comprehensive test ban treaty- to achieve a complete ban on all nuclear
weapon test explosions, whether conducted underground, underwater, in the
atmosphere, or in outer space.
- prohibits all signatory states from conducting any nuclear weapon test
explosions to ensure that no new nuclear weapons are developed or
advanced.
- It establishes a global network of monitoring stations and other detection
measures to detect and identify any suspicious seismic, hydroacoustic, and
radionuclide activities that may indicate a nuclear test.