1 / 12

International Humanitarian Law for Space Conflict: Is it Sufficient?

This article explores the adequacy of current International Humanitarian Law in regulating potential conflicts in outer space. It examines the principles of jus ad bellum and jus in bello, the lack of specific territorial limitations, and the importance of legal parameters in a multilateral approach. Recommendations for further work include the need for clear definitions and codes of behavior in space.

trivera
Download Presentation

International Humanitarian Law for Space Conflict: Is it Sufficient?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Is Current International Humanitarian Law Sufficient to Regulate a Potential Conflict in Outer Space? Ben Baseley-Walker, Legal and Policy Advisor, Secure World Foundation bbw@swfound.org +1-202-255-2153

  2. Overview • International Law 101 • Foundations • Jus ad bellum/ jus in bello • General Principles • The Application to Space • Conclusions

  3. International Law 101 • Treaties • Legally binding • Consent to be bound • Customary International Law • 2 conditions :Opinio Juris (belief that something is a law);Widespread State Practice • Soft Law • Guidelines etc. • Evidence for Custom • Concept of Enforcement in International law • Enforcement is not a central part of the international legal regime • Not because the law is weak but because the concept doesn’t really work given the nature of the field • Less conventional ‘sticks’

  4. Foundations • No concept of war in space • no treaties establishing specific jus in bello principles for space combat • No specific ‘territorial’ limitation to the application of the jus in bello principles. • The laws and customs of war apply both to the area where the hostilities actually take place, as well as the broader areas that are in some way affected by the hostilities • Space is militarized, is it weaponised?

  5. Jus ad Bellum • Jus ad bellum – transition from peace to war • UNC Art. 2(4) (refrain from threat or use of force), 51 (recognizing inherent right of self-defense – individual or collective • Questions that arise • What is use of force? • Note UNC Art. 42 and 51 – exceptions • nuclear weapons advisory opinion  use of force = use of weapons • What is territorial integrity? • Oil Platforms Case – is court interpreting armed attack as having to be against the territory? • If so, problem in space as space objects are technically outside the territory of any State

  6. Jus in Bello • Jus in bello • Law of armed conflict, international humanitarian law • Human rights tied to jus in bello through ICJ cases • 1996 advisory opinion on use of nuclear weapons • Noting that the threat or use of a nuclear weapon should comply with the requirements of international law relating to armed conflict, particularly the principles of international humanitarian law

  7. Key IHL Principles Generally five principles • Necessity – only military objective targeted • Distinction – combatants and non-combatants, those things protected and those that are not • Proportionality – subset of distinction – incidental and collateral damage, the effective military contribution, is not grossly disproportionate to the civilian casualty • Humanity – does this apply in the indirect form? • Chivalry - no perfidious action leading to a reliance on IHL.

  8. Principles in Relations to Space • Necessity • Earth and ground concerns • How to balance the military worth of Earth vs. space • Distinction • Is this also relevant to space assets given the limited number of humans is space? • Proportionality • Can we quantify the value and magnitude of the role of space resources in human activity? • Humanity – requires dignity of human beings • Relevant indirectly? • Chivalry - is it relevant to the space environment? • SSA?

  9. Key impact break-down • The impact to the space environment • E.g. space debris • The impact of the loss of space resources on Earth based population • Not only direct but indirect effects central to understanding potential space conflict

  10. Conclusions • Crucial to begin academic and political thinking process on this issue • Through discussion, legitimacy? • Importance of legal parameters, should the global community find itself in a space conflict situation • Key to bear in mind that space is truly global environment with profound national security implications • As a result, importance to approach such a question from a multilateral standpoint.

  11. Recommendations for Further Work • Key conclusions: • Need for definitions • what is proportional is space? • Are there established codes of behavior that have been developed at this point? • How military is a dual use object? • Commercial satellites transmitting military communications signals • How much can the loss of space capabilities affect a populace?

  12. Many Thanksbbw@swfound.org

More Related