Course Content
What are the main functions of the international criminal court?
To investigate, prosecute, and adjudicate.
What are the fundamental principles and objectives of human rights?
Human rights are universal, indivisible, and inalienable rights inherent to all human beings, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, religion, or other status.
What are the key drivers and consequences of arms trafficking?
Arms trafficking is driven by various factors, including demand for weapons in conflict zones, profit motives of arms dealers, political instability, and weak governance.
What is the term that refers to the practice of selling weapons to governments or groups accused of human rights abuses or using them to fuel conflicts?
Arms proliferation
What treaty was established in 2014 and aims to regulate the global trade in conventional weapons to prevent their diversion to unauthorized users or for illicit purposes?
Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)
How do the concepts of human rights intersect with the topics of arms trafficking and controversies in arms trading?
Arms trafficking can contribute to the violation of human rights by providing weapons to individuals or groups who use them to commit atrocities, suppress dissent, or target civilian populations.
How do human rights violations contribute to conflicts, instability, and humanitarian crises around the world?
They contribute to instability and humanitarian crises by displacing populations, destroying communities, and eroding social cohesion.
What state and non-state actors play a role in facilitating illicit arms trade?
Governments, military officials, and intelligence agencies, as well as non-state actors such as criminal syndicates, insurgent groups, and terrorist organizations, play roles in facilitating illicit arms trade.
What are some of the ethical dilemmas and moral considerations associated with arms trading?
Ethical dilemmas and moral considerations in arms trading arise from the potential consequences of supplying weapons to conflict zones or repressive regimes.
What organization was formed in 1996 and sets guidelines for responsible arms exports among its member states, promoting transparency and accountability in the international arms trade?
The Wassenaar Arrangement
What role do international organizations, such as the International Criminal Court, play in addressing human rights violations related to arms trafficking and arms trading controversies?
The ICC prosecutes individuals responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide, including those involved in illegal arms transfers that contribute to such crimes.
What are some of the key challenges and obstacles to the protection and promotion of human rights globally, and how can they be addressed?
Key challenges to the protection and promotion of human rights include government repression, impunity for perpetrators, lack of access to justice, discrimination and inequality, and the erosion of democratic norms and institutions.
What legal frameworks and international instruments exist to regulate and combat arms trafficking?
Legal frameworks and international instruments to regulate and combat arms trafficking include the Arms Trade Treaty, United Nations Security Council resolutions, regional agreements, and national laws.
How do arms sales contribute to regional arms races, military escalation, and tensions between states?
By fueling the proliferation of weapons and increasing the likelihood of armed conflict
This United Nations Security Council Resolution, passed in 2004, imposes arms embargoes on specific countries or regions in response to threats to international peace and security.
UN Security Council Resolution 1540
How do cultural and societal attitudes toward arms and violence influence governments' decisions regarding arms sales and trade agreements?
By challenging prevailing narratives and advocating for human rights centered policies.
What role do non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society, and grassroots movements play in advancing human rights agendas and holding perpetrators accountable?
NGOs, civil society organizations, and grassroots movements play crucial roles in advancing human rights agendas by documenting abuses, providing legal assistance to victims, raising awareness, mobilizing public support, and advocating for policy reforms
What are some of the challenges and obstacles to prosecuting individuals and entities involved in arms trafficking?
Challenges to prosecuting individuals and entities involved in arms trafficking include jurisdictional issues, lack of evidence, corruption, and limited resources and capacity of law enforcement agencies.
What role do arms manufacturers, defense contractors, and arms brokers play in shaping arms trade policies and influencing government decisions on arms exports?
Arms manufacturers, defense contractors, and arms brokers wield significant influence in shaping arms trade policies and influencing government decisions on arms exports.
What multilateral export control regime, established in 1996, aims to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction by regulating the export of dual-use goods and technologies?
Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR)
What is the name of Professor Van Houten's dog?
Moby
How can states balance national security concerns with the protection of human rights?
By ensuring that security measures are proportionate, necessary, and compliant with international human rights standards, including safeguards against arbitrary detention, torture, and discrimination.
How can international cooperation and coordination be enhanced to prevent and disrupt arms trafficking networks?
International cooperation and coordination can be enhanced through information sharing, intelligence sharing, joint investigations, capacity building, and technical assistance.
What are the economic, political, and strategic motivations behind arms sales by exportation?
Generating revenue for the exporting country's defence industry, creating jobs, and stimulating economic growth.
This European Union regulation, enacted in 2008 and amended in 2021, imposes strict controls on the export, transit, and brokering of military and dual-use items.
The EU Common Position on Arms Export Controls