Thesis: The World Court Project: The Evolution and Impact of an Effective Citizens’ Movement by Kate Dewes

This thesis analyses how, over ten years from 1986-96, a worldwide network of peace activists, doctors and lawyers evolved the World Court Project (WCP), an unprecedented citizens’ movement which helped to persuade the UN to request the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an advisory opinion on the legal status of nuclear weapons. After the largest participation by governments in a case, the ICJ confirmed that the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be illegal.

Download the thesis: http://legacy.disarmsecure.org/Dewes%20PhD%20Thesis.pdf

Learn more about the threat of nuclear weapons here.

The World Court Project’s History, Advisory Opinion, UN Documents, Court Cases

return to the icj bookletGood Faith Negotiations Leading to the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons: Request for an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice, International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms, International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School, May 2009. (Download PDF)

Press release

Groups Seek World Court Opinion on Nukes, Thalif Deen, IPS, May 11, 2009 (read more on terraviva.net)

Resolution of IALANA General Assembly, June 2009 (Download PDF)

The World Court Project’s History, Advisory Opinion, UN Documents, Court Cases

World Court Project HistoryIALANA, in conjunction with the International Peace Bureau (IPB) and the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) led World Court Project, a world-wide campaign that resulted in an historic opinion from the International Court of Justice ICJ) in July 1996. The ICJ ruled that the threat or use of nuclear weapons is generally illegal, and that states have an obligation to conclude negotiations on their elimination… Continue reading “The World Court Project’s History, Advisory Opinion, UN Documents, Court Cases”