World Court Project UK
The Public Conscience in Action
The Project in the UK
From the very beginning, we, in the UK, have been strongly involved in the World Court Project. A strong coalition, World Court Project UK (WCP UK), was formed. Much of the work involved the collection of the Declarations of Public Conscience which were presented to the ICJ as evidence of citizens’ concern with the issue of nuclear weapons.
The UK is in a special position. It is one of the few countries with nuclear weapons and has a special relationship with the USA based on these. As a member of the Security Council, the European Union and the Common-wealth, it has considerable interest. A serious move towards abolishing UK nuclear weapons would have a considerable international effect.
It has been the job of World Court Project UK to remind the UK Government that it is legally accountable for its nuclear weapon policies. We have made
the details of international law available to concerned citizens and encouraged them to work with politicians and officials.
the details of international law available to concerned citizens and encouraged them to work with politicians and officials.
The Road to the World Court
The World Court Project was founded in 1992 as a coalition of NGOs - the International Peace Bureau, International Lawyers for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, and International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War. It was formed around the World Court's special status as the legal branch of the United Nations.
In July 1996 the ICJ failed to identify any circumstance in which nuclear weapons could be threatened or used without violating International humanitarian law. The Nuclear-armed states have never convincingly shown that the nuclear weapons they possess could be used lawfully. The Court also ruled that "there exists an obligation to pursue in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective International control".
All this was achieved in the teeth of strong opposition from the nuclear weapon states. Truth, and the wish of the world's people for a nuclear free planet overcame naked power. The morality and legality of nuclear deterrence was publicly defended before the highest court in the world.
The Project has invoked the concept of the "Public Conscience", which has meaning in International law. 3.6 million Declarations of Public Conscience, stating the belief that nuclear weapons are immoral, were collected world-wide in 36 languages. They were officially received by the Registrar of the Court who drew the attention of the judges to them.
For details about the ICJ Opinion Click here u
Collecting Declarations from the Public