Background

Human rights and disarmament are closely linked. The availability and access to weapons can facilitate the commission of human rights violations and abuses in conflict and non-conflict settings. Weapons have clear direct and indirect effects on the enjoyment of a wide range of human rights, including economic, social and cultural rights. The threat or the use of weapons affect girls and boys, women and men differently and can have long-lasting consequences on future generations.

In that sense, effective disarmament and arms control can contribute to the protection and promotion of human rights by making it more difficult for States as well as non-state actors to acquire and access weapons, thus decreasing the potential for violence and conflict. OHCHR supports a human rights-based approach to disarmament. International human rights law can provide clear guidance on the inclusion of human rights considerations, such as accountability, participation, the rule of law and non-discrimination into regulation and governance efforts. In addition, the institutional framework of human rights can be used to strengthen and advance weapons related issues.

Summary

The present briefer looks at the interlinkages between human rights and disarmament. It details the effects of weapons on all human rights, for example explosive weapons in populated areas have a significant human cost, but can also destroy and damage civilian infrastructure, affecting a range of economic, social and cultural rights. The briefer further explains how disarmament can impact human rights positively. The existing explicit link between human rights and disarmament is already recognized in various disarmament treaties. The briefer examines the ways in which human rights can strengthen disarmament efforts, for example in the field of victims’ and survivors’ assistance. Finally, it describes how human rights can encourage human-centred disarmament.