Susi Snyder, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
Four experts discussed challenges and priorities for humanitarian disarmament in 2025. | Credit: Forum on the Arms Trade, 2025.
The humanitarian disarmament agenda faces critical challenges in 2025. Judging from the experiences of 2024, the global community will have to navigate pressing issues like compliance with existing norms, accountability for violations, and technological developments in warfare. A recent webinar organized by the Forum on the Arms Trade brought together leading experts to discuss these issues and propose ways to advance humanitarian disarmament in this difficult time. (See video and final report from this event.)
The Landscape of Humanitarian Disarmament in 2024
The past year saw significant tension between escalating conflicts and global disarmament efforts. For example, while US transfers of antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine strained the Mine Ban Treaty, the international community showed overwhelming support for a mine-free world through a United Nations resolution. Similarly, although a minority of countries blocked progress on a legally binding treaty addressing lethal autonomous weapons systems under the auspices of the Convention on Conventional Weapons, a larger coalition pushed for advancement within the United Nations General Assembly.
These developments were set against a backdrop of increasing public scrutiny of the production of and investment in weaponry. Issues such as small arms proliferation, implicit and explicit threats to use nuclear weapons, and the integration of new technologies into arsenals spotlighted the urgent need for those who support humanitarian disarmament to be bolder and more consistent in vocalizing their opposition to norm violations as a principled position. With advances in efforts to encourage the application of human rights due diligence to the defense sector, as well as increasing collaborative action outside traditional international forums, opportunities to connect with new actors to strengthen existing humanitarian disarmament norms were also part of the 2024 landscape.
Key Insights from the Experts
At the webinar, Erin Hunt, executive director of Mines Action Canada, emphasized the erosion of norms in current conflicts, exemplified by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and banned weapons like landmines and cluster munitions. She highlighted the double standards in global responses, where allied states are often excused for violations that are condemned when committed by others. “Norms must be applied equally,” she said, adding that accountability is crucial for preserving humanitarian disarmament principles.
Susi Snyder, programme coordinator for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), echoed these concerns and pointed to the growing investments in arms industries fueled by narratives of geopolitical instability. “We are being sold the story that more weapons are the answer,” she said. “But history and experience show us that investing in arms often benefits a select few at the expense of global peace and security.” Snyder also underscored the importance of public awareness, which raises the cost of contravening norms and strengthens global treaties.
Hine-Wai Loose, director of Control Arms, shared insights on the Arms Trade Treaty and its 10-year anniversary. She highlighted the treaty’s role in addressing violations of international humanitarian law through legal cases and compliance discussions. However, she warned that increasing arms production and joint ventures, including those in which multiple corporate and government actors are intrinsically involved in the production of materials, like the F-35 advanced fighter jet program, could undermine disarmament efforts. “Weapons made from globally sourced parts allow conflicts to persist,” she explained, stressing the need for stronger oversight and new approaches to regulating emerging technologies like surveillance tools.
Recommendations for 2025
Responding to the lessons of 2024, the panelists proposed several priorities for advancing humanitarian disarmament over the coming year:
Focus on People: Erin Hunt and Hine-Wai Loose stressed that disarmament is ultimately about protecting civilians and communities. A people-centered approach ensures better outcomes for all.
Promote Inclusivity: Hunt and Susi Snyder recommended ensuring that decision-making takes place in inclusive forums and avoiding bodies where consensus rules allow a single actor to block progress.
Challenge Profit Motives: Snyder highlighted the importance of addressing the financial incentives driving weaponization by leveraging human rights due diligence frameworks.
Commit to Implementation: Roos Boer, panel moderator and project leader at PAX, noted that signing treaties is just the first step. Universalization and rigorous implementation are key to their success. Loose added that establishing implementing legislation and submitting national reports in support of transparency were two necessary implementation efforts that strengthen the overarching norms established by these instruments.
A Call to Action
The humanitarian disarmament agenda’s strength lies in its collaboration among states, civil society, intergovernmental organizations, and affected communities. As 2025 unfolds, it is imperative to build on past successes and address emerging challenges. Existing norms can be reinforced by actions demonstrating a commitment to full implementation of agreements around those norms. To ensure accountability and attention to norms violations, debates must take place in forums with inclusive decision-making (and the opportunity for voting). The technological developments that are shifting the conflict landscape must be addressed by a broad range of actors, and measures to undermine the profit motives for these developments may also reduce the speed of change; these steps will allow for the emergence of new norms upholding the principles of humanitarian disarmament to emerge.
This post expresses the views of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Armed Conflict and Civilian Protection Initiative (ACCPI), Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic, or Harvard University.
Susi Snyder, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
The humanitarian disarmament agenda faces critical challenges in 2025. Judging from the experiences of 2024, the global community will have to navigate pressing issues like compliance with existing norms, accountability for violations, and technological developments in warfare. A recent webinar organized by the Forum on the Arms Trade brought together leading experts to discuss these issues and propose ways to advance humanitarian disarmament in this difficult time. (See video and final report from this event.)
The Landscape of Humanitarian Disarmament in 2024
The past year saw significant tension between escalating conflicts and global disarmament efforts. For example, while US transfers of antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine strained the Mine Ban Treaty, the international community showed overwhelming support for a mine-free world through a United Nations resolution. Similarly, although a minority of countries blocked progress on a legally binding treaty addressing lethal autonomous weapons systems under the auspices of the Convention on Conventional Weapons, a larger coalition pushed for advancement within the United Nations General Assembly.
These developments were set against a backdrop of increasing public scrutiny of the production of and investment in weaponry. Issues such as small arms proliferation, implicit and explicit threats to use nuclear weapons, and the integration of new technologies into arsenals spotlighted the urgent need for those who support humanitarian disarmament to be bolder and more consistent in vocalizing their opposition to norm violations as a principled position. With advances in efforts to encourage the application of human rights due diligence to the defense sector, as well as increasing collaborative action outside traditional international forums, opportunities to connect with new actors to strengthen existing humanitarian disarmament norms were also part of the 2024 landscape.
Key Insights from the Experts
At the webinar, Erin Hunt, executive director of Mines Action Canada, emphasized the erosion of norms in current conflicts, exemplified by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and banned weapons like landmines and cluster munitions. She highlighted the double standards in global responses, where allied states are often excused for violations that are condemned when committed by others. “Norms must be applied equally,” she said, adding that accountability is crucial for preserving humanitarian disarmament principles.
Susi Snyder, programme coordinator for the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), echoed these concerns and pointed to the growing investments in arms industries fueled by narratives of geopolitical instability. “We are being sold the story that more weapons are the answer,” she said. “But history and experience show us that investing in arms often benefits a select few at the expense of global peace and security.” Snyder also underscored the importance of public awareness, which raises the cost of contravening norms and strengthens global treaties.
Hine-Wai Loose, director of Control Arms, shared insights on the Arms Trade Treaty and its 10-year anniversary. She highlighted the treaty’s role in addressing violations of international humanitarian law through legal cases and compliance discussions. However, she warned that increasing arms production and joint ventures, including those in which multiple corporate and government actors are intrinsically involved in the production of materials, like the F-35 advanced fighter jet program, could undermine disarmament efforts. “Weapons made from globally sourced parts allow conflicts to persist,” she explained, stressing the need for stronger oversight and new approaches to regulating emerging technologies like surveillance tools.
Recommendations for 2025
Responding to the lessons of 2024, the panelists proposed several priorities for advancing humanitarian disarmament over the coming year:
A Call to Action
The humanitarian disarmament agenda’s strength lies in its collaboration among states, civil society, intergovernmental organizations, and affected communities. As 2025 unfolds, it is imperative to build on past successes and address emerging challenges. Existing norms can be reinforced by actions demonstrating a commitment to full implementation of agreements around those norms. To ensure accountability and attention to norms violations, debates must take place in forums with inclusive decision-making (and the opportunity for voting). The technological developments that are shifting the conflict landscape must be addressed by a broad range of actors, and measures to undermine the profit motives for these developments may also reduce the speed of change; these steps will allow for the emergence of new norms upholding the principles of humanitarian disarmament to emerge.
This post expresses the views of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Armed Conflict and Civilian Protection Initiative (ACCPI), Harvard Law School’s International Human Rights Clinic, or Harvard University.
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