Arms Control Law Hub

The International Arms Control Law Hub is committed to educating the next generation of experts in arms control law.

The new International Arms Control Law Hub in The Hague will stimulate national and international academic and policy debate, build interlinkages between practice and academia, and facilitate the regular exchange of knowledge about the control of existing and new weapons systems between the relevant Dutch ministries, civil society, the academic community, and other international organisations based in The Netherlands, such as the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

The resurgence of arms control law
Arms control law has stagnated in the past few years and, in some respects, we have seen even a reversal of arms control endeavours. However, recent international events have led to a renewal of global efforts and attention. New actors, instruments, agendas, and risks are again pushing arms control law to the centre of the international stage.

Arms control law is a specialised field of public international law, which promotes international peace and security. The traditional focus of arms control and disarmament is on weapons of mass destruction (WMD), specifically nuclear, chemical and biological weapons. Traditionally states entered into international treaties and agreements to limit the development, production, proliferation and usage of WMD, and established international verification regimes to support the disarmament and non-proliferation process. In the last decades the scope of arms control law has expanded to include conventional weapons and emerging technologies.

What is the Arms Control Law Hub?
In 2021, the Asser Institute received a 5-year grant from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish an International Arms Control Law Hub in The Hague, with the goal of building expertise in international arms control law in The Netherlands. While encompassing conventional arms, the emphasis of the Arms Control Law Hub is on arms control law with respect to nuclear, chemical and biological WMD, and nuclear security.  

Researchers

Events
2024

2023

 2022