The Impact of Biological and Chemical Warfare on Human Security: A Humanitarian Law Perspective

Abstract

The industrial revolution, scienti c inventions and technology has made tasks more convenient and e cient. Nonetheless, it has opened avenues for modernized, sophisticated security threats. Developments related to bio-chemical agents in warfare is a critical human security challenge and has the ability to threaten health security, food security, environmental security, community security and personal security. Jeopardizing aforementioned elds, paves the way for destabilized economy and politics in a country. The bio-chemical agents have a strong ability to cause super cial damage to any object that contacts the substance. It can cause both long-term and short-term injuries. Severity of damages caused by bio-chemical agents are evident from the experiences of soldiers at war zones. Considering the destructive nature of deadly bio-chemical agents, the International Humanitarian Law has imposed barriers for warring parties to use biochemical agents. However, regardless of the destructive impacts of bio-chemical agents, it can be noted that State and non-State actors deploy bio-chemical weapons in battle zones. Acquisition of bio-chemical agents by non-State groups pose even greater security threat in modern day. Per contra, States which conducted development programs on bio-chemical weapons are suspected to retain their stockpiles regardless of its adverse impacts. Given the above, this study aims to explore the impact of bio-chemical warfare on human security from a humanitarian law perspective by investigating the following questions: What are the impacts to human security from bio-chemical warfare? What are the setbacks of humanitarian law in safeguarding individuals from bio-chemical warfare? Further, the study takes up a qualitative approach and based majorly on secondary data sources. Moreover, study utilizes human security concept to analyze impacts of biochemical warfare on human security