Class Year
2007
Document Type
Feature
Publication Date
Spring 2006
Abstract
A study conducted in Halabja of the long-term effects of chemical weapons exposure showed that “[t]hese chemicals seriously affected people’s eyes, and respitory and neurological systems. Children are dying ... of leukemia and lymphomas ... [there is a] large proportion of pregnancies [with] major malformations ... [which] suggest[s] that the effects from these chemical warfare agents are transmitted to succeeding generations.” This indicates that chemical weapons exposure causes “long-term damage to the DNA” and can affect the ability of an ethnic group to produce healthy off-spring. By affecting the reproductive health of an ethnic group, countries that use chemical weapons, particularly against civilian populations, arguably commit crimes against humanity that rise to the level of genocide.
Recommended Citation
Sucato, Mea. "Enforcing the Ban on Chemical Weapons." Sustainable Development Law & Policy, Spring 2006, 57-72.