SFRC: Hearing on Treaties Concerning Armed Conflicts

Today, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing on the following treaties:

• Protocol on Explosive Remnants of War (Protocol V) to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed To Be Excessively Injurious or To Have Indiscriminate Effects, done at Geneva on November 28, 2003 (Treaty Doc. 109-10)
• Amendment of Article 1 of the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed To Be Excessively Injurious or To Have Indiscriminate Effects, done at Geneva December 21, 2001 (Treaty Doc. 109-10)
• Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict signed by the United States on May 14, 1954 (Treaty Doc. 106-1)
• Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Incendiary Weapons (Protocol III) Additional to the Convention of October 10, 1980 on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed To Be Excessively Injurious or To Have Indiscriminate Effects, done at Geneva October 10, 1980 (Treaty Doc. 105-1)
• Protocol on Blinding Laser Weapons (Protocol IV) Additional to the Convention on October 10, 1980 on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed To Be Excessively Injurious or To Have Indiscriminate Effects, done at Vienna on October 13, 1995 (Treaty Doc. 105-1)

Witnesses will include John B. Bellinger (Legal Adviser, Department of State), Charles A. Allen (Deputy General Counsel, International Affairs, Department of Defense), and Brigadier General Michelle D. Johnson (Deputy Director for the War on Terrorism and Global Effects, J-5 Strategic Plans and Policy Directorate, Joint Staff, Department of Defense).

UPDATE (4:30PM): I have added links to the written statements of the witnesses, which were made available this afternoon.