Update: Researching the International Weapons Law

Since the end of the 19th century, with the development of technically more and more sophisticated weapons that cause increasingly brutal injuries to combatants and civilians, states started to ban certain types of weapons entirely and to limit the quantity and to regulate the use of weapons.
The international law of weapons existing today comprises a large variety of rules. Whereas weapons of mass destruction are governed by a rather comprehensive and restrictive regime, in the field of conventional arms, the rules are less widespread, and existing treaties usually only govern specific categories of weapons and ammunition. In addition, it is uncertain how emerging new weapons, e.g., autonomous weapons systems or cyber weapons, are covered by existing rules and new rules are being developed. The scope of regulating weapons differs from a complete ban to limitations on the production, stockpiling, use, or trade in arms. Likewise, the compliance and verification mechanisms differ considerably depending on the type of arms and ammunition. Finally, there are rules on the use of arms in wartime as a means and method of warfare and on the use of arms in peacetime for the purpose of law enforcement.
After an overview on general sources on international weapons law (2.) and institutions dealing with weapons, arms control, and disarmament (3.), this research guide will provide references on rules banning or limiting weapons of mass destruction (4.), rules governing conventional weapons (5.), new types of weapons (6.), and rules regulating the use of weapons (7.).