Editing Depleted uranium (section)

===Requests for a moratorium on military use===
A number of anti-war activists specializing in [[international humanitarian law]] have questioned the legality of the continued use of depleted uranium weapons, highlighting that the effects may breach the [[Distinction (law)|principle of distinction]] (between civilians and military personnel).<ref>{{cite journal |last=Gibbons |first=O. T. |date=December 2004 |title=Uses and Effects of Depleted Uranium Munitions: Towards a Moratorium on Use |journal=Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law |volume=7 |pages=191–232 |doi=10.1017/S1389135904001916|doi-broken-date=1 December 2024 }}</ref> Some states and the [[International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons]], a coalition of more than 155 [[non-governmental organization]]s, have asked for a ban on the production and military use of depleted uranium weapons.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/i/10.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20061207174804/http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/i/10.html|url-status= usurped|archive-date= 7 December 2006| title=ICBUW's membership includes 85 groups in 22 countries worldwide| date=27 September 2006|publisher=The International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons| access-date=22 March 2007}}</ref>

The [[European Parliament]] has repeatedly passed resolutions requesting an immediate [[Moratorium (law)|moratorium]] on the further use of depleted uranium ammunition,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eoslifework.co.uk/pdfs/EUweaponsres12f03.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.eoslifework.co.uk/pdfs/EUweaponsres12f03.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live|date=10 February 2003|title=Session Document: European Parliament resolution on the harmful effects of unexploded ordnance (landmines and cluster submunitions) and depleted uranium ammunition|access-date=22 March 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/a/89.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928080849/http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/a/89.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=28 September 2007|publisher=The International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons| access-date=22 March 2007| title=European Parliament Makes Fourth Call for DU Ban| date=22 November 2006}}</ref> but [[France]] and [[United Kingdom|Britain]] – the only [[Europe]]an states that are permanent members of the [[United Nations Security Council]]—have consistently rejected calls for a ban,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.converge.org.nz/pma/durej.htm|title=DU: Some NATO Countries Reject Moratorium|date=11 January 2001|publisher=UN Wire|access-date=22 March 2007}}</ref> maintaining that its use continues to be legal, and that the health risks are unsubstantiated.<ref name="ukepetition2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11309.asp|date=22 March 2007|title=Depleteduranium – epetition reply|publisher=The Prime Minister's Office|access-date=22 March 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070514012751/http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page11309.asp|archive-date=14 May 2007}}</ref>

In 2007, France, Britain, the Netherlands, and the Czech Republic voted against a [[United Nations General Assembly]] resolution to hold a debate in 2009 about the effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium. All other European Union nations voted in favour or abstained.<ref name="A-62-PV.61">{{UN document |docid=A-62-PV.61 |body=General Assembly |type=Verbotim Report |session=62 |meeting=61 |page=14 |anchor=pg014-bk01 |date=5 December 2007 |speakername=The Acting President |accessdate=21 August 2008}}</ref> The ambassador from the Netherlands explained his negative vote as being due to the reference in the preamble to the resolution "to potential harmful effects of the use of depleted uranium munitions on human health and the environment [which] cannot, in our view, be supported by conclusive scientific studies conducted by relevant international organizations."<ref>{{ UN document |docid=A-62-PV.61 |body=General Assembly |type=Verbotim Report |session=62 |meeting=61 |page=25 |anchor=pg025-bk02 |date=5 December 2007 |speakername=Mr. De Klerk|speakernation=Netherlands |accessdate=21 August 2008}}</ref> None of the other permanent members of the United Nations Security Council supported the resolution as China was absent for the vote, Russia abstained and the United States voted against the resolution.<ref name="A-62-PV.61"/>

In September 2008, and in response to the 2007 General Assembly resolution, the [[UN Secretary General]] published the views of 15 states alongside those of the [[International Atomic Energy Agency]] (IAEA) and [[World Health Organization]] (WHO). The IAEA and WHO evidence differed little from previous statements on the issue.<ref name="ICBUW">Staff. {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090116014809/http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/a/188.html UN Secretary General Publishes Report on Uranium Weapons]}}, {{usurped|1=[https://archive.today/20120719151325/http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/i/57.html ICBUW]}}, 17 September 2008.</ref> The report was largely split between states concerned about depleted uranium's use, such as [[Finland]], [[Cuba]], [[Japan]], [[Serbia]], [[Argentina]], and predominantly [[NATO]] members, who do not consider the use of depleted uranium munitions problematic.<ref name=ICBUW/>

In December 2008, 141 states supported a resolution requesting that three UN agencies: [[United Nations Environment Programme]] (UNEP), WHO and IAEA update their research on the impact of uranium munitions by late 2010—to coincide with the General Assembly's 65th Session, four voted against, 34 abstained and 13 were absent.<ref name="ga10792">{{cite press release |date=2 December 2008 |url=https://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2008/ga10792.doc.htm |title=UN Department of Public Information: Effects of the use of Armaments and Ammunitions Containing Depleted Uranium (A/C.1/63/L.26) |id=GA/10792 |publisher=UN}} See draft XIV and Annex XIII.</ref> As before Britain and France voted against the resolution. All other European Union nations voted in favour or abstained: the Netherlands, which voted against a resolution in 2007, voted in favour, as did Finland and [[Norway]], both of which had abstained in 2007, while the Czech Republic, which voted against the resolution in 2007, abstained. The two other states that voted against the resolution were [[Israel]] and the United States (both of which voted against in 2007), while as before [[China]] was absent for the vote, and Russia abstained.<ref name=ga10792/>

In June 2009, [[Belgium]] became the first country in the world to ban: "inert ammunition and armour that contains depleted uranium or any other industrially manufactured uranium."<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20160303190211/http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/a/274.html UK Uranium Weapons Network launched as Belgium becomes first country to ban depleted uranium weapons]}}. Bandepleteduranium.org (22 June 2009). Retrieved 16 January 2011.</ref> The move followed a unanimous parliamentary vote on the issue on 22 March 2007. The text of the 2007 law allowed for two years to pass until it came into force.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/docs/69.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719091019/http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/docs/69.pdf |archive-date=2011-07-19 |url-status=usurped |title=English translation of Belgian text banning uranium weapons and armour |access-date=4 September 2013}}</ref> In April 2009, the Belgian Senate voted unanimously to restrict investments by Belgian banks into the manufacturers of depleted uranium weapons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/52/1935/52K1935001.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.dekamer.be/FLWB/PDF/52/1935/52K1935001.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Belgian Senate votes to ban investments by Belgian financial institutions into uranium weapon manufacturers |access-date=4 September 2013}}</ref>

In September 2009, the [[Latin American Parliament]] passed a resolution calling for a regional moratorium on the use, production and procurement of uranium weapons. It also called on the Parlatino's members to work towards an international uranium weapons treaty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/docs/110.pdf |title=Resolución Latinoamericana de la Comision de Derechos Humanos, Justicia y Politicas Carcelarias: Prohibición de las armas de uranio |access-date=4 September 2013 |archive-date=1 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301113809/http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/docs/110.pdf |url-status=usurped }}</ref>

In November 2010 the Irish Senate passed a bill seeking to outlaw depleted uranium weapons,<ref>{{cite web|author=ICBUW |url=http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/a/361.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120127152805/http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/a/361.html |archive-date=27 January 2012 |title=Irish depleted uranium ban bill sails through Senate with cross party support |publisher=Bandepleteduranium.org |access-date=4 September 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> but it lapsed before approval by the [[Dáil Éireann|Dáil]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oireachtas.ie/viewdoc.asp?fn=/documents/bills28/bills/2009/4809/document1.htm |title=Oireachtas Web site: Prohibition of Depleted Uranium Weapons Bill 2009 |publisher=Oireachtas.ie |date= 2 July 2009|access-date=4 September 2013}}</ref>

In December 2010, 148 states supported a United Nations' General Assembly resolution calling for the states that use depleted uranium weapons in conflict to reveal where the weapons have been fired when asked to do so by the country upon whose territory they have been used.

In April 2011, the Congress of Costa Rica passed a law prohibiting uranium weapons in its territories, becoming the second country in the world to do so.<ref>{{cite web |author=ICBUW |url=http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/a/407.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501131940/http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/a/407.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=1 May 2011 |title=Costa Rica bans depleted uranium weapons |publisher=Bandepleteduranium.org |access-date=4 September 2013}}</ref>

In December 2012, 155 states supported a United Nations' General Assembly resolution that recalled that, because of the ongoing uncertainties over the long-term environmental impacts of depleted uranium identified by the United Nations Environment Programme, states should adopt a precautionary approach to its use.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/67/36|title=UNGA (2012) A/RES/67/36 Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 3 December 2012, Effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium}}</ref>

In December 2014, 150 states supported a United Nations' General Assembly resolution encouraging states to provide assistance to states affected by the use of depleted uranium weapons, in particular in identifying and managing contaminated sites and material.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/69/57|title=UNGA (2014) A/RES/69/57 Effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium.}}</ref> In contrast to the previous biennial resolutions, Germany moved to an abstention from supporting to the resolutions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/the-politics-behind-the-2014-du-vote|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141203131152/http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/en/the-politics-behind-the-2014-du-vote|url-status=usurped|archive-date=3 December 2014|title=ICBUW (2014) The politics behind the vote on 2014's UN depleted uranium resolution}}</ref> Prior to the vote, in a report to the United Nations Secretary General requested by 2012's resolution published in June 2014, Iraq had called for a global treaty ban on depleted uranium weapons.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/69/151|title=UNGA (2014) Effects of the use of armaments and ammunitions containing depleted uranium. Report of the Secretary-General.}}</ref>