Why are chemical weapons outlawed by the Geneva Conventions?
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The Geneva Conventions prohibits the use of “asphyxiating, poisonous or other gases, and of all analogous liquids, materials or devices” and “bacteriological methods of warfare.” In layman’s terms this is chemical weapons and biological weapons.
This was done in response to the widespread use of various chemicals during WWI, such as French use of tear has, German use of chlorine gas, and hydrogen cyanide. The issue was the use of gas not only had a physical effect on soldiers, but also a psychological effect. Additionally, the gas was used in close proximity to civilians, causing 100,000-300,000 deaths. Thousands of others died years after the war due to the effects of chemical exposure. Civilians, unlike military, did not have access to gas masks.
The ban on chemical weapons has only had an effect on nations that choose to follow it. Chemical weapons have been used and created numerous times since the ban went into effect in the 1920s.
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