Author: Emmanuelle Maitre

Three new subscribing states for the Hague Code of Conduct

2020 opened with the announcement by three states of their intention to join the Hague Code of Conduct against Ballistic Missile Proliferation (HCoC): Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Equatorial Guinea and Somalia. The number of subscribing states to this text now stands at 143. It should be noted that in 2019, Togo took the decision to subscribe to the Code.

Ballistic missiles and conventional strike weapons: Adapting the HCoC to address the dissemination of conventional ballistic missiles

The Hague Code of Conduct aims at curbing the proliferation of missiles capable of carrying weapons of mass destruction. Today, with an important increase in ranges, these weapons are more and more used for a conventional mission, by a variety of states. This dissemination illustrates the fact that many stakeholders master the technologies necessary to build and sustain these weapons. But it also raises questions on the possible destabilising effects of these arsenals, even when they are not linked to WMDs.

Side event on HCoC in the margins of the UNGA in New York

On 9 October 2019, FRS organised a side event on the Hague Code of Conduct and Ballistic Missile Non-Proliferation in the margins of the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, and on behalf of the European Union.

Regional Seminar on HCoC in Djibouti

On 26 September 2019, FRS organised a regional outreach seminar in Djibouti entitled « Dealing with missile proliferation: one side of the non-proliferation and disarmament regime » with the support of IGAD and UNREC.

Regional Seminar on HCoC in Livingstone, Zambia

On 19 July 2019, the FRS organised a regional outreach seminar in Livingstone entitled « Dealing with missile proliferation: one side of the non-proliferation and disarmament regime. »

The Hague Code of Conduct and Space

On 3 June 2019, the FRS conducted a Side Event on the Hague Code of Conduct and Space, in the margins of the HCoC Annual Regular Meeting in Vienna.

The HCoC at the Space Security Conference (UNIDIR)

On 29 may 2019, in the context of the Space Security Conference, organized by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), the FRS conducted a panel dedicated to the HCoC. Moderator : Dr Xavier Pasco, Director, Fondation pour la recherche stratégique Panel : Amb. Ann-Sofie Nilsson, Swedish Ambassador for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation Ms Isabelle […]

Togo becomes the 140th subscribing state to the HCoC

On 19 April 2019, the Togolese Republic has become the 140th subscribing state to the Hague Code of Conduct against the proliferation of ballistic missiles. The total number of African states that have subscribed to the HCoC now stands at 39.

Opening HCoC to cruise missiles: A proposal to overcome political hurdles

The issue of extending the scope of the Hague Code of Conduct to cruise missiles is regularly raised in academic and political discussions about the Code. Some non-subscribing States justify their refusal to join the instrument because of this exclusion, perceived as a major flaw. Indeed, cruise missiles have characteristics that can make them very effective in carrying weapons of mass destruction. It is therefore clearly of interest to consider extending the HCoC scope to these weapons.

Séminaire régional francophone sur le HCoC en Afrique

On February 4, 2019, the FRS in partnership with UNREC organized a regional seminar dedicated to French-speaking countries in Africa. Entitled “Combating Missile Proliferation: A Facet of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Regime,” the seminar was held in Lomé, Togo. Find here the photos of this meeting.