International legal mechanisms for the protection of women's ‎and children's rights during armed and nuclear conflicts in the ‎modern welfare state

Abstract

Because of the lack of legal protection afforded to certain groups within the human rights complex, the rights of women and children occupy a particularly prominent and distinctive position. Although significant progress has been made, gaps in the implementation of ‎these rights persist even in advanced welfare states, particularly during periods of armed and nuclear conflict. These norms are effective ‎when they consider the positive experiences of other welfare states and the recommendations of international organizations that support ‎women's and children's rights and freedoms during times of conflict. Human rights legislation at least offers a fair chance of responsibility ‎if nuclear weapons are used again, even though it does not expressly forbid their use. Moreover, this body of international ‎law explicitly forbids the use of nuclear weapons under all circumstances other than those of war‎.