Requiring A Declaration of Hostilities
Category: Global Disarmament ~*~ Strength: Mild
The General Assembly:
Recognizing that the power to prosecute a war is among the most basic, essential, and consequential powers of any nation;
Convinced that requiring an open and public statement of the reason for going to war will reduce the likelihood of flagrantly unjustifiable wars, allow member nations to better gauge the appropriateness of intervention, and thereby reduce the terrible costs associated with war;
Now, therefore, the Member Nations of the World Assembly hereby enact the following provisions:
1. Requires that every nation designate by law a particular government official or accountable government body legally empowered to declare a commencement of hostilities on behalf of that nation.
2. Further requires that, except as otherwise provided in this resolution, a nation must formally declare the commencement of hostilities against an adversary nation before commencing violent or military action against that adversary;
3. Further requires that, in a declaration of hostilities pursuant to section 2 of this law, a nation shall set forth the grounds for violence or military action aimed at their adversary openly and publicly to the international community;
4. Clarifies that, notwithstanding the above sections, a nation may take any lawful action it deems necessary to protect itself and its existential interests before making a declaration of hostilities, so long as the declaration is made as soon as possible thereafter;
5. Clarifies that nothing in this resolution requires a nation to embark on a full campaign of war against an adversary as part of a declaration of hostilities; a declaration may be limited, for instance, to a particular need for engagement on a small scale or to a temporary, localized use of force.
6. Prohibits a member nation from providing comfort, aid, or assistance to any nation that engages in the use of violence of military action against an adversary nation in violation of this resolution, except as expressly required by other international law.