Observatory of Armaments

The Observatoire des armements (Observatory of Armaments), also known by its institutional name CDRPC — Centre de documentation et de recherche sur la paix et les conflits — is an independent, non-profit centre of expertise and documentation based in Lyon, France. It was founded in 1984 by Bruno Barrillot, Patrice Bouveret and Jean-Luc Thierry. Its work focuses on three main themes: arms exports, nuclear weapons, and the consequences of nuclear testing. It conducts research and advocacy aimed at democratic control of defence and security activities in France and Europe, in favour of disarmament. The organisation publishes books, studies and reports, and issues the journal Damoclès. It intervenes in conferences, the media and social networks. It played a leading role in securing French State recognition of the harmful consequences of nuclear tests on the military and civilians who took part in them, as well as on populations and the environment. It was instrumental in the adoption by Parliament of the law of 5 January 2010 allowing compensation for victims in Algeria, Polynesia and metropolitan France. The Observatoire des armements has been an active member of two campaigns that received the Nobel Peace Prize: in 1997, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), which led to the signing of the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines on 3 December 1997; and in 2017, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which resulted in the UN adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 7 July 2017, signed by 122 states. France refused to participate in the negotiations on that treaty. The Observatory is an active member of the French branch of ICAN and hosts its headquarters. Its website, obsarm.org, publishes investigations and featured articles on topics such as the consequences of French nuclear explosions in Algeria, French arms transfers (including to Burma and Indonesia), dual-use goods, the arms industry, and chronicles of conscientious objectors and deserters, particularly since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The organisation operates as a non-profit association registered in France.

The Observatoire des armements was founded in 1984 in Lyon, France, by Bruno Barrillot, Patrice Bouveret and Jean-Luc Thierry. It operates under the institutional name CDRPC — Centre de documentation et de recherche sur la paix et les conflits — as an independent, non-profit centre of expertise and documentation. From its base in Lyon, it developed a network and a documentation centre around several themes: arms exports, nuclear weapons and the consequences of their testing. It conducts research and advocacy with public authorities for democratic control of defence and security activities in France and Europe, in favour of disarmament. The organisation publishes books and the journal Damoclès, and intervenes in conferences, the media and social networks. It played a preponderant role in the French State's recognition of the harmful consequences of nuclear tests on the military and civilians who participated in them, as well as on populations and the environment. It was at the origin of the adoption by Parliament of the law of 5 January 2010, which allows compensation for victims in Algeria, Polynesia and metropolitan France. The Observatoire des armements has been an active member of two campaigns that received the Nobel Peace Prize. In 1997, it was part of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), which led to the signing of the Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines on 3 December 1997. In 2017, it was part of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which resulted in the UN adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons on 7 July 2017, signed by 122 states; France refused to participate in the negotiations. The Observatory is an active member of the French branch of ICAN and hosts its headquarters. In the 2020s, its website continued to publish investigations and featured articles on contemporary issues, including the consequences of French nuclear explosions in Algeria, French arms transfers to Burma and Indonesia, dual-use goods, the arms industry, and chronicles of conscientious objectors and deserters since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

• 2017

  Active member of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), which received the Nobel Peace Prize; Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons adopted by the UN on 7 July 2017.

• 2010

  Instrumental in the adoption by Parliament of the law of 5 January 2010 allowing compensation for nuclear-test victims in Algeria, Polynesia and metropolitan France.

• 1997

  Active member of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), which received the Nobel Peace Prize; Convention on the Prohibition of Anti-Personnel Mines signed on 3 December 1997.

• 1984

  Founded in Lyon, France, by Bruno Barrillot, Patrice Bouveret and Jean-Luc Thierry.

Independent non-profit expertise and documentation centre for disarmament, democratic control of defence and security, and nuclear-test victim recognition.

• Damoclès journal

  The organisation's journal, published as part of its documentation and advocacy work.

• Research reports and studies

  Studies and reports on arms exports, nuclear weapons and the consequences of nuclear testing.

• Books

  Books published on militarisation and disarmament themes.

1. 1Observatoire des armements / CDRPC - Centre de documentation et de recherche sur la paix et [...]obsarm.org
2. 2Observatoire des armementswikidata.org
3. 3Observatoire des armementsfr.wikipedia.org