State Positions

The Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas is the first formal international recognition that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas has severe humanitarian consequences that must be addressed by states. Adopted in November 2022, the Declaration is the outcome of more than a decade of advocacy and almost three years of consultations involving states, the United Nations (UN), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and civil society, predominantly through the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW).

The Explosive Weapons Monitor conducts monitoring of state positions on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas and the Political Declaration. This monitoring, shared in state profiles below, takes stock of positions shared by states since 2009, including acknowledgement of the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas, commitments to action to address it, and positions on concepts central to policy discussions and negotiations of the draft text of the Political Declaration. Ongoing monitoring of state positions now includes statements delivered by states in relevant fora, including UN General Assembly First Committee meetings, the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians, and key meetings related to the Political Declaration. State profiles were last updated in April 2024 and include statements made by states through 31 December 2023.

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[{"id":"89","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"AF","countryName":"Afghanistan"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Afghanistan has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration but has, however, participated in other related events including the 2019 Vienna Conference on Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare [1]. \n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn a statement during the General Debate of the 69th UN General Assembly First Committee in 2014, Afghanistan noted that the “use of high Explosive Weapons systems with wide area effect, such as mortars, rockets and grenades, by terrorist groups in civilian populated areas and use of civilians as human shields have resulted in a dramatic increase in civilian casualties.”[2] \nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Afghanistan aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.” [3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘Vienna Conference on Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare: Summary of the Conference’. Federal Ministry, Republic of Austria. Reaching Critical Will. 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/vienna-2019/Vienna-summary.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/vienna-2019/Vienna-summary.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘UNGA69 First Committee Statement’. Permanent Mission of Afghanistan to the United Nations. 14 October 2014. <a href=\"https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/uploads/assets/special/meetings/firstcommittee/69/pdfs/GD_14_Oct_Afghanistan.pdf\">https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/uploads/assets/special/meetings/firstcommittee/69/pdfs/GD_14_Oct_Afghanistan.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"1","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"AL","countryName":"Albania"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Albania was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. There, Albania reaffirmed states’ obligations under applicable International Law, and expressed its commitment to strengthening the protection of civilians and civilian objects during and after armed conflict, as well as to addressing the humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. During the fourth round of consultations in April 2022, Albania also endorsed the European Union (EU) statement expressing support for the initiative.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAlbania has spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas several times at the UN Security Council, primarily highlighting the broad harms caused to civilians by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. At the UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities on 25 January 2022, Albania warned that when cities become theatres of war, streets become deathbeds and that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas always leads to mass civilian casualties, destruction of critical infrastructure, and displacement. Notably, it also called on all parties to conflict to stop or avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[1] Later that year, at the UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians, Albania reiterated that “every conflict brings a devastating impact on civilians, critical civilian infrastructure, livelihoods, education, health systems, and food and water security, particularly when explosive weapons are used in populated areas.”[2]\nAlongside its individual statements, Albania has aligned with several statements delivered by the European Union (EU) on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas beyond the negotiations to develop a Political Declaration. Most recently, Albania aligned with the EU’s statement to the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023 in which the EU welcomed the Political Declaration, highlighted the importance of its adoption, and emphasised the importance of implementing the declaration’s commitments (including at the 2024 Oslo Conference)[3]. As a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Albania is also aligned with the May 2016 World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[4]","references":"<ol class=\"ol1\">\n<li class=\"li1\">Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.</li>\n<li class=\"li2\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/pro/n22/360/47/pdf/n2236047.pdf?token=pQUi7ak5PPWqfo9bj7&fe=true\">https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/pro/n22/360/47/pdf/n2236047.pdf?token=pQUi7ak5PPWqfo9bj7&fe=true.</a> </li>\n<li class=\"li2\">European Union. 2023. ‘Statement on Conventional Weapons’. Available from: <a href=\"https://estatements.unmeetings.org/estatements/11.0010/20231023100000000/6geoPnJ6HnKK/M8SpW99Xe5MF_en.pdf\">https://estatements.unmeetings.org/estatements/11.0010/20231023100000000/6geoPnJ6HnKK/M8SpW99Xe5MF_en.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"li1\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. Available from: <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"90","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"DZ","countryName":"Algeria"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Algeria has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It did, however, actively participate in the fourth round of consultations towards a Political Declaration in April 2022. It commended the reaffirmation in the draft declaration of the commitment to respecting International Humanitarian Law (IHL) during armed conflict. It stressed the imperative of fully implementing the rules and principles that already exist in IHL, and said that the draft should reflect that states do not intend to create new rules. It recalled the position expressed by the Arab Group during the March 2021 consultations, which stressed that all reference to non-state armed groups should be strictly limited to IHL and should be without prejudice to the principle of self-determination and resistance against foreign aggression/occupation. Algeria also proposed the inclusion of wording that clarifies that the follow-up and implementation of the declaration needs to be ensured in line with obligations arising from instruments to which states are a party.[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 3’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWCKiv5gpPI\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWCKiv5gpPI</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"3","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"AD","countryName":"Andorra"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Andorra was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p2\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAndorra endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th session of the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[1] The statement recognised the devastating humanitarian effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>\n "}},{"id":"91","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"AO","countryName":"Angola"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Angola has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (explosive weapons in populated areas). It did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. At the second consultation toward a Political Declaration in February 2020, Angola delivered general remarks on behalf of the Group of African States in response to the proposed elements for the Political Declaration. In the remarks, Angola called for the Political Declaration to recognise the extent of harm of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and to be “actionable, measurable, result–based; with action-oriented commitments that strengthen accountability and combat impunity.” [1]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, Angola endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas[2]. The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.\nAngola was also one of 50 states to endorse the joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2018, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">’Group of African States Draft Statement at the Informal Consultations on the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 10 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/10Feb_African-States.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/10Feb_African-States.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"92","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"AG","countryName":"Antigua and Barbuda"}}},"region":"Caribbean","endorsed":false,"content":"Antigua and Barbuda has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAlong with 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Antigua and Barbuda participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018. The meeting produced the Santiago Communiqué, in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. This included: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; act to enhance compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects; fully support the process that will lead to the negotiation and adoption of an international political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas; encourage collection of data; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at the international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organisations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[1]\nAntigua and Barbuda endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[2] The statement recognised the devastating humanitarian effects of the use EWIPA and encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of EWIPA on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international political declaration on this issue.[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"4","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"AR","countryName":"Argentina"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":true,"content":"Argentina was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\nArgentina expressed its commitment to the Political Declaration process set out in the Santiago Communiqué in a statement during the May 2019 UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in Armed Conflict[1] and in the first informal consultations on the Declaration in November 2019, Argentina delivered a joint statement with seven other Latin American and Caribbean states. In this statement, states delineated key elements of a Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas including: acknowledgement of the likely humanitarian consequences of the use of explosive weapons of wide area effects in populated areas; a commitment to avoid use of such weapons in populated areas and to develop military operational policies and procedures in this regard and identify, develop and exchange best practices; promote greater compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law; commit states to enable secure and sustainable humanitarian access; recognise the rights of victims and affected communities; encourage collection of disaggregated data; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organisations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[2]\nArgentina also delivered several individual statements during the consultations towards a Political Declaration[3], in which it welcomed references to the Safe Schools Declaration as well as the inclusion of hospitals and places of worship in the draft Political Declaration text. In particular, Argentina emphasised the long-term and reverberating effects of explosive weapons use on civilians, and encouraged the recognition of a strong link between explosive weapons use and human rights violations. It also agreed with civil society and many other states that caveats such as “can” or “could” when referring to the effects of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians should be avoided. When endorsing the the Declaration, Argentina emphasised that the Political Declaration is both a fundamental step and also an urgent call to action, and welcomed the inclusion of promotion of respect for IHL and human rights, as well as the differentiated impact on women and children, in the final text.[4]\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nArgentina first acknowledged the harm of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in a statement during the 2015 UN Security Council open debate on children and armed conflict, in which it recognised the catastrophic impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, particularly children.[5] Since then, Argentina has several times raised the issue of explosive weapons use in international forums including in December 2018 at the Annual Meeting of High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons where it condemned the alarming prevalence of harm to civilians and civilian infrastructure, and at the 2022 UN Security Council Debate on the Protection of Civilians, where it stressed there is an urgent need for parties to conflict to avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas. [6]\nAlongside its individual statements, Argentina has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. Alongside 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Argentina participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, resulting in the Santiago Communiqué in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue.[7] In October 2018, Argentina was one of 50 states to endorse a joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm[8], and the following year endorsed a similar statement to First Committee that encouraged states to participate in the creation of an international Political Declaration.[9]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Latin American and Caribbean states: Joint Statement to the First Informal Consultations’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Joint-Statement-of-LATAM-and-Caribbean-States-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/explosive weapons in populatedareas/Joint-Statement-of-LATAM-and-Caribbean-States-Written-Submission—18-November-2019.pd</a>f.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>; Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Argentine Declaration: EWIPA Dublin Conference, 2022’. 18 November 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/Nov22_Argentina.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/Nov22_Argentina.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Children and Armed Conflict - Security Council, 7466th meeting’. United Nations Security Council. 23 June 2015. Available from: <a href=\"https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1p/k1psgdzh19\">https://media.un.org/en/asset/k1p/k1psgdzh19</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/pro/n22/360/47/pdf/n2236047.pdf?token=pQUi7ak5PPWqfo9bj7&fe=true\">https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/pro/n22/360/47/pdf/n2236047.pdf?token=pQUi7ak5PPWqfo9bj7&fe=true.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"93","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"AM","countryName":"Armenia"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Armenia has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nDuring the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2020, Armenia condemned the use of explosive weapons targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure by Azerbaijani armed forces.[1] During the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, Armenia also referenced the harmful use of explosive weapons in populated areas by Azerbaijan.[2]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘UNGA75 First Committee General Debate Statement’. Permanent Mission of Armenia. 12 October 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com20/statements/12Oct_Armenia.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com20/statements/12Oct_Armenia.pdf</a>.</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘UNGA77 First Committee General Debate Statement’. Permanent Mission of Armenia. 6 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com22/statements/6Oct_Armenia.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com22/statements/6Oct_Armenia.pdf</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"5","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"AU","countryName":"Australia"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":true,"content":"Australia was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. Australia regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration, as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums. In the first consultations on the declaration in November 201, Australia submitted a written statement on the scope and content of a Political Declaration, noting that it should, inter alia: distinguish between lawful use of explosive weapons use in breach of international humanitarian law; reinforce the importance of universal respect for existing principles of international humanitarian law and recall that international humanitarian law applies to non-state actors who are parties to armed conflict; underline the importance of attention to military policies and practices as well as the testing of new weapons and means and methods of warfare before use in armed conflict; recognise that, in certain circumstances, a failure to apply force can itself have serious humanitarian consequences such as prolongation of conflict; and encourage the sharing of good practices and operational policies relevant to reducing the risk of civilian harm in armed conflict in populated areas.”[1]\nAs the consultation process progressed, Australia delivered several additional statements in response to the evolving draft of the Political Declaration. Several of these interventions were aimed at emphasising that the harms caused to civilians by explosive weapons use in populated areas are a possibility instead of an inherent effect of such use. For example, Australia agreed with the UK that instead of saying that explosive weapons in populated areas use “is having” devastating impacts, the declaration should say that it “can have” these impacts or that these impacts “can arise” from explosive weapons in populated areas use.[2] In the March 2021 consultations, Australia supported the proposed addition of qualifiers in the text to indicate that harm “can” potentially arise from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It also argued that the Political Declaration should focus on promoting existing IHL, as strengthening compliance with IHL would be useful to effectively regulate the use of explosive weapons in populated areas without needing to create new obligations.[3] During the fourth consultations in April 2022, Australia recommended the addition of “impartial” in relating to humanitarian relief in paragraph and also expressed reservations about the term “reverberating effects”.[4]\nAt the United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2022, Australia welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the Political Declaration, referring to the finalized text as a “bright spot” in 2022.[5] At the signing ceremony in Dublin in November 2022, Australia noted that “while the use of explosive weapons in populated areas is not prohibited by IHL, the right of parties in an armed conflict to choose methods or means of warfare is not unlimited”.[6]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAustralia has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, primarily to condemn the harms caused to civilians when explosive weapons are used without regard for international humanitarian law and call for action to better protect civilians from harm. At the 2022 Meeting of the CCW High Contracting Parties in November, Australia expressed hope that the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas will contribute to improving IHL compliance and enhance the protection of civilians. [7] At several UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict Australia included in its statement a condemnation of the use of “powerful”[8] explosive weapons in populated areas without regard for international humanitarian law restrictions as a clear violation of the limits of conflict. \nAlongside its individual statements, Australia has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. At the January 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities, the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (of which Australia is a member) called on states to enhance the protection of civilians, including from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and took note of the ongoing consultations to develop a Political Declaration on this subject.[9] The Group made similar remarks at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians[10], and noted the adoption of the Political Declaration at the 2023 open debate.[11]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n’Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Australian Statement’. 18 November 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_Australia.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_Australia.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. (2020) ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Towards a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas: states need to ensure that expressed commitments translate into real impacts on the ground’. Reaching Critical Will (2019). Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>; Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAustralia (2022). ‘UNGA77 First Committee Statement’. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com22/statements/12Oct_Australia.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com22/statements/12Oct_Australia.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Foreign Ministry (2022). ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, A, et. al. 2022. Reaching Critical Will (2022). ‘CCW Report: Civil society perspectives on the Meeting of High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, 18-18 November 2022 - Vol.10 No.11’. 22 November 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2022/hcp-meeting/reports/CCWR10.11.pdf\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2022/hcp-meeting/reports/CCWR10.11.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nINEW (2012). ‘Security Council Debate Highlights Harm From Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/security-council-debate-highlights-harm-from-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/security-council-debate-highlights-harm-from-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>; UN Security Council, S/PV.6917 (2013). ‘UN Security Council Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Meeting Transcript.’ <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917</a> (Resumption1).\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. (2022). ‘UN Security Council debates war in cities and the protection of civilians’ , Reaching Critical Will. 28 January 2022. .<a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: . <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"6","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"AT","countryName":"Austria"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Austria was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, having been instrumental in raising the issue of use of explosive weapons in populated areas in multiple forums and initiating the process towards a Political Declaration through the Vienna Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare.[1] Austria was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. \nAustria offered written comments on each proposed draft of the Political Declaration and delivered multiple statements during the 2019 to 2022 consultation process as well as during the signing ceremony in November 2022[2]. In November 2019 Austria delineated elements it believed should be present in a Political Declaration including: respect existing obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL) when using explosive weapons in populated areas; adopt and review for this purpose military policies and practices that will enhance the protection of civilians; implement, review, and where needed, develop or improve national policy and practice, including doctrine and rules of engagement and identify, share and support the implementation of good policy and practices; train armed forces and conduct exercises on the protection of civilians from the use explosive weapons in populated areas and urban warfare in general; collect or support the collection of reliable and relevant data, including disaggregated data, on civilian harm; provide assistance to victims; investigate and prosecute violations of applicable national and international law in the use of explosive weapons in populated areas; raise awareness of the humanitarian concern caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urban warfare in general; promote the Political Declaration; meet on a regular basis, inviting also relevant international organisations and civil society, to review the implementation of the Political Declaration.”[2]\nThroughout its engagement in the consultation process, Austria repeatedly emphasised the need for the Political Declaration to accurately reflect humanitarian impacts of use of explosive weapons in populated areas, particularly where those weapons have wide area effects and/or there is a strong likelihood of indiscriminate effects. Austria argued that as part of this recognition, the declaration should address indirect, long-term, and reverberating effects of explosive weapons in populated areas, such as displacement, disruption of essential services, increased poverty, destruction of the environment, contamination through explosive remnants of war, psychological trauma, disabilities, and similar issues. Austria also argued that there should be a focus on promoting existing IHL (IHL), as strengthening compliance with IHL would be useful to effectively regulate the use of explosive weapons in populated areas without needing to create new obligations. Austria also called for the provision of timely and adequate victim assistance in a non-discriminatory manner, the consideration of non-state actors in the declaration, and the investigation of allegations of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas that is in violation of IHL, and, where appropriate, for the due prosecution of perpetrators.[3]\nDuring the consultations, Austria expressed support for the inclusion of “reverberating effects” in the text and acknowledgement of the multifaceted nature of the effects caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and emphasised the importance of ensuring that the Political Declaration enhances compliance with IHL through political commitment and practical measures as well as a meaningful, transparent and inclusive follow-up process that includes all relevant stakeholders.[4] Austria also emphasised the importance of data collection, particularly disaggregated data collection, to more clearly represent the realities of explosive weapons in populated areas use.[5] Austria also welcomed that the final declaration proposes language going beyond the simple reaffirmation of the needs for states to abide by existing international law and included the commitment to ensure that armed forces adopt and implement a range of policies and practices to avoid civilian harm by restricting or refraining as appropriate from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[6] At the signing ceremony in November 2022, Austria said that the Political Declaration follows a clear humanitarian imperative to prevent and to reduce civilian harm from explosive weapons, and that its effective implementation will require structured cooperation at global, regional and sub-regional level, in addition to the active involvement of humanitarian actors of affected communities and civil society and the military.[7]\n<h2 class=\"p6\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAustria has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, including at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict,[8] where it has primarily focused on raising awareness of the devastating humanitarian consequences of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians and to bring attention to the urgent need to end the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. At the UN Security Council open debate on children and armed conflict on 5 July 2023, Austria said it was “appalled by the growing number of verified grave violations. The overall increase in attacks against schools, hospitals and protected personnel, as well as the denial of humanitarian assistance and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, is truly horrifying.”[9] During the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2021, Austria delivered a statement reiterating concern over these devastating humanitarian consequences and noting its strong support and continued engagement in the process toward a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas [10]. At the same meeting in 2022, Austria made clear that it is “strongly committed to the implementation of the Declaration together with all relevant stakeholders, [s]tates, UN entities, the [International Committee of the Red Cross], international and regional organisations, humanitarian actors, survivors and civil society, to ensure that the measures foreseen will effectively be implemented without delay in order save lives and reduce civilian harm.”[11] Austria has also expressed similar positions at the UN Security Council open debate on children and armed conflict, the Meeting of High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on war in cities and the World Humanitarian Summit Roundtable on Upholding the Norms that Safeguard Humanity (May 2016).\nSince signing the Political Declaration, Austria has repeatedly called for states to join the declaration and said it looks forward to working together with all stakeholders on its effective implementation – during the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023[12], where it also announced it will host a workshop for effective implementation of the declaration in January 2024 in Vienna[13], and during the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict on 23 May 2023.\nAlongside its individual statements, Austria has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), Austria has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict [14] and at the General Debates of UN General Assembly First Committee[15], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[16] The EU, with Austria signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee, and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians. Austria also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.” [17]\nAs a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Austria has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians [18], and as a member of the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[19] In 2018 and 2019, Austria joined around 50 states to endorse a joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[20]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nFederal Ministry for European and International Affairs. ‘Vienna Conference on Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare’. 1-2 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/european-foreign-policy/disarmament/conventional-arms/explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/protecting-civilians-in-urban-warfare/protecting-civilians-in-urban-warfare/\">https://www.bmeia.gv.at/en/european-foreign-policy/disarmament/conventional-arms/explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/protecting-civilians-in-urban-warfare/protecting-civilians-in-urban-warfare/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n’Statements from the political declaration process on explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/ewipa/political-declaration/statements\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/ewipa/political-declaration/statements</a>;‘Draft Political Declaration circulated by Ireland on 17 March 2020 – Written Comments by Austria’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 2020. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Austria-Written-Submission---17-March-2020.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Austria-Written-Submission—17-March-2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Elements for a Political Declaration: Austria’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Austria-Written-Submission-18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Austria-Written-Submission-18-November-2019.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>; Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 3’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWCKiv5gpPI\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWCKiv5gpPI</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, A. 2021, Reaching Critical Will. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. 12 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2021. Available from: <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. Available from: <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf</a>; Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9366. 5 July 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1)</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nPermanent Mission of Austria to the United Nations: First Committee General Debate Statement’. Reaching Critical Will. 6 October 2021. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com21/statements/6Oct_Austria.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com21/statements/6Oct_Austria.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. (2022). ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.4’. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘First Committee – 78th Session General Debate: Statement by the Permanent Mission of Austria’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 October 2023. Available from: Austria <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/4Oct_Austria.pdf\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/4Oct_Austria.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘First Committee – 78th Session Thematic Debate - Conventional Weapons: Statement by the Permanent Mission of Austria’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 October 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_Austria.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_Austria.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2021. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement: UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Austria’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/123.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/123.html</a> \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"94","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"AZ","countryName":"Azerbaijan"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Azerbaijan has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAzerbaijan delivered a statement during the September 2012 Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) for Children and Armed Conflict at the Human Rights Council, in which it emphasised the distinct harms caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, particularly in cases where children become victims. Azerbaijan also spoke at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in June 2016. There it strongly condemned all attacks on civilians and civilian structures in situations of armed conflict and expressed specific concern about the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[1] \nAzerbaijan delivered a statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in the context of the hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan at the UN Security Council’s August 2016 Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict.[2] In the statement, Azerbaijan aligned itself with the UN Secretary General’s recommendation that all parties to the conflict refrain from explosive weapons in populated areas use, especially given the unique suffering that it causes to children.\nDuring the UN General Assembly First Committee on Disarmament and International Security in the years of 2020, 2021, and 2022, Azerbaijan condemned the use of explosive weapons in populated areas against civilians in its territory by Armenia, highlighting the indiscriminate or disproportionate harm to civilian and civilian objects which has occurred as a result of these attacks.[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7711. 10 June 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7711\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7711.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7753. 2 August 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7753\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7753.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘UNGA75 First Committee Statement’. Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan. 6 October 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com20/statements/16Oct_Azerbaijan.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com20/statements/16Oct_Azerbaijan.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA76 First Committee Statement’. Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan 7 October 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com21/statements/7Oct_Azerbaijan.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com21/statements/7Oct_Azerbaijan.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA77 First Committee Statement’. Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan. 12 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com22/statements/12Oct_Azerbaijan.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com22/statements/12Oct_Azerbaijan.pdf</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"95","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BS","countryName":"Bahamas"}}},"region":"Caribbean","endorsed":false,"content":"The Bahamas has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nThe Bahamas endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[1] The statement recognised the devastating humanitarian effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[2]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"96","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BH","countryName":"Bahrain"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":false,"content":"Bahrain has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nThe Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, of which Bahrain is a member state, it aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"97","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BD","countryName":"Bangladesh"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Bangladesh has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration but attended the 2019 Vienna Conference on Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare where it emphasised that a Political Declaration on explosive weapons should comprise practical measures and procedures.[1] \n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nBangladesh has on several occasions spoken on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. During the February 2013 Security Council Debate on Children and Armed Conflict and the May 2017 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Bangladesh delivered statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, particularly focusing on the devastating harm it causes to women and children.[2] During the General Debate of the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2018, Bangladesh called for the adoption of a Political Declaration to address the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and its humanitarian consequences.[3] \nAlongside its individual statements, Bangladesh has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. At the January 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities, the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (of which Bangladesh is a member) called on states to enhance the protection of civilians, including from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and took note of the ongoing consultations to develop a Political Declaration on this subject.[4] The Group made similar remarks at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians[5], and noted the adoption of the Political Declaration at the 2023 open debate.[6]\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Bangladesh aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[7]\nIn October 2018, Bangladesh was one of 50 states to endorse a joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm[8], and the following year endorsed a similar statement to First Committee that encouraged states to participate in the creation of an international Political Declaration.[9]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘States commit to take political action on explosive weapons at Vienna conference’. Reaching Critical Will. 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14061-states-commit-to-take-political-action-on-explosive-weapons-at-vienna-conference\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14061-states-commit-to-take-political-action-on-explosive-weapons-at-vienna-conference.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Boillot, L. 2013. ‘Explosive Weapons Raised as Key Issue in Security Council Debate on Protection of Civilians’. Article 36. 13 March 2013. <a href=\"https://article36.org/updates/explosive-weapons-raised-as-key-issue-in-security-council-debate-on-protection-of-civilians/\">https://article36.org/updates/explosive-weapons-raised-as-key-issue-in-security-council-debate-on-protection-of-civilians/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Statement–Thematic Discussion on ”Conventional Weapons”’. Permanent Mission of Bangladesh 29 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/29Oct_Bangladesh.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/29Oct_Bangladesh.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1).</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"98","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BB","countryName":"Barbados"}}},"region":"Caribbean","endorsed":false,"content":"Barbados has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAlong with 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Barbados participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018. The meeting produced the Santiago Communiqué, in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. This included: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; act to enhance compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects; fully support the process that will lead to the negotiation and adoption of an international political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas; encourage collection of data; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at the international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organisations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"99","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BY","countryName":"Belarus"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":false,"content":"Belarus has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"7","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BE","countryName":"Belgium"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Belgium was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. Belgium regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration, as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums.\nEarly in the consultation process, Belgium emphasised that there should be a focus on promoting International Humanitarian Law (IHL) as a sufficient existing framework, a repeated theme throughout its interventions where it called for a focus on “indiscriminate use” of explosive weapons, and a balance between military necessity and humanitarian concerns.[1] In its November 2019 statement to the first consultations, Belgium called for the consideration of non-state actors within the Political Declaration and suggested that good management of munitions and prevention of arms diversion could be an important inclusion in this regard.[2] Belgium also specified that the Declaration should recognise the humanitarian impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, especially those with wide area effects, including the indirect, long-term, and reverberating effects.[3] Belgium, along with others, also supported the use of qualifiers within the Political Declaration, indicating that instead of saying that explosive weapons in populated areas use “is having” devastating impacts, the Declaration should say that it “can have” these impacts or that these impacts “can arise” from explosive weapons in populated areas use.[4] At subsequent consultations, Belgium reaffirmed many of these positions.[5] Belgium suggested to use the wording “avoid and in any event minimise civilian harm when conducting an attack, including by restricting or refraining from the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas” in paragraph 3.3.[6] At the final round of consultations in June 2022, Belgium welcomed the inclusion of language regarding victim assistance and humanitarian access in the operational part of the Declaration.[7]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nBelgium has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, primarily to condemn the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, highlighting the harm it causes to civilians, particularly children, and call for avoiding this practice, as well as to emphasise the need for states to abide by IHL. Belgium has delivered such statements during the UN Security Council open debate on children and armed conflict[8] and during the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians.[9] With the final text of the Declaration agreed, Belgium also took the opportunity to welcome the successful completion of the Political Declaration at subsequent meetings of the UN Security Council and at the UN General Assembly First Committee.[10]\nAlongside its individual statements, Belgium has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), Belgium has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict [11] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[12], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on war in cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[13] Belgium also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[14]\nBelgium also endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019. The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration[15]. As a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Belgium has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians.[16]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. Reaching Critical Will. ‘Impacts, Not Intentionality: The Imperative of Focusing on the Effects of Explosive Weapons in a Political Declaration’. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-Political-Declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare – explosive weapons in populated areas– Consultations informelles– Intervention de la Belgique.’ Reaching Critical Will. 18 November 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_Belgium.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/Declaration/statements/18Nov_Belgium.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nReaching Critical Will (2019). ‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate Into Real Impacts on the Ground.’ Reaching Critical Will. 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-Political-Declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Foreign Ministry. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRay Acheson, Reaching Critical Will (2021). ‘Report on the March 2021 Consultations on a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-Political-Declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6790. 25 June 2012. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6790(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6790(Resumption1)</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7466. 18 June 2015. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7466\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7466</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7753. 2 August 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7753\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7753</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109</a>. United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7711. 10 June 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7711\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7711</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>; ‘BELGIUM: Statement at the Adoption of the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences arising from the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. 18 November 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Belgium.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Belgium.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a> \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Belgium’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/127.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/127.html.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a> \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>; Group of Friends (2022). ‘UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians’. <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"100","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BZ","countryName":"Belize"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":false,"content":"Belize has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAlong with 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Belize participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018. The meeting produced the Santiago Communiqué, in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. This included: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; act to enhance compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects; fully support the process that will lead to the negotiation and adoption of an international political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas; encourage collection of data; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at the international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organisations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"101","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BJ","countryName":"Benin"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Benin has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nBenin delivered a statement during the February 2013 UN Security Council Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in which it called for the Security Council to address use of explosive weapons in conflict, specifically emphasising its disproportionate effect on civilian populations.[1]\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Benin aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[2] ","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.6917. 12 February 2013. Available from: <a style=\"text-indent: 36pt;\" href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917(Resumption1).</a></li>\n</ol>\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"2\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"102","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BT","countryName":"Bhutan"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Bhutan has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"103","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BO","countryName":"Bolivia"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":false,"content":"Bolivia has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Though It has been active on the issue of landmines and explosive remnants of war, it has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"8","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BA","countryName":"Bosnia and Herzegovina"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Bosnia and Herzegovina was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn October 2018, Bosnia and Herzegovina was one of 50 states to endorse the joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[1] Bosnia and Herzegovina also endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly’s First Committee in 2019.[2] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[3]\nBosnia and Herzegovina aligned with several statements delivered by the European Union (EU) on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas, the latest one being the statement delivered during the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, in which the EU welcomed the Political Declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption. The EU also highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments, including at the 2024 Oslo Conference.[4]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘European Union Statement on Conventional Weapons: First Committee of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly’. Reaching Critical Will. October 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"104","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BW","countryName":"Botswana"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Botswana has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, Botswana endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.[1] The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.\nBotswana also delivered a statement during the General Debate of the 73rd UN General Assembly First Committee in 2018. The statement drew attention to the indiscriminate and long-lasting harm of explosive weapons in populated areas use to civilians and critical infrastructure and reaffirmed the commitments within the Maputo Communiqué.[2]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">“UNGA73 First Committee Statement.” Permanent Mission of Botswana to the United Nations. 29 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/29Oct_Botswana.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/29Oct_Botswana.pdf.</a></li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"9","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BR","countryName":"Brazil"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":true,"content":"Brazil was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. In the first informal consultations on the declaration in November 2019, Brazil delivered a joint statement with seven other Latin American and Caribbean states. In this statement, states delineated key elements of a Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas including: acknowledgement of the likely humanitarian consequences of the use of explosive weapons of wide area effects in populated areas; a commitment to avoid use of such weapons in populated areas and to develop military operational policies and procedures in this regard and identify, develop and exchange best practices; promote greater compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law; commit states to enable secure and sustainable humanitarian access; recognize the rights of victims and affected communities; encourage collection of disaggregated data; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organizations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[1] During the signing ceremony in Dublin in November 2022, Brazil expressed support for the political declaration and its commitments and stressed the importance of documenting civilian harm including as a means to assess whether the predicted casualties of military operations correspond to the damage actually caused.[2]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nBrazil has spoken on EWIPA in several multilateral forums. At the January 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities, Brazil noted the Political Declaration and said that it should establish common standards, promote policies to minimise risk of civilian harm, and facilitate exchange of good practice. It argued the declaration provides a good opportunity to promote compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL) and recognise the rights of victims and affected communities.[3] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in May 2023, Brazil spoke about “the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in urban and other densely populated areas” [4] and during the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, Brazil also condemned “the series of bombings and ground attacks carried out in Israel from the Gaza Strip.”[5]\nAlongside its individual statements, Brazil has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. With 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Brazil participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, resulting in the Santiago Communiqué in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue [6]. In 2018 and 2019, Brazil joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [7].\nAs a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Brazil has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians [8]. Brazil also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’, including a commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.” [9]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nLatin American and Caribbean states joint statement: First informal consultations’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2019. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Joint-Statement-of-LATAM-and-Caribbean-States-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Joint-Statement-of-LATAM-and-Caribbean-States-Written-Submission—18-November-2019.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement by Brazil at the General Debate of the First Committee of the 78th General Assembly’. Reaching Critical Will. 10 October 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/10Oct_Brazil.pdf\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/10Oct_Brazil.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9131. 15 September 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9133\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9133.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Brazil’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/128.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/128.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"105","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BN","countryName":"Brunei Darussalam"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":" \nBrunei has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Brunei aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"10","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BG","countryName":"Bulgaria"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Bulgaria was actively involved in the later stages of the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the final round of consultations in June 2022, Bulgaria welcomed the draft as being a good compromise that allows states to apply the highest possible standards when implementing International Humanitarian Law (IHL). It noted, however, that some questions still remain, such as how to bring in practical terms all parties to an armed conflict into the pattern of implementation of and complying with IHL norms and commitments.[1]\nDuring the signing ceremony in Dublin in November 2022, Bulgaria acknowledged the merit of the declaration in addressing the humanitarian consequences from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and in strengthening the protection of civilians. It said that it agreed with others that “introducing inappropriate and impracticable restrictions on lawful use of military capabilities would not address the core challenge and would leave excessive room for the non-IHL compliant actors to continue their abuse.” Bulgaria encouraged cooperation among states and among their armed forces with respect to the identification, development, and exchange of good practices.[2] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict on 5 July 2023, Bulgaria urged parties to refrain from using explosive weapons in populated areas and to endorse the Political Declaration.[3]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAlongside its individual statements, Bulgaria has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. In October 2018, Bulgaria was one of 50 states to endorse a joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm[4], and the following year endorsed a similar statement to First Committee that encouraged states to participate in the creation of an international Political Declaration.[5]\nAs a member of the European Union (EU), Bulgaria has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict[6] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[7], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on war in cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[8] The EU, with Bulgaria signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians. Bulgaria also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[9]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9366. 5 July 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1)</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIreland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Bulgaria’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/367.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/367.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"106","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BF","countryName":"Burkina Faso"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Burkina Faso has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nBurkina Faso endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[1] The statement recognised the devastating humanitarian effects of the use explosive weapons in populated areas and encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[2] Burkina Faso also drew attention to the threat which explosive weapons in populated areas pose to civilians during statements to the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2019 and 2020, pointing to Burkina Faso’s experiences with improvised explosive devices used by terrorist groups.[3]\nThe Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, of which Burkina Faso is a member state, aligned itself with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity” in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[4]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘UNGA74 Declaration du Burkina Faso’. Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the United Nations. 25 October 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com19/statements/25Oct_BurkinaFaso.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com19/statements/25Oct_BurkinaFaso.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA75 Declaration du Burkina Faso’. Permanent Mission of Burkina Faso to the United Nations. 19 October 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com20/statements/19Oct_BurkinaFaso.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com20/statements/19Oct_BurkinaFaso.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"107","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"BI","countryName":"Burundi"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Burundi has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"11","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CV","countryName":"Cabo Verde"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":true,"content":"Cabo Verde was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAt the signing ceremony, Cabo Verde committed to the full and effective implementation of the Political Declaration through the adoption of concrete and long-lasting measures and strategies to limit the devastating consequences of explosive weapons in populated areas. It said that in particular in Africa, it is imperative that all countries become more involved in the adoption of concrete policies and effective strategies to systematically eliminate the use of explosive weapons through regional policies and international cooperation. Recognizing the indirect and long-term effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, Cabo Verde highlighted that they undermine not only the achievement of sustainable development goals, but all development efforts and prospects, as they contribute to the fragility and generalize insecurity of states. It called for the renunciation of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in order to alleviate the suffering of hundreds of millions of victims around the world.[1]","references":"<ol>\n<li>Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"12","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"KH","countryName":"Cambodia"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":true,"content":"Cambodia was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. \nAt the signing ceremony, Cambodia shared the challenges posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war in its territory, and thanked Ireland and other stakeholders for the support in demining activities.[1]","references":"<ol>\n<li>Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"108","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CM","countryName":"Cameroon"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Cameroon has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, Cameroon endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas[1]. The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Cameroon aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[2]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"13","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CA","countryName":"Canada"}}},"region":"Northern_America","endorsed":true,"content":"Canada was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. Canada regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration, as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums. Early in the consultation process, Canada emphasised that there should be a focus on promoting International Humanitarian Law (IHL) as a sufficient existing framework to effectively regulate the use of explosive weapons in populated areas,[1] and suggested a focus on the harms caused by the indiscriminate use of such weapons.[2] Canada also emphasised engagement with local communities and called for a “population-centric approach” that takes into account diverse needs, including those from women, girls, people with disabilities, and LGBTQI+ persons.[3] \nThese were repeated themes throughout Canada’s statements to the negotiations where, in order to avoid any stigmatisation of explosive weapons in general, also supported the addition of qualifiers throughout the text to indicate that harm “can” potentially arise from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[4] Canada also proposed weakening the core commitment (paragraph 3.3) of the declaration by emphasising that it should not go beyond the obligations of IHL,[5] a belief it repeated throughout the negotiations. As the consultations progressed, Canada welcomed the recognition of the differentiated gendered impacts of armed conflict and suggested the inclusion of the word “feasible” referring to efforts in providing assistance to people affected by conflict[6] but expressed opposition to the term “reverberating effects”. At the final round of consultations in June 2022, Canada welcomed the final version of the draft Declaration, including the commitments to implementing national policy and practice aimed at protecting civilians, adopting policies for armed forces that reflect IHL, and recognising the importance of taking all practicable measures to record and track civilian casualties with a view to informing future practice.[7] This was reflected in their statement at the signing ceremony in Dublin in 2022, where Canada also underlined the need to foster a holistic and gender-sensitive approach to victim assistance and ensure accountability for violations.[8]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and priorities</h2>\nCanada has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, primarily to draw attention to the devastating humanitarian impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, particularly on children, humanitarian workers, and medical personnel. This includes at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in 2014[9] and at the General Debate of the 72nd UN General Assembly First Committee in 2017. Alongside its individual statements, Canada has several times aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. At the January 2022 UN Security Council open debate on war in cities, the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, of which Canada is a member, called on states to enhance the protection of civilians, including from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and took note of the ongoing consultations to develop a Political Declaration on this subject.[10] The Group made similar remarks at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians on 25 May 2022.[11] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in May 2023, the Group noted the adoption of the Political Declaration.[12]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Canada’s Intervention: Towards a Political Declaration to Address the Humanitarian Harm Arising from the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Canada-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Canada-Written-Submission—18-November-2019.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Canada’s Written Submission to the Consultation Process’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 17 March 2020. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Canada-Written-Submission---17-March-2020.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Canada-Written-Submission—17-March-2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Canada’s Written Submission to the Consultation Process’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 3-5 Mrch 2021. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions3-5march/Canada---Written-Submission-to-the-EWIPA-Political-Declaration-Consultation-Process,-3-5-March-2021.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions3-5march/Canada—Written-Submission-to-the-EWIPA-Political-Declaration-Consultation-Process,-3-5-March-2021.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>; ‘Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 2’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6v1iIZG8A\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6v1iIZG8A</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Canadian National Statement: Political declaration on protecting civilians from the effects of armed conflict in populated areas’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Canada.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Canada.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.8953. 25 January 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8953\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8953.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"14","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CF","countryName":"Central African Republic"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":true,"content":"The Central African Republic was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p3\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, Central African Republic endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas[1]. The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.\nIn October 2018, the Central African Republic was one of 50 states to endorse the Ireland-led joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly’s First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[2] The Central African Republic also endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[3]The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[4]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"109","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"TD","countryName":"Chad"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Chad has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (explosive weapons in populated areas). It did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. In 2020, Chad spoke at the consultations for a political declaration, commenting on a draft of key elements for the declaration prepared by Ireland. Chad’s statement drew attention to the importance of considering non-state actors in the political declaration, especially given African experiences with proliferating terrorist groups.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Chad aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[2]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘Declaration du Tschad a l’occasion des consultations EWIPA’. Permanent Mission of Chad to the United Nations. 10 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/10Feb_Chad.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/10Feb_Chad.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"15","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CL","countryName":"Chile"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":true,"content":"Chile was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\nIn the first informal consultations on the Declaration in November 2019, Chile delivered a joint statement with seven other Latin American and Caribbean states. In this statement, states delineated key elements of a Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas including: acknowledgement of the likely humanitarian consequences of the use of explosive weapons of wide area effects in populated areas; a commitment to avoid use of such weapons in populated areas and to develop military operational policies and procedures in this regard and identify, develop and exchange best practices; promote greater compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law; commit states to enable secure and sustainable humanitarian access; recognize the rights of victims and affected communities; encourage collection of disaggregated data; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organizations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[1]\nDuring the consultations, Chile supported the notion that a Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas use should address indirect, long-term, and reverberating effects of explosive weapons in populated areas, such as displacement, disruption of essential services, increased poverty, destruction of the environment, contamination through explosive remnants of war, psychological trauma, disabilities, and similar issues. Chile asserted that the Declaration should commit states to avoid using explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas, not seek to establish a prohibition of the use of a specific weapon but instead establish a threshold of their use to reduce damage to civilians. Chile called for the Declaration to recognise the rights of victims and affected communities and to provide adequate and non-discriminatory victim assistance. Chile also called for the consideration of non-state actors in the Political Declaration.[2]\nChile delivered several joint statements with Mexico throughout the consultation process in which it reaffirmed many of these positions[3] and called for the Political Declaration to include clear delineations of existing obligations under international humanitarian law (IHL) in order to promote adherence to them regarding explosive weapons in populated areas use.[4] It asserted that the Political Declaration should strengthen compliance with IHL through the creation of new policy commitments.[5] These joint statements also emphasised the importance of clarity regarding the harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, opposing the suggestions of other states to include qualifiers[6], and spoke in favour of inclusive international cooperation and called for a transparent implementation and follow-up process to monitor progress on the commitments within the Political Declaration.[7] At the fourth round of consultations, Chile and Mexico’s joint comments on the draft welcomed the removal of the caveated language throughout the text, as well as the clear acknowledgement of the multifaceted nature of the effects caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on the civilian population. They also welcomed a proposal to include an additional paragraph that clarifies the application of international human rights law during armed conflict.\nAt the final consultation in June 2022, Chile and Mexico welcomed the final version of the draft, and said that although paragraph 3.3 does not reflect the language that they would have preferred (a commitment to “avoid” the use of explosive weapons in populated areas), it does establish a concrete political commitment that goes beyond the mere implementation of IHL. They said that the paragraph should be implemented as a clear-cut commitment to avoid the use of explosive weapons of wide area effects in populated areas.[8]\n<h2 class=\"p6\">Statements and positions</h2>\nChile has several times aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. In 2018, Chile hosted the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, attended by 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states and resulting in the Santiago Communiqué in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue[9]. Chile reaffirmed its commitment to the Santiago Communique in a statement during the May 2019 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict[10], and at the UN Security Council Open Debate War in Cities: Protection of Civilians in Urban Settings on 25 January 2022, Chile called on all parties to conflict to avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[11] In 2018 and 2019, Chile joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [12].\nChile has condemned the use of explosive weapons in populated areas as a member of the Human Security Network at both the August 2013 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict[13] and the 2014 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.[14] In these statements, the Human Security Network called for all parties to an armed conflict to refrain from using explosive weapons with a wide impact area in populated areas, emphasising that these weapons are indiscriminate within their zones of detonation and therefore pose unacceptable risks to civilians.\nChile aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[15]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Latin American and Caribbean states: Joint Statement to the First Informal Consultations’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Joint-Statement-of-LATAM-and-Caribbean-States-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/explosive weapons in populatedareas/Joint-Statement-of-LATAM-and-Caribbean-States-Written-Submission—18-November-2019.pd</a>f.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. Reaching Critical Will. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-wepons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Permanent Missions of Chile and Mexico to the United Nations: Working Paper on EWIPA–Key Elements for a Political Declaration’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 10 February 2020. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Chile-and-Mexico-Written-Paper-Submission---10-February-2020.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Chile-and-Mexico-Written-Paper-Submission—10-February-2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n’Permanent Missions of Chile and Mexico to the United Nations: Comments on the Draft Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians From Humanitarian Harm Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 17 March 2020. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Chile-Mexico-Written-Submission---17-March-2020-.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Chile-Mexico-Written-Submission—17-March-2020-.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Towards a Political Declaration to Address the Humanitarian Harm Arising from the Use of EWIPA–Virtual Informal Consultation Process: Written Comments by Chile and Mexico’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 3-5 March 2021. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions3-5march/Mx-Chile-Written-comments-on-EWIPA-v.-submission.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions3-5march/Mx-Chile-Written-comments-on-EWIPA-v.-submission.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>. ‘Consultation Process 6-8 April 2022: Comments by Chile and Mexico’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 6-8 April 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/258825/1f9dc2be-a288-4513-affe-a9b58d696e1a.pdf#page=null\">https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/258825/1f9dc2be-a288-4513-affe-a9b58d696e1a.pdf#page=null.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Morning’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>. ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Chile’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/139.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/139.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"110","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CN","countryName":"China"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"China has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (explosive weapons in populated areas). \nIt did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. At the March 2021 consultations, China advocated for the document to directly reference the UN Charter in its principles. It also suggested adding a paragraph that reads as follows: “We recall that every state has the duty, in conformity with the UN Charter, to refrain in its international relations from the threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence of any state, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the UN Charter.”[1] At the final round of consultations in June 2022, China thanked the Irish Ambassador for the clarification that the Political Declaration does not aim to add any new legal obligations or new legal interpretations. It also proposed the addition of the caveat “and in any event” in paragraphs 1.7, 1.8 and 3.3.[2]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nChina delivered a statement during the May 2019 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, drawing attention to the need to avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in order to protect innocent civilians.[3] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict on 5 July 2023, China called on all parties to conflict “to strictly implement the relevant Security Council resolutions, end all indiscriminate attacks and violence that could harm children, refrain from the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas and address the problem of impunity for those who violate children’s rights.”[4]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM</a>. </li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9366. 5 July 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1)</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"16","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CO","countryName":"Colombia"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":true,"content":"Colombia was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\nIn the first informal consultations on the Declaration in November 2019, Colombia delivered a joint statement with seven other Latin American and Caribbean states. In this statement, states delineated key elements of a Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas including: acknowledgement of the likely humanitarian consequences of the use of explosive weapons of wide area effects in populated areas; a commitment to avoid use of such weapons in populated areas and to develop military operational policies and procedures in this regard and identify, develop and exchange best practices; promote greater compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law; commit states to enable secure and sustainable humanitarian access; recognise the rights of victims and affected communities; encourage collection of disaggregated data; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organisations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[1]\nColombia echoed many of these priorities in its statements during the consultation process where it also emphasised that existing International Humanitarian Law (IHL) provides sufficient regulation on explosive weapons in populated areas if fully implemented and expressed that the Political Declaration should draw a distinction between lawful and unlawful uses of explosive weapons in populated areas by focussing on indiscriminate use.[2] Colombia also urged the Political Declaration to call on non-state actors to adhere to IHL and reflect that they carry out indiscriminate attacks without taking precautions.[3] At the fourth round of consultations, it also echoed the UK and Israel’s suggestion to have clear references to the use of explosive weapons by non-state actors, and urged the states to define the term “reverberating effects”.[4]\n<h2 class=\"p6\">Statements and priorities</h2>\nAlongside 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Colombia participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, resulting in the Santiago Communiqué[5] in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. In 2019, Colombia joined 71 states to endorse a joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[6]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Latin American and Caribbean states: Joint Statement to the First Informal Consultations’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Joint-Statement-of-LATAM-and-Caribbean-States-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/explosive weapons in populatedareas/Joint-Statement-of-LATAM-and-Caribbean-States-Written-Submission—18-November-2019.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg.</a> \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>. ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a> \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"17","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"KM","countryName":"Comoros"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":true,"content":"Comoros was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nComoros has aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas in various international forums. As a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Comoros aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]\nComoros also endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the United Nations General Assembly’s First Committee in 2019.[2] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[3]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a> \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"179","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CG","countryName":"Congo"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"The Republic of Congo has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"18","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CR","countryName":"Costa Rica"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":true,"content":"Costa Rica was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. Costa Rica regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration, as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums. Early in the consultation process Costa Rica delineated key elements of a Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas including: a commitment to avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated and urban environments due to the great impact and harm caused to civilians and vital infrastructure; recognition of the direct and indirect impact on urban infrastructure of explosive weapons use; recognition of the psychological effects for the victims and their families, as well as the inhabitants of the affected communities; underlining the need to act in compliance with international humanitarian law and international human rights law and the need to develop effective measures to increase such compliance; promotion of cooperation and exchange of good practices as well as information gathering on harms caused; recognition that effective and timely attention and assistance should be given to victims of explosive weapons in populated and urban settings, in all its aspects – physical, psychological, and economic; to ensure that the recognition of assistance will be extended to the families of the victims and affected communities.”[1]\nThese were repeated themes throughout Costa Rica’s statements to the consultations, where it repeatedly emphasised that the Declaration should recognise the full range of direct and indirect, short and long-term humanitarian impacts – including displacement, increased poverty, and psychological trauma – of explosive weapons in populated areas use, especially of explosive weapons with wide area effects.[2] At the fourth round of consultations in June 2022, Costa Rica said that although not fully perfect, the draft demonstrates an energetic rejection by the international community to attacks against civilians and other protected people, as well as to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[3] At the signing ceremony in Dublin in 2022, Costa Rica recalled the harmful direct and indirect effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including to physical and mental health, and the environment. It commended the participation of civil society during the process, and said that the Declaration is a sign of hope for the future. It highlighted the five biggest producers of explosive weapons have signed the Declaration, and expressed hope for its implementation.[4]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nCosta Rica has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, primarily to call attention to the devastating humanitarian impacts, to condemn the harms caused to civilians, and to call for action to better protect civilians from harm. For example, at the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2021, Costa Rica condemned the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and called on member states to support a strong Political Declaration on strengthening the protection of civilians from humanitarian harm arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[5] At the 77th UN General Assembly First Committee General Debate, Costa Rica welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the Political Declaration, and applauded Ireland for its leadership throughout the process. [6]\nAt the UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in conflict, Costa Rica also repeatedly raised concerns around and urged action on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. In 2018, for example, Costa Rica described the use of explosive weapons in urban areas as “simply unacceptable”, noting that it “constitutes a huge humanitarian challenge in current conflicts”[7] and in 2019 reiterated its call for parties to armed conflict to end use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas, recalling the devastating humanitarian impact such weapons have on civilians and civilian infrastructure.[8] In 2013, Costa Rica supported calls for parties to conflict to “avoid the use of explosives within or close to densely populated areas and or explosive weapons with wide-ranging effects” and reiterated support for international efforts aimed at putting an end to explosive weapons use in densely populated areas.[9] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict on 5 July 2023, Costa Rica stressed the importance of an intersectional approach to ensure adequate and child-sensitive responses to the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas.[10]\nAlongside its individual statements, Costa Rica has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. In 2018, Costa Rica joined 22 otherLatin American and Caribbean states at the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, resulting in the Santiago Communiqué in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue[11]. In 2018 and 2019, Chile joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [12].\nCosta Rica also supported a statement delivered by Austria to the World Humanitarian Summit Roundtable on Upholding the Norms that Safeguard Humanity in May 2016, in which it committed to raising international awareness of use of explosive weapons in populated areas, supporting the collection of data on direct civilian harm and the exchanging of good practices and lessons as well as look for effective measures to strengthen the respect for international humanitarian law, including an international Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[13] Costa Rica has also condemned the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in numerous joint statements, including as a member of the Human Security Network at the 2013 and 2014 UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict[14] In these statements, the Human Security Network called for all parties to an armed conflict to refrain from using explosive weapons with a wide impact area in populated areas, emphasising that these weapons are indiscriminate within their zones of detonation and therefore pose unacceptable risks to civilians. ","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Costa Rica Statement: First Informal Consultation on Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Costa-Rica-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Costa-Rica-Written-Submission—18-November-2019.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. Reaching Critical Will. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n’Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations: First Committee Statement’. Reaching Critical Will. 5 October 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com21/statements/5Oct_CostaRica.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com21/statements/5Oct_CostaRica.pdf</a>. Costa Rica has made similar statements at the 69th UN General Assembly First Committee Conventional Weapons Debate in 2014 (‘Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations: First Committee Statement–Conventional Weapons cluster’. Reaching Critical Will. 22 October 2014 <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com14/statements/22Oct_CostaRica.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com14/statements/22Oct_CostaRica.pdf</a>.); at the 70th UN General Assembly First Committee General Debate in 2015 (‘Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations:‘First Committee Statement–General Debate’. Reaching Critical Will. 12 October 2015. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com15/statements/12October_CostaRica.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com15/statements/12October_CostaRica.pdf</a>.); and at the 73rd UN General Assembly First Committee General Debate (2018)( Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations in 2018 (‘‘First Committee Statement–General Debate’. Reaching Critical Will. 11 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/11Oct_CostaRica.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/11Oct_CostaRica.pdf</a>).\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.4’. Reaching Critical Will. 22 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.8264. 22 May 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8264\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8264.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7951. 25 May 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9366. 5 July 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6917. 12 February 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917(Resumption1)</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109.</a>\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"19","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CI","countryName":"Côte d’Ivoire"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":true,"content":"Côte d’Ivoire was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the signing ceremony in Dublin in 2022, Côte d’Ivoire said that the declaration is a reminder of obligations to comply with International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and to protect civilians. It also stressed that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas is not purely a military and humanitarian issue, but also has effects on sustainable development.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and priorities</h2>\nIn statements to the United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2012, 2017, 2019, and 2020, Côte d’Ivoire has reiterated its commitment to the protection of civilians in conflict.[2] As a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Afghanistan aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[3] The Group of Friends on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, of which Côte d’Ivoire is a memer, noted the adoption of the Political Declaration at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict on 23 May 2023.[4]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA67 First Committee Statement: Permanent Mission of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations’. Reaching Critical Will. 26 September 2012. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/unga/2012/GA67_CotedIvoire.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/unga/2012/GA67_CotedIvoire.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA72 First Committee Statement: Permanent Mission of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations’. Reaching Critical Will. 17 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com19/statements/17Oct_CoteIvoire.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com19/statements/17Oct_CoteIvoire.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Statement–Conventional Weapons Debate: Permanent Mission of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations’. Reaching Critical Will. 25 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com19/statements/25Oct_CoteIvoire.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com19/statements/25Oct_CoteIvoire.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"20","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"HR","countryName":"Croatia"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Croatia was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the signing ceremony in Dublin in November 2022, Croatia remembered the destruction of its cities during war and said that the protection of civilians should be the core of the UN and ICRC agenda. It welcomed the adoption of the EWIPA declaration, and said it stands open and ready to provide support to countries affected by EWIPA, participating in meetings intended for experts, and exchanging experience.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the European Union (EU), Croatia has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict[2] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[3], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[4] The EU, with Croatia signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee[5] (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nCroatia also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[6] In 2018 and 2019, Croatia joined around 50 states to endorse a joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[7]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a> \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 23 October 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Croatia’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/307.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/307.html.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"111","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CU","countryName":"Cuba"}}},"region":"Caribbean","endorsed":false,"content":"Cuba has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (explosive weapons in populated areas). \nIt did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. In 2020, commenting on a draft of key elements for the declaration, Cuba emphasised that the Political Declaration should be in line with the UN Charter, particularly in that it should recognise “legitimate defence” for crimes of aggression, referencing UN Charter article 51, and respect sovereign equality, non-interference with internal affairs of states, and self-determination. Cuba also noted that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas is prohibited by International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and cannot possibly meet IHL principles, and expressed concern that, in Cuba’s view, the draft elements paper appeared to indicate that such use is possible and can be justified. \nCuba focused on the importance of states reiterating their commitments to enforcing IHL to prevent the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and emphasised that the Political Declaration must not weaken IHL by being selective in references or abbreviating or restating IHL. Cuba insisted that states should be the first to avoid use of explosive weapons in populated areas, but non-state actors should also be prevented from obtaining or using explosive weapons of any kind. Consequently, Cuba also called for the document to mention arms producers, saying that they bear clear responsibility for use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"21","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CY","countryName":"Cyprus"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":true,"content":"Cyprus was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the signing ceremony in Dublin in November 2022, Cyprus shared the view that explosive weapons have a devastating impact on civilians and civilian objects around the world, and that their use in populated areas has been shown to cause long-term humanitarian harm. Cyprus also said that reaffirmation of the obligations of all parties in armed conflict under applicable international law is a crucial element of the Declaration.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nCyprus has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), Cyprus has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL). This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict[2] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[3], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[4] The EU, with Cyprus signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nCyprus also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[5] In 2018 and 2019, Germany joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[6]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Cyprus’. <a href=\"http://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/307.html\">http://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/307.html</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"22","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CZ","countryName":"Czech Republic"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"The Czech Republic was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nThe Czech Republic has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on EWIPA. As a member of the European Union (EU), the Czech Republic has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [1] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[2], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[3] The EU, with the Czech Republic signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians. As well as signing onto EU statements, at the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, the Czech Republic highlighted the humanitarian consequences of explosive weapon use by Russian forces in Ukraine.[4]\nthe Czech Republic also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[5] In 2018 and 2019, the Czech Republic joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[6]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nFirst Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Czech Republic’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/150.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/150.html</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"112","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"KP","countryName":"Democratic People's Republic of Korea"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"113","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CD","countryName":"Democratic Republic of the Congo"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, the DRC endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas[1]. The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"23","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"DK","countryName":"Denmark"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Denmark was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. In April 2022, as the draft Declaration neared finalisation, Denmark echoed previous speakers to say that the purpose of the Declaration was not to create new rules, but rather to secure and enhance compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL). It proposed to amend paragraphs 3.3 and 3.4 to align with the IHL terminology to avoid ambiguity. It also recommended replacing the term “reverberating effects” by “incidental or indirect effects”. [1]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and priorities</h2>\nDenmark has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas, notably the Nordic Group and the European Union (EU). Denmark delivered a statement on behalf of the Nordic Group during the 72nd UN General Assembly First Committee in October 2017 that called on countries to participate in the ongoing discussions on protecting civilians in conflict, drawing attention to the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas, which cause a degree of civilian loss of life that is clearly disproportionate and in violation of IHL.[2] In 2022, at the UN General Assembly First Committee, the Nordic Group welcomed the Declaration as a positive outcome at a time of increased pressure within the international security environment, as well as a good sign that the international community can still work together towards tangible humanitarian goals.[3]\nFinland has also signed onto other joint statements by the Nordic Group that have drawn attention to the importance of adhering to IHL and avoiding the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in 2012,[4] 2013,[5] 2014,[6] and 2016.[7] In these statements, the Nordic Group highlighted the use of explosive weapons in populated areas as an issue that requires immediate attention, including through robust data collection on its impact and the sharing of policies and practices to prevent the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. At the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities, the Nordic Countries jointly called on all parties to conflict to prevent civilian harm resulting from use of explosive weapons in populated areas, especially those with wide area effects.[8] At the 2022 UN General Assembly First Committee General Debate, the Nordic Group welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the Political Declaration[9].\nAs a member of the European Union (EU), Denmark has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [10] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[11], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[12] The EU, with Denmark signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians. Denmark also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[13]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 2’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6v1iIZG8A\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6v1iIZG8A</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘United Nations General Assembly 72nd Session, First Committee General Debate: Statement by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden’. 2 October 2017. <a href=\"https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/statement-by-norway-on-behalf-of-the-nordic-countries-.pdf\">https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/statement-by-norway-on-behalf-of-the-nordic-countries-.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.4’. Reaching Critical Will. 22 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7606. 19 January 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.2’. Reaching Critical Will. 8 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Denmark’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/152.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/152.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"114","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"DJ","countryName":"Djibouti"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Djibouti has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Djibouti aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"115","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"DM","countryName":"Dominica"}}},"region":"Caribbean","endorsed":false,"content":"Dominica has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.","references":null}},{"id":"24","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"DO","countryName":"Dominican Republic"}}},"region":"Caribbean","endorsed":true,"content":"The Dominican Republic was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. During the signing ceremony of the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022, the Dominican Republic called for strengthening the protection of civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and stressed the urgent need for the declaration to be implemented.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nThe Dominican Republic has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. With 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, the Dominican Republic participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, resulting in the Santiago Communiqué in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue.[2]\nAs a member of the Group of Friends on the Protection of Civilians, the Dominican Republic has supported statements at the UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians stressing the need to enhance the protection of civilians from the humanitarian impacts of explosive weapons in populated areas and taking note of the consultations led by Ireland[3]. At the UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict on 23 May 2023, the Group noted the adoption of the Political Declaration[4]. At the same meeting, the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, of which the Dominican Republic is also a member, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[5] At the January 2022 UN Security Council open debate on war in cities, the Group of Friends on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict called on states to enhance the protection of civilians, including from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and took note of the ongoing consultations to develop a Political Declaration.[6]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"25","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"EC","countryName":"Ecuador"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":true,"content":"Ecuador was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\nIn the first informal consultations on the Declaration in November 2019, Ecuador delivered a joint statement with seven other Latin American and Caribbean states. In this statement, states delineated key elements of a Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas including: acknowledgement of the likely humanitarian consequences of the use of explosive weapons of wide area effects in populated areas; a commitment to avoid use of such weapons in populated areas and to develop military operational policies and procedures in this regard and identify, develop and exchange best practices; promote greater compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law; commit states to enable secure and sustainable humanitarian access; recognise the rights of victims and affected communities; encourage collection of disaggregated data; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organizations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[1]\nMany of these elements were echoed in Ecuador’s statements to the consultations, in which it emphasised that the Political Declaration should address indirect, long-term, and reverberating effects of explosive weapons in populated areas, recognise the rights of victims and affected communities, and to provide adequate victim assistance to those affected, including family members of victims of use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[2] Ecuador also said a gendered perspective and intergenerational approach should be reflected within the Declaration, including involvement of local communities and on victim assistance.[3] Throughout the consultations, Ecuador consistently argued for the inclusion of an avoidance policy and presumption of non-use of explosive weapons in populated areas and opposed the use of qualifiers throughout the text of the declaration in phrases such as “harms which can arise from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.”[4] As the text reached its final stages, Ecuador noted that the Declaration is just the beginning of the process, and that the implementation of the commitments and their follow-up will allow an evaluation of the real impact on the protection of civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[5] At the signing ceremony in Dublin in November 2022, Ecuador called states to avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, especially those with wide area effects and expressed hope that the Declaration opens up a new space for dialogue with states to improve their policies and practices.[6]\n<h2 class=\"p6\">Statements and positions</h2>\nEcuador has, on several occasions, spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, primarily to emphasise the humanitarian impact of use of explosive weapons in populated areas and call for action. In its statement to the May 2019 UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in May 2019, Ecuador reaffirmed the commitments it made in the Santiago Communiqué and emphasised that the humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons on civilian populations cannot be overlooked, reiterating its support for “an international Political Declaration that would enable and promote the best protection of civilians, mainly women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities, in armed conflicts by preventing the use of long-range explosive weapons in populated areas.”.[7] At the 76th UN General Assembly First Committee in 2021, Ecuador condemned the continued use of explosive weapons in populated areas[8] and at the January 2022 UN Security Council open debate on war in cities Ecuador called on states to step up their efforts against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[9]\nEcuador has also repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. Alongside 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Ecuador participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, resulting in the Santiago Communiqué[10] in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. In 2019, Ecuador joined 71 states to endorse a joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [11].\nAt the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in May 2023, the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, of which Ecuador is a member, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[12]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Latin American and Caribbean states: Joint Statement to the First Informal Consultations’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Joint-Statement-of-LATAM-and-Caribbean-States-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/explosive weapons in populatedareas/Joint-Statement-of-LATAM-and-Caribbean-States-Written-Submission—18-November-2019.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. Reaching Critical Will. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-wepons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>; Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Written Submission: Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 17 March 2020. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Ecuador-Written-Submission---17-March-2020.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Ecuador-Written-Submission—17-March-2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>; ‘Ecuador comments to the latest draft of the Political Declaration to address the humanitarian harm arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/Ecuador.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/Ecuador.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n ‘UNGA76 First Committee Statement: Permanent Mission of Ecuador to the United Nations’. Reaching Critical Will. 12 October 2021. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com21/statements/12Oct_Ecuador.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com21/statements/12Oct_Ecuador.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"116","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"EG","countryName":"Egypt"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Egypt has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (explosive weapons in populated areas). It did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. In the first informal consultations on the declaration in November 2019, Egypt stressed that the Political Declaration should not aim to create new norms or “stigmatise” certain types of weapons. Egypt also stressed the need for the declaration to include non-state actors.[1] Egypt reaffirmed these positions during the second round of consultations in 2020, noting that new regulations are not needed to prevent the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, but that it is instead necessary to fully implement existing international humanitarian law (IHL). Egypt also called on the Political Declaration to differentiate between lawful and unlawful uses of explosive weapons in populated areas.[2]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nEgypt has on a number of occasions spoken on EWIPA in multilateral forums. At the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in May 2019, Egypt condemned the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, noting that “conflicts are increasingly taking place in densely populated areas where explosive weapons with indiscriminate effects on civilians are used. All that requires a comprehensive approach that takes into account the specific characteristics of each conflict and prioritizes above all the protection of civilians, particularly women, children and the most vulnerable.”[3] During the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, Egypt referenced explosive weapon use by Israeli armed forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.[4]\nThe Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, of which Egypt is a member state, aligned itself with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity” in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[5]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. Reaching Critical Will. 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-wepons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>.</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Young, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>.</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"67","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SV","countryName":"El Salvador"}}},"region":"Caribbean","endorsed":true,"content":"El Salvador was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the Dublin Conference in November 2022, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines underlined the importance of accountability for international humanitarian law (IHL) violations and stressed the explosive weapons users must be aware of legal and moral standards of the international community.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nSaint Vincent and the Grenadines has several times aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. With 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, resulting in the Santiago Communiqué in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue.[2]\nSaint Vincent and the Grenadines also participated in the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in May 2021 as a member of the A3+1 (alongside Kenya, Niger, and Tunisia) group: during which these states condemned the use of EWIPA, highlighting the grave impacts on civilians.[3] This group also drew attention to the continued threat of explosive remnants of war, and highlighted challenges posed by the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, which together with the use of EWIPA place millions of civilians at risk of injury, displacement, and death.[4]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2021. ‘Protecting Civilians by Preventing Conflict’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 June 2021. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15343-protecting-civilians-by-preventing-conflict\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15343-protecting-civilians-by-preventing-conflict</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"117","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"GQ","countryName":"Equatorial Guinea"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Equatorial Guinea has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Equatorial Guinea aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"118","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"ER","countryName":"Eritrea"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Eritrea has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"119","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"EE","countryName":"Estonia"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":false,"content":"Estonia has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nEstonia has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in May 2023, the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, of which Estonia is a member, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the 2024 Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[1]\nAs a member of the European Union (EU), Estonia has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [2] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[3], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[4] The EU, with Estonia signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference[5], the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments)[6], and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.[7]\nEstonia aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in its capacity as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[8]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: #2c3236; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"4\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>.</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Young, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.2’. Reaching Critical Will. 8 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf</a>; ‘Statement on Conventional Weapons’. European Union. 23 October 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf</a>. </li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity Archives, ‘Estonia’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/158.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/158.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"120","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SZ","countryName":"Eswatini"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Eswatini has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"121","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"ET","countryName":"Ethiopia"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Ethiopia has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, Ethiopia endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.[1] The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"122","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"FJ","countryName":"Fiji"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":false,"content":"Fiji has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nFiji endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[1] The statement recognised the devastating humanitarian effects of the use explosive weapons in populated areas and encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[2]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"27","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"FI","countryName":"Finland"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Finland was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\nFinland regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration, as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums. Early in the consultation process Finland suggested that the declaration include considerations of the environmental effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas[1] and suggested the addition of a reference to binding obligations to protect hospitals and demilitarised zones, and for the evacuation of civilians.[2] During the consultations, Finland also emphasised the need to include “all vulnerable groups” within provisions regarding victim assistance[3] and to recognise the gendered impacts of explosive weapons in populated areas use[4]. The importance of international humanitarian law (IHL) was also a repeated theme in Finland’s statements to the consultations, where it stressed the importance of specifying that all parties to a given conflict, including non-state actors, are bound by IHL[5] that suggested the focus of the consultations should be on the full and effective implementation of IHL[6]. At the signing ceremony in Dublin in November 2022, Finland welcomed the declaration’s strong call for full and effective implementation of IHL as a means to protect civilians and to avoid and minimize civilian harm in military operations. Finland reiterated that it is critical that the declaration raises the importance of an integrated, gender-sensitive and non-discriminatory approach, and acknowledges the rights of persons with disabilities and their assistance.[7]\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nFinland has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas, notably the Nordic Group and the European Union (EU). In 2017, at the Finland 72nd UN General Assembly First Committee, delivered a statement on behalf of the Nordic countries drawing attention to the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas and the consequent disproportionate loss of civilian life and violations of IHL.[8] Finland has also signed onto other joint statements by the Nordic Group that have drawn attention to the importance of adhering to IHL and avoiding the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in 2012,[9] 2013,[10] 2014,[11] and 2016.[12] In these statements, the Nordic Group highlighted the use of explosive weapons in populated areas as an issue that requires immediate attention, including through robust data collection on its impact and the sharing of policies and practices to prevent the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. At the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities, the Nordic Countries jointly called on all parties to conflict to prevent civilian harm resulting from use of explosive weapons in populated areas, especially those with wide area effects.[13] At the 2022 UN General Assembly First Committee General Debate, the Nordic Group welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the Political Declaration.[14]\nAs a member of the European Union (EU), Finland has also signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [15] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[16], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[17] The EU, with Finland signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians. Finland also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[18]\nIn 2018 and 2019, Finland joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[19]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n’Finland Written Submission – 10 February 2020’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 10 February 2020. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Finland-Written-Submission---10-February-2020.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Finland-Written-Submission—10-February-2020.pdf</a>; ‘Comments by Finland on the Draft Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences that Can Arise from the Use of Explosive Weapons with Wide Area Effects in Populated Areas’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 3-5 March 2021. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions3-5march/FINLAND-ewipa-kommentit-5.3.2021.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions3-5march/FINLAND-ewipa-kommentit-5.3.2021.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>; Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n’Finland Written Submission – 10 February 2020’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 10 February 2020. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Finland-Written-Submission---10-February-2020.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Finland-Written-Submission—10-February-2020.pdf</a>; ‘Comments by Finland on the Draft Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences that Can Arise from the Use of Explosive Weapons with Wide Area Effects in Populated Areas’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 3-5 March 2021. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions3-5march/FINLAND-ewipa-kommentit-5.3.2021.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions3-5march/FINLAND-ewipa-kommentit-5.3.2021.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences arising from the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Finland.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Finland.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘United Nations General Assembly 72nd Session, First Committee General Debate: Statement by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden’. 2 October 2017. <a href=\"https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/statement-by-norway-on-behalf-of-the-nordic-countries-.pdf\">https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/statement-by-norway-on-behalf-of-the-nordic-countries-.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7606. 19 January 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.2’. Reaching Critical Will. 8 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives, ‘Finland’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/165.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/165.html.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"28","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"FR","countryName":"France"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"France was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. France regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration suggesting that the focus should be on promoting International Humanitarian Law (IHL) as a sufficient existing framework and avoiding creating any new obligations.[1] France also argued that the Declaration should not try to focus on categories of weapons independent of the way in which they are employed, rather it should try to distinguish between what France referred to as legal employments of weapons and those that are indiscriminate.[2] At the consultations in 2020, France suggested that the Political Declaration should treat non-state actors as being on equal footing and should condemn use of human shields and any exploitation of presence of civilians and civilian objects.[3] It also expressed that it is concerned only with the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons, not their indiscriminate effects.[4]\nFrance echoed this position throughout the consultations, arguing that the Declaration should only address “indiscriminate use” of explosive weapons and should explicitly distinguish between the lawful and unlawful use of explosive weapons in populated areas, otherwise it would stigmatise explosive weapons generally. France supported the addition of qualifiers in the text to indicate that harm “can” potentially arise from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas[5] and suggested including the caveat “where feasible and appropriate” in relation to the collection and sharing of data.[6] At the final consultation in June 2022, France said it is convinced that strengthening cooperation, training, and exchange of know-how among states will lead to greater effectiveness of IHL.[7] During the signing ceremony in Dublin in November 2022, France encouraged states to endorse the Political Declaration and to participate actively in the follow-up process. France also highlighted that the implementation of the Declaration will contribute to the evolution of operation procedures and practices of armed forces to minimize civilian harm, taking into account the urban environment and the circumstances of attack.[8]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nFrance has spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas at several UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict: in May 2017, France spoke about its use of explosive weapons in populated areas in contexts like Libya, Mali, and the Levant, insisting that their “very strict rules of engagement make possible the prevention of humanitarian consequences of our operations [using explosive weapons in populated areas], in accordance with international humanitarian law.”[9] More recently, in May 2023, France urged states to sign the Political Declaration[10] a call it repeated during the UN General Assembly First Committee that same year.[11]\nAlongside its individual statements, France has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), France has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict[12] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[13], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[14] The EU, with France signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nFrance also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[15]\nAs a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, France has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians[16], and as a member of the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[17]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. Reaching Critical Will. 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-wepons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Protection des populations civiles lors d’opérations en milieu urbain – Consultations informelles’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/France-Written-Submission--18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/France-Written-Submission–18-November-2019.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n ’Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations: Written Submission’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 10 February 2020. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/France-Written-Submission---10-February-2020.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/France-Written-Submission—10-February-2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 2’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6v1iIZG8A\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6v1iIZG8A</a>; ’Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations: Written Submission, Revision 2’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 6-9 April 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/France.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/France.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nVarella, L. 2022. ‘States agree to final text of Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons’. Reaching Critical Will. 22 June 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16289-states-agree-to-final-text-of-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16289-states-agree-to-final-text-of-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7951. 25 May 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘France’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/168.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/168.html.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327.</a>\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"123","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"GA","countryName":"Gabon"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Gabon has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nGabon has spoken in multilateral forums on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas, both in its individual capacity and aligned with other states. During the May 2011 UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, Gabon expressed concern over the increasing use of explosive munitions in heavily populated areas.[1] At the UN Security Council Open Debate War in Cities: Protection of Civilians in Urban Settings on 25 January 2022, Gabon argued that while there are no specific rules of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) for urban areas, and the use of explosive weapons in populated areas is not expressly prohibited, one can question the legality of such use in light of the main rules of IHL. It argued that there is “no doubt that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas can hardly be reconciled with respect for IHL.” Gabon also supported the call on all parties to armed conflict to avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and welcomed the development of a Political Declaration on this subject.[2]\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Gabon aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.6531. 10 May 2011. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6531\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6531</a>.</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"29","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"GE","countryName":"Georgia"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":true,"content":"Georgia was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2018 and 2019, Georgia joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[1]\n ","references":"<ol>\n<li class=\"p6\">'UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.</li>\n</ol>\n "}},{"id":"30","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"DE","countryName":"Germany"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Germany was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. Germany regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration[1], as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums. Early in the consultation process Germany highlighted the importance of developing and sharing military policies and good practices – in military doctrines, tactical instructions, rules of engagement, the testing and development of new weapons, education, and other measures—to enhance protection of civilians and compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL).[2] \nThese were repeated themes throughout Germany’s statements to the negotiations, which also emphasised the need for the Declaration to condemn violations of IHL (at times suggesting that indiscriminate and therefore non-IHL-compliant use of explosive weapons in populated areas was the primary cause of civilian harm) and to accurately reflect the role of non-state actors in causing civilian harm as well as their responsibilities. Alongside France and the UK, Germany submitted a joint statement to the consultations delineating key elements they would like to see reflected in a Political Declaration, namely consideration of non-state actors and a clear distinction between the legitimate use of explosive weapons in populated areas in specific conflict situations and indiscriminate use that breaches IHL. [3] Throughout the consultations, Germany was also vocal in calling for victim assistance[4] and for further work to understand the meaning of direct, indirect and reverberating effects of explosive weapons in populated areas as well as how to effectively take these into account when conducting a military operation.[5]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nGermany has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, primarily to condemn the harms caused to civilians and call for action to better protect civilians from harm, including through greater adherence to IHL. For example, at the 2019 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Germany stressed the need to draw “red lines” on explosive weapons in populated areas, flagging the Germany-initiated series of “explosive weapons in populated areas Talks” held in Geneva in 2018 [6] that brought together military practitioners, diplomats, and humanitarian actors to discuss best military practices to minimise civilian casualties in urban theatres of conflict.[7] For the past decade, Germany has also repeatedly raised concerns over explosive weapons in populated areas in UN Security Council open debates on Children in Armed Conflict [8] and more recently at the general debates of the UN General Assembly First Committee where in 2022[9] and 2023[10], Germany welcomed the successful completion of the Political Declaration and encouraged states to actively engage in its follow-up process to mitigate the humanitarian consequences from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Similarly, at the 2022 Meeting of the CCW High Contracting Parties in November 2022, Germany expressed hope that the Declaration would be supported by a large number of states. \nAlongside its individual statements, Germany has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), Germany has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [11] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[12], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[13] The EU, with Germany signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nGermany also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.” [14]\nAs a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Germany has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians from the effects of explosive weapons in populated areas [15], and as a member of the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[16] In 2018 and 2019, Germany joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[17]","references":"<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst\" style=\"mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes; margin: 0cm 0cm 12.0pt 54.0pt;\">1. Reaching Critical Will. ‘Statements – Political Declaration Process’. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/ewipa/political-declaration/statements\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/</a><a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/ewipa/political-declaration/statements\">explosive weapons in populated areas</a><a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/ewipa/political-declaration/statements\">/political-declaration/statements</a>.\n2. ‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. Reaching Critical Will. 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-wepons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>; ‘Towards a Political Declaration to Address the Humanitarian Harm Arising From the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas–Statement’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2019. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Germany-Written-Submission-18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/</a><a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Germany-Written-Submission-18-November-2019.pdf\">explosive weapons in populated areas</a><a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Germany-Written-Submission-18-November-2019.pdf\">/Germany-Written-Submission-18-November-2019.pdf</a>.\n<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes; margin: 0cm 0cm 12.0pt 54.0pt;\">3. ‘France-Germany-United Kingdom: EWIPA Submission’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2019. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/France-Germany-United-Kingdom-Paper-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/</a><a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/France-Germany-United-Kingdom-Paper-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">explosive weapons in populated areas</a><a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/France-Germany-United-Kingdom-Paper-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">/France-Germany-United-Kingdom-Paper-Written-Submission—18-November-2019.pdf</a>.\n<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes; margin: 0cm 0cm 12.0pt 54.0pt;\">4. Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>; Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n<p class=\"MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle\" style=\"mso-add-space: auto; text-indent: -18.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes; margin: 0cm 0cm 12.0pt 54.0pt;\">5. ‘Germany’s Written Submission to the Consultation Process’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 6-9 April 2021. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/Germany.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/Germany.pdf</a>; Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Morning’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc</a>.\n6. On June 2018, the Mission of Germany convened at the UN in Geneva the first of two planned workshops on “Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Humanitarian, Technical, Legal and Military Considerations.” The second meeting was hosted in September 2018, supported by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining. \n7. United Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534</a>\n8. See, for example, United Nations Security Council. S/PV.6017. 12 February 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917(Resumption1)</a> \n9. ‘UNGA72 First Committee Statement–Conventional Weapons Debate’. Permanent Mission of Germany to the United Nations. 26 September 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/2Oct_Germany.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/2Oct_Germany.pdf</a> \n10. Young, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>.\n11. ‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf</a>\n12. ‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n13. Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n14. Agenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Germany’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/175.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/175.html</a>.\n15. United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042</a>\n16. United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>\n17. ‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>."}},{"id":"124","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"GH","countryName":"Ghana"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Ghana has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration, though expressed its support for the process. \n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nGhana has on several occasions spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. At the United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019, Ghana supported the process towards a political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the protection of civilians and civilian objects in armed conflict.[1] It reiterated this support the following year, saying “we are encouraged by the inclusive consultative process initiated by Ireland to develop a political declaration in addressing the humanitarian consequences of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). We call on all stakeholders to show genuine political will towards such innovative measures for the protection of civilians and civilian objects in armed conflict in compliance with international humanitarian law.”[2] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in May 2022, Ghana said that the Security Council could help strengthen the protection of civilians in armed conflict by improving reporting mechanism for monitoring and tracking civilian harm to cover reporting on civilian casualties by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[3]\nIn 2017, Ghana endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.[4] The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.\nGhana also endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[5] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international political declaration on this issue.[6]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA75 First Committee Statement General Debate’. Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations. 14 October 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com20/statements/14Oct_Ghana.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com20/statements/14Oct_Ghana.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Statement’. Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com19/statements/24Oct_Ghana.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com19/statements/24Oct_Ghana.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: #2c3236; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a style=\"text-indent: 36pt;\" href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042.</a></li>\n</ol>\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"4\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/. </a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/. </a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf.</a></li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"31","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"GR","countryName":"Greece"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Greece was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. Greece regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration, repeatedly voicing its concern about the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas. In its statements to the 2020 consultations, Greece suggested including the phrase “disproportionate use” as the focus of the Political Declaration.[1] Later in the consultation process, Greece stated that the Declaration should not seek to establish restrictions going beyond existing provisions of international humanitarian law (IHL), and strongly suggested the term “indiscriminate” be included in order to highlight the problem of unlawful use of explosive weapons. It also expressed its preference for the term \"indirect effects\" instead of \"reverberating effects\" throughout the text.[2]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nGreece has spoken in multilateral forums in support of the Declaration. At the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, Greece highlighted the new Political Declaration’s utility in addressing the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas[3], and the following year recognised the importance of the Political Declaration, saying it would pave the way to the Oslo Conference in 2024.[4]\nAlongside its individual statements, Greece has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. Greece has condemned the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in numerous joint statements, including as a member of the Human Security Network at both the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict[5] and the 2014 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict.[6] In these statements, the Human Security Network called for all parties to an armed conflict to refrain from using explosive weapons with a wide impact area in populated areas, emphasising that these weapons are indiscriminate within their zones of detonation and therefore pose unacceptable risks to civilians. \nAs a member of the European Union (EU), Greece has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [7] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[8], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[9] The EU, with Greece signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians. Greece also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[10]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Comments by Greece on the Draft Political Declaration’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 6-9 April 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/Greece.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/Greece.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung. K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.3’. Reaching Critical Will. 15 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No3.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No3.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Greece Statement to the UN General Assembly 78th Session First Committee General Debate’. Permanent Mission of Greece to the United Nations. 4 October 2023. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/4Oct_Greece.pdf\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/4Oct_Greece.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Greece’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/182.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/182.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"125","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"GD","countryName":"Grenada"}}},"region":"Caribbean","endorsed":false,"content":"Grenada has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.","references":null}},{"id":"32","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"GT","countryName":"Guatemala"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":true,"content":"Guatemala was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. During the consultations to develop the Declaration, Guatemala said that the urbanisation of war and the rapid development of weapons technologies are major causes of harm to civilians in today's armed conflicts, especially when the effects of these weapons are long-range and designed for open battlefields and not for urban areas. It also expressed concern about the risks of short or long term damage, whether direct or indirect, personal or material, resulting from war in urban contexts, including the destruction of critical infrastructure that prolongs suffering.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nGuatemala has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, primarily to highlight the harms caused to civilians and call for action to better protect civilians as well as greater compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL). At the 2013 UN Security Council Debate on Children and Armed Conflict, Guatemala expressed its concern with the use of “explosives of ample coverage in dense population centers or areas where populations converge”[2] and again in 2015 condemned the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, “because this increases the vulnerability of children, resulting in an increased number of deaths and incidents of mutilation, as well as prolonged suffering, destruction and chaos.”[3] This was echoed in Guatemala’s statements to the UN Security Council’s open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in 2019[4] and in 2023, when Guatemala said that “experience has shown us that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas causes serious harm to civilians and affects services essential to their survival,” and called the attention of all States to their commitment to the application of international humanitarian law in armed conflict [5]. Guatemala has also raised the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2015[6], 2022 [7] and in 2023 when Guatemala again acknowledged the pattern of harm caused by explosive weapons in populated areas.[8]\nAlongside 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Guatemala participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, resulting in the Santiago Communiqué [9] in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. In 2019, Guatemalajoined 71 states to endorse a joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [10]. In 2018 and 2019, Germany joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[11]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Morning’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6917. 12 February 2013. Available from:<a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7466. 18 June 2015. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7466\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7466</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA70 First Committee Statement Conventional Weapons Debate’. Permanent Mission of Guatemala to the United Nations. 27 October 2015. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com15/statements/27October_Guatemala.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com15/statements/27October_Guatemala.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.4’. Reaching Critical Will. 22 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nSantiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"126","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"GN","countryName":"Guinea"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Guinea has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Guinea aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"127","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"GW","countryName":"Guinea Bissau"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Guinea Bissau has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nGuinea-Bissau endorsed the joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[1] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[2]\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Guinea-Bissau aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"33","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"GY","countryName":"Guyana"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":true,"content":"Guyana was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nGuyana has several times aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. With 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Guyana participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, resulting in the Santiago Communiqué in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. This included: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; act to enhance compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects; fully support the process that will lead to the negotiation and adoption of an international political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas; encourage collection of data; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at the international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organisations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[1]\nIn 2019, Guyana endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee encouraging states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[2]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"128","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"HT","countryName":"Haiti"}}},"region":"Caribbean","endorsed":false,"content":"Haiti has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAlong with 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Haiti participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018. The meeting produced the Santiago Communiqué, in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. This included: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; act to enhance compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects; fully support the process that will lead to the negotiation and adoption of an international political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas; encourage collection of data; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at the international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organisations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"34","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"VA","countryName":"Holy See"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"The Holy See was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. During the consultations toward a Political Declaration in 2021, the Holy See welcomed references to women and girls in the Political Declaration, but indicated that it would like to see references to “gender” deleted in order to focus on impacts of all those affected.[1] At the fourth consultation in April 2002, the Holy See expressed concern regarding the use of the expression “gendered impacts”, noting that it is not an agreed term under international humanitarian law (IHL).[2] The Holy See was among many states who opposed the use of qualifiers such as “harms which can arise from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas” throughout the text. At the fourth consultation in April 2022, the Holy See proposed to replace the expression “cultural heritage sites” with a broader reference that includes a specific reference to places of worship.\nDuring the signing ceremony in Dublin in November 2022, the Holy See said that the Declaration “presents an opportunity and an invitation to shift from the paradigm of ‘collateral damage’ to one of ‘intended protection’ so as to truly minimize and hopefully avoid loss of human life.” It also said it looks forward to the implementation of the present Political Declaration, in coordination with other States, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as well as civil society.[3]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nThe Holy See has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, primarily to condemn the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and draw attention to the devastating impacts such use has on civilians. At the World Humanitarian Summit Roundtable on Upholding the Norms that Safeguard Humanity and the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict in 2016, the Holy See condemned the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in the “strongest possible terms.”[4] In 2022, at UN Security Council open debate on war in cities, the Holy See drew attention to the “significant and lasting damage” caused by use of explosive weapons in populated areas, expressing support for efforts to develop a Political Declaration in which states commit to avoiding the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and noting that efforts to constrain the use of explosive weapons in populated areas should include non-state actors operating in conflict settings.[5] At the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, the Holy See welcomed the Political Declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption.[6]\nIn a Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) in November 2012, the Holy See detailed the devastating impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including “a significant number of victims, major destruction of socio-economic infrastructures, severe psychological trauma and the hindrance of development for many years.” [7] It noted that “these results cause hatred and socio-political wounds that are difficult to heal. In the case of internal or international conflicts, they make reconciliation more difficult, if not impossible, and they become a contradiction when international operations to restore or maintain peace and to win over the hearts and minds of local people are undertaken.” The statement also highlighted the importance of the international community coming together to prevent the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and protect civilians in armed conflicts. At the 2015 CCW MSP Meeting, the Holy See proposed the creation of a Group of Governmental Experts on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[8]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"129","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"HN","countryName":"Honduras"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":false,"content":"Honduras has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAlong with 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Honduras participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018. The meeting produced the Santiago Communiqué, in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. This included: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; act to enhance compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects; fully support the process that will lead to the negotiation and adoption of an international political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas; encourage collection of data; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at the international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organisations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[1]\nHonduras endorsed the joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[3] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of EWIPA on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international political declaration on this issue.[4]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"35","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"HU","countryName":"Hungary"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Hungary was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the European Union (EU), Hungary has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict[1] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[2], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[3] The EU, with Hungary signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nHungary also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[4]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Hungary’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/187.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/187.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"36","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"IS","countryName":"Iceland"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Iceland was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. As a member of the Nordic countries, Iceland welcomed the finalized Declaration at the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, noting that the Declaration is a positive outcome at a time of increased pressure within the international security environment, as well as a good sign that the international community can still work together towards tangible humanitarian goals.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIceland has on a number of occasions spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. In a statement during the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2020, Iceland noted efforts to address explosive weapons in populated areas were “another important stride in the right direction” and expressed its support.[2] Iceland reiterated this in 2021 during the UN General Assembly First Committee, drawing attention to the progress being made.[3]\nAlongside its individual statements, Iceland has repeatedly aligned with other states on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas. In 2018 and 2019, Iceland joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [4].\nIceland has joined several statements made by the Nordic Group including in 2017 to the UN General Assembly First Committee calling on countries to participate in the ongoing discussions on protecting civilians in conflict, and drawing attention to the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas.[5] Iceland has also signed onto other joint statements by the Nordic Group that have drawn attention to the importance of adhering to IHL and avoiding the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in 2012,[6] 2013,[7] 2014, and 2016.[8] In these statements, the Nordic Group highlighted the use of explosive weapons in populated areas as an issue that requires immediate attention, including robust data collection on its impact and the sharing of policies and practices to prevent the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. At the UN Security Council Open Debate War in Cities: Protection of Civilians in Urban Settings on 25 January 2022, the Nordic Countries jointly called on all parties to conflict to prevent civilian harm resulting from use of explosive weapons in populated areas, especially those with wide area effects.[9]\nIceland has also aligned with several statements delivered by the European Union (EU) on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas, most recently at the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023 where the EU statement welcomed the Political Declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption. The EU also highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments, including at the 2024 Oslo Conference.[10] In addition, Iceland aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[11]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.2’. Reaching Critical Will. 8 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA75 First Committee General Debate Statement’. Permanent Mission of Iceland to the United Nations. 9 October 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com20/statements/9Oct_Iceland.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com20/statements/9Oct_Iceland.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA76 First Committee General Debate Statement’. Permanent Mission of Iceland to the United Nations. 6 October 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com21/statements/6Oct_Iceland.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com21/statements/6Oct_Iceland.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘United Nations General Assembly 72nd Session, First Committee General Debate: Statement by Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden’. 2 October 2017. <a href=\"https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/statement-by-norway-on-behalf-of-the-nordic-countries-.pdf\">https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/statement-by-norway-on-behalf-of-the-nordic-countries-.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6790. 25 June 2012. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6790(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6790(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6917. 12 February 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7606. 19 January 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement on Conventional Weapons’. European Union. October 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Iceland’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/188.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/188.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"130","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"IN","countryName":"India"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"India has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAt the UN Security Council open debate on war in cities in January 2022, India acknowledged that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas exposes civilians to a high risk of indiscriminate effects.[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"37","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"ID","countryName":"Indonesia"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":true,"content":"Indonesia was involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. During the consultations, Indonesia emphasised that rather than re-stating International Humanitarian Law (IHL), the Political Declaration should serve as a reaffirmation of the collective commitment and obligations to fully implement IHL and minimise the humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Indonesia also said that the Political Declaration could serve to concretize the principles set out in IHL and to fill the gaps therein.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and priorities</h2>\nIndonesia has several times spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. In 2013 it delivered a statement during the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict expressing its concerns at the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, particularly in densely populated areas and situations in which the nature of conflict becomes asymmetric.[2] During the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, Indonesia acknowledged the need to address the harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas[3] and similarly, during First Committee in 2023, Indonesia acknowledged the pattern of harm caused by explosive weapons in populated areas.[4]\nAlongside its individual statements, Indonesia has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in May 2022, the Group of Friends, from which Indonesia is a member, stressed the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians, and took note of the ongoing consultations led by Ireland.[5]\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Indonesia aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[6]\nIn October 2018, Indonesia was one of 50 states to endorse the joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[7] Indonesia also endorsed the joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[8] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[9]\nThe Group of Friends on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, from which Indonesia is a memer, noted the adoption of the Political Declaration at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict on 23 May 2023.[10]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung. K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.3’. Reaching Critical Will. 15 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No3.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No3.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"132","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"IR","countryName":"Iran"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":false,"content":"Iran has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (explosive weapons in populated areas). \nIt did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration: during the consultations in 2019 it called for the Declaration to consider the use of explosive weapons in populated areas by non-state actors[1], and in 2020 emphasised that the Declaration should be in line with the UN Charter. Iran’s interventions also focused heavily on the preservation of International Humanitarian Law (IHL), emphasising that the Political Declaration must not weaken IHL by being selective in references or abbreviating or restating it. Iran said that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in cities undermines IHL. It also noted that since not all states are parties to the protocols of the Geneva Conventions, they should not be included in the Political Declaration. Iran argued that the Political Declaration should replace references to the UN Security Council with the UN General Assembly. Iran also called for the Political Declaration to reflect the increase by some states in the use of private military and security companies (PMSCs), noting that this is of grave concern.[2]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIran has spoken on the issue of use of explosive weapons in populated areas in individual and group statements at multilateral forums. At the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, Iran referenced explosive weapon use by Israeli armed forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.[3] In October 2018, Iran was one of 50 states to endorse the Ireland-led joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[4]\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Iran aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. Reaching Critical Will. 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-wepons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Young, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"131","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"IQ","countryName":"Iraq"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":false,"content":"Iraq has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Iraq aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"38","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"IE","countryName":"Ireland"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Ireland was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. As the host of the consultations, from 2019 to 2022 Ireland led discussions between states, international organisations, UN agencies, and civil society organisations among other actors. It also acted as pen-holder for the draft the Political Declaration, incorporating the discussions and feedback of these actors.[1]\nIn addition to leading the consultations, Ireland participated as a state, including delivering statements emphasising the importance of including robust follow-up processes retaining inclusivity toward and participation of civil society organisations in the Declaration.[2] At the signing ceremony, Ireland stressed the relevance of the instrument to current and future conflicts, sending a message about the imperative of protecting civilians. Ireland highlighted a few elements of the Declaration, such as the commitments on data and research, gender sensitive responses, victim assistance, risk education, the collective commitment to review military policies and practices, as well as to restrict and refrain from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[3]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIreland has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, primarily to raise awareness of the devastating short and long-term humanitarian consequences of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians. It has repeatedly spoken against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN Security Council, including at the open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in 2017 and 2019[4] and at the January 2022 open debate on war in cities where Ireland said it is determined to deliver a meaningful Political Declaration that improves the protection of civilians and leads to changes in policy and practice.[5] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict on 5 July 2023, Ireland underscored the need to refrain from using explosive weapons in populated areas and encouraged all member states to endorse and adhere to the Political Declaration.[6]\nSimilarly, Ireland has repeatedly spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee.[7] During the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2021, Ireland delivered a statement reiterating these devastating humanitarian consequences and noted that it is proud to lead the consultation process for a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, which they foresee will end early in 2022.[8] In 2023, Ireland noted, with concern, the widespread use of explosive weapons around the world and was proud to welcome the Declaration as a means of addressing its impacts. Ireland called for the Declaration’s endorsement by all states that have not yet done so.[9]\nAlongside its individual statements, Ireland has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. In October 2018, Ireland led 50 states to endorse a joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[10] Ireland also led a joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[11] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[12] As a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Ireland has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians,[13] and as a member of the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[14] As a member of the Human Security Network, Ireland also signed onto the Network’s a joint statements to the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in 2013 [15] - where it voiced concern over use of explosive weapons in populated areas noting that “such weapons are indiscriminate within their zones of detonation and therefore pose unacceptable risks to civilians” and calling on relevant actors to refrain from such use – and in 2014, where it reiterated this call. [16]\nAs a member of the European Union (EU), Ireland has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [17] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[18], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[19] The EU, with Ireland signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nIreland is also one of nine states who joined Joint Commitment 123002 to the World Humanitarian Summit[19] which commits states to engage in raising international awareness about the challenge for the protection of civilians in armed conflict posed by the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; to support the collection of data on the direct civilian harm and the reverberating effects on civilians and civilian objects; and to contribute to the collection and exchange of information on good practices and lessons learned in minimizing impacts on civilians when using such weapons in populated areas.","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">Irish Department of Foreign Affairs (2021). ‘Protecting Civilians in Warfare’. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/our-role-policies/international-priorities/peace-and-security/ewipa-consultations/\">https://www.dfa.ie/our-role-policies/international-priorities/peace-and-security/ewipa-consultations.</a></li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7951. 25 May 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534</a></li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9366. 5 July 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1)</a></li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">See, for example, ‘UNGA71 First Committee General Debate Statement.’ Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 7 October 2016. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/statements/7Oct_Ireland.pdf\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/statements/7Oct_Ireland.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA72 First Committee General Debate Statement.’ Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 9 October 2017. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/9Oct_Ireland.pdf\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/9Oct_Ireland.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA73 First Committee General Debate Statement.’ Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 10 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/10Oct_Ireland.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/10Oct_Ireland.pdf</a>; ‘Meeting of High Contracting Parties of the CCW General Debate Statement’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations, 21 November 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2018/hcp-meeting/statements/21Nov_Ireland.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2018/hcp-meeting/statements/21Nov_Ireland.pdf</a>.</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">‘UNGA75 First Committee Statement’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations 7 October 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com21/statements/7Oct_Ireland.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com21/statements/7Oct_Ireland.pdf</a>.</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">Young, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>.</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a></li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a></li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a></li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042</a>. At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict on 23 May 2023, the Group noted the adoption of the Political Declaration: United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>; </li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">UN Security Council (2023). ‘Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Meeting Transcript’. <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>. </li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019</a></li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109</a></li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf</a>; </li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.</li>\n<li>Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"133","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"IL","countryName":"Israel"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":false,"content":"Israel has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. Early in the consultation process, Israel argued that calls on parties to armed conflict “to avoid the use of explosive weapons are counterproductive and unreasonable as far as law abiding states are concerned.” It also noted that law-abiding states are forced to conduct military operations in urban settings,[1] and suggested that the Political Declaration should focus on the protection of civilians in urban warfare (replacing references to explosive weapons in populated areas throughout the text with “urban warfare”).[2] Israel also said that International Humanitarian Law (IHL) is a sufficient framework to protect civilians in urban warfare and urged the declaration to acknowledge the “lawful” use of weapons, including explosive weapons, in populated areas.[3]\nAs consultations progressed, Israel expressed support for the addition of qualifiers throughout the text and reiterated its positions that the Declaration should only address “indiscriminate use” of explosive weapons.[4] It repeatedly objected to the phrase “reverberating effects”, suggesting “expected risks” as a replacement, and noted its position that the idea that international human rights law is applicable during armed conflict is “controversial”.[3] Israel also said that the draft did not properly reflect the reality of non-state armed groups that make use of human shields and other tactics.[5] At the final consultation in June 2022, Israel reiterated many of these remarks. It also added that states have different obligations under international law regarding assistance to victims affected by armed conflict, and that this issue is also subject to specific regulation in national laws and policies that diverge between states.[6]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">\n‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. Reaching Critical Will. 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-wepons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground.</a>\n</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration.</a>\n</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: #2c3236; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.</a>\n</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg.</a>\n</li>\n</ol>\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"6\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">\n‘Statement by Mrs. Michal Maayan, Minister-Counsellor’. Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations. 17 June 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/writtensubmissions-17june2022consultations/Israel.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/writtensubmissions-17june2022consultations/Israel.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"84","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"IT","countryName":"Italy"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Italy was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. Italy regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration[1], as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums.Early in the consultation process Italy highlighted the importance of developing and sharing military policies and good practices – in military doctrines, tactical instructions, rules of engagement, the testing and development of new weapons, education, and other measures—to enhance protection of civilians and compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL).[2] Italy also emphasised that International Humanitarian Law (IHL) provides a sufficient framework with which to address the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, but that the challenge lies in implementing IHL in the dynamics of current conflicts, particularly as this relates to the principles of distinction, necessity, proportionality, and precaution.[3] \nThese were repeated themes throughout Italy’s statements to the negotiations during which Italy also called for the inclusion of the destruction of “cultural heritage” within the declaration as one of the harms caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It also welcomed the inclusion of gender dimensions of harm, supported the strengthening of the victim assistance provision, and called for an open, transparent, and inclusive follow-up process for the Political Declaration.[4] During the signing ceremony of the declaration in Dublin in November 2022, Italy said that the implementation of the declaration should reflect a wider notion of protection of civilians, one that is not limited to direct and immediate effects from the use of explosive weapons, but that takes into consideration the damages in medium to long term that compromises life, education and development.[5] \n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nItaly has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. Italy condemned the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in a statement at the 2018 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW). In the statement, Italy expressed its concern at the grave humanitarian impacts of explosive weapons in populated areas. It also voiced its support for discussions on explosive weapons in populated areas within the auspices of the CCW and called for the continuation of these discussions to facilitate the sharing of military practices and measures to reduce the humanitarian impacts of explosive weapons in populated areas.[6] At the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, Italy welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the Political Declaration[7] and in 2023 welcomed its adoption.[8]\nAlongside its individual statements, Italy has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), Italy has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [9] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[10], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[11] The EU, with Italy signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nItaly also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.” [12]\nAs a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Italy has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians from the effects of explosive weapons in populated areas [13], and as a member of the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[14] In 2018 and 2019, Italy joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [15]. ","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Reaching Critical Will. ‘Statements – Political Declaration Process’. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/ewipa/political-declaration/statements\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/disarmament-fora/explosive weapons in populated areas/political-declaration/statements.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Reaching Critical Will (2019). ‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations (2019). ‘Written Submission’. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Italy-Written-Submission-18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Italy-Written-Submission-18-November-2019.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Ray Acheson, Reaching Critical Will (2021). ‘Report on the March 2021 Consultations on a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Irish Foreign Ministry (2022). ‘Watch Back -Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations (2018). ‘Statement to the 2018 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons’. <a href=\"https://italiarappginevra.esteri.it/rappginevra/resource/doc/2018/12/2018_statement_ita_ccw_hcp_emerging_issues.pdf\">https://italiarappginevra.esteri.it/rappginevra/resource/doc/2018/12/2018_statement_ita_ccw_hcp_emerging_issues.pdf</a>;</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Katherine Young (2022). ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.4’. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Italy (2023.) ‘First Committee of the 78 th UN General Assembly Cluster IV - Conventional Weapons’. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_Italy.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_Italy.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: #2c3236; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Italy’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/207.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/207.html.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: #2c3236; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042</a>;</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"134","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"JM","countryName":"Jamaica"}}},"region":"Caribbean","endorsed":false,"content":"Jamaica has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAlong with 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Jamaica participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018. The meeting produced the Santiago Communiqué, in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. This included: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; act to enhance compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects; fully support the process that will lead to the negotiation and adoption of an international political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas; encourage collection of data; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at the international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organisations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"39","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"JP","countryName":"Japan"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":true,"content":"Japan was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. During the consultations Japan expressed its concern with the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas and said the reverberating effects of use of explosive weapons in populated areas are detrimental from a humanitarian perspective.[1] Japan also repeatedly referenced the importance of International Humanitarian Law (IHL); arguing that what was needed is full implementation of existing IHL and the compliance of non-state actors.[2] Japan also argued that explosive weapons can be used in full compliance with international and national laws and regulations, and that care must be taken to avoid stigmatising explosive weapons, so long as they are used in compliance with international norms.[3]\nDuring the final consultation in June 2022, Japan reaffirmed the need for compliance with IHL in order to strengthen the protection of civilians in armed conflict. It said that the final draft was well balanced by pointing out that use of explosive weapons is not itself subject to prohibition, while confirming the obligation under IHL and stating the importance of compliance with such obligations.[4] At the signing ceremony of the Declaration in November 2022 in Dublin, Japan said that the Declaration will promote practical and realistic measures to protect civilians. Japan also said that together with other states, international organisations, and civil society, it will continue to contribute to international efforts to mitigate harm to civilians.[5]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nJapan has several times spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. In 2014, Japan condemned the use of explosive weapons in populated areas during the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, calling on the Security Council to address the use of explosive weapons in populated areas by seriously taking into account testimony from affected areas.[6] Japan delivered a similar statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, expressing its concern at the grave humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[7]\nAlongside its individual statements, Japan has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. In recent years, as a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Japan has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians [8]. At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians on 25 May 2022, the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (of which Japan is a member) stressed the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians, including from the humanitarian impacts that could arise when explosive weapons are used in populated areas. It also took note of the ongoing consultations led by Ireland.[9] The Group has also positively noted the adoption of the Political Declaration.[10] At the 2022 UN Security Council Open Debate on war in cities, the Group of Friends called on states to enhance the protection of civilians, including from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and took note of the ongoing consultations to develop a Political Declaration on this subject.[11] ","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>; Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Morning’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement of Yoshikawa Yuumi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Japan.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Japan.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6790. 25 June 2012. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6790(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6790(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" style=\"font-size: 12pt;\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"85","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"JO","countryName":"Jordan"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":true,"content":"Jordan has endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nJordan has on several occasions spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, both in its individual state capacity and in aligned group statements. At the February 2014 UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians Jordan condemned the use of EWIPA, noting that it demonstrates the failure of the international community to protect civilians. This, it said, must be tackled in an effective and resolute manner.[1] During the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, Jordan referenced explosive weapon use by Israeli armed forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.[2]\nJordan has also condemned the use of EWIPA as a member of the Human Security Network at both the August 2013 Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians[3] and the 2014 Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians.[4] In these statements, the Human Security Network called for all parties to an armed conflict to refrain from using explosive weapons with a wide impact area in populated areas, emphasising that these weapons are indiscriminate within their zones of detonation and therefore pose unacceptable risks to civilians.\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Afghanistan aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[5]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\"> Young, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"135","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"KZ","countryName":"Kazakhstan"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Kazakhstan has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nKazakhstan has delivered statements in multilateral forums on explosive weapons in populated areas both as an individual state and as an aligned group member. At the May 2017 UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict Kazakhstan noted that “about 75 per cent of all war victims are civilians, due to hostilities and the excessive use of explosives in urban areas” and emphasising the grave humanitarian impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[1]\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Kazakhstan aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[2] ","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7951. 25 May 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"40","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"KE","countryName":"Kenya"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":true,"content":"Kenya was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, Kenya endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas[1]. The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.","references":"<ol>\n<li>'Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"41","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"KI","countryName":"Kiribati"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":true,"content":"Kiribati was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. During the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, Kiribati encouraged other states to also endorse.[1]","references":"<ol>\n<li>Young, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.3’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 October 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No3.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No3.pdf</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"42","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"KW","countryName":"Kuwait"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":true,"content":"Kuwait was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the signing ceremony of the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022, Kuwait stressed the importance of the political action to help bring about peace in the world, and said that the declaration is an important contribution to international instruments to protect civilians. Kuwait called on states to implement the declaration and set up review mechanisms.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nKuwait has, as part of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, delivered statements on explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians. At the January 2022 open debate on war in cities the Group of Friends called on states to enhance the protection of civilians, including from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and took note of the ongoing consultations to develop a Political Declaration on this issue.[2] The Group made similar remarks at the UN Security Council open debate in protection of civilians in May 2022 [3], and in May 2023 the Group noted the Political Declaration.[4] In its individual statements, Kuwait referenced explosive weapon use by Israeli armed forces in the Occupied Palestinian Territories during the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023.[5]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li class=\"p6\">Young, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"136","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"KG","countryName":"Kyrgyzstan"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Kyrgyzstan has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"82","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"LA","countryName":"Laos"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":true,"content":"Laos was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. During the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, Lao PDR acknowledged the pattern of harm caused by explosive weapons in populated areas.[1]","references":"<ol>\n<li>Young, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"137","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"LV","countryName":"Latvia"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":false,"content":"Latvia has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\n As a member of the European Union (EU), Latvia has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [1] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[2], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[3] The EU, with Latvia signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nLatvia also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[4]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: #2c3236; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf.</a></li>\n</ol>\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"3\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Latvia’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/211.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/211.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"138","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"LB","countryName":"Lebanon"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":false,"content":"Lebanon has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Lebanon aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]\nLebanon also endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement on the use of EWIPA during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[2] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of EWIPA on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international political declaration on this issue.[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"44","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"LR","countryName":"Liberia"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":true,"content":"Liberia was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, Liberia endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas[1]. The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.","references":"<ol>\n<li>‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"139","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"LY","countryName":"Libya"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Libya has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration, though it was present at the second round of consultations in Geneva in 2020[1] and at the Vienna Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare in 2019 where it stressed the importance of an implementation mechanism to the measures adopted in the declaration.[2]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Libya aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[4]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Boillot, L. 2020. ‘More than 70 States Engage in Discussions on Political Declaration’. Article 36. 27 February 2020. <a href=\"https://article36.org/updates/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/\">https://article36.org/updates/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘States Commit to Take Political Action on Explosive Weapons at Vienna conference’. Reaching Critical Will, 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14061-states-commit-to-take-political-action-on-explosive-weapons-at-vienna-conference\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14061-states-commit-to-take-political-action-on-explosive-weapons-at-vienna-conference.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘States to Resume Negotiations on Political Declaration on Protecting Civilians from Shelling and Bombing in Towns and Cities’. INEW. March 2021. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/press-release-states-to-resume-negotiations-on-political-declaration-on-protecting-civilians-from-shelling-and-bombing-in-towns-and-cities/\">https://www.inew.org/press-release-states-to-resume-negotiations-on-political-declaration-on-protecting-civilians-from-shelling-and-bombing-in-towns-and-cities/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"45","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"LI","countryName":"Liechtenstein"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Liechtenstein was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nLiechtenstein has spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, primarily to express concern over the harms caused to civilians. Liechtenstein issued statements on explosive weapons in populated areas during UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in 2010[1], and in August 2013, Liechtenstein called on all parties in conflict to strictly respect the principles of distinction and proportionality and avoid the use of explosive force in densely populated areas.[2] At the UN General Assembly First Committee General Debate in October 2016, Liechtenstein expressed concern over explosive weapons in populated areas and support for the UN Secretary General’s “call upon parties to conflicts to refrain from using these weapons and to elaborate a political commitment to this effect”.[3]\nAlongside its individual statements, Lichtensteinhas repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), Liechtenstein has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [4] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee,[5] as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[6] The EU, with Liechtenstein signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nLiechtenstein also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[7] It also aligned with the Commitment 123002 at the World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016, reinforcing the commitment to data collection on the impacts of explosive weapons in populated areas, to exchange of best practices, and to explore effective measures to ensure respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL), including a Political Declaration on the issue.[8]\nAs a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Liechtenstein has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians [9]. In 2018 and 2019, Liechtenstein joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[10]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians During Armed Conflict Statement’. Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein to the United Nations. 22 November 2010. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/lie_poc_nov2010_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/lie_poc_nov2010_0.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UN Security Council’s Protection of Civilians’ Debate Raises Concerns over Explosive Weapons’. INEW. August 2013. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/un-security-councils-protection-of-civilians-debate-raises-concerns-over-explosive-weapons/\">https://www.inew.org/un-security-councils-protection-of-civilians-debate-raises-concerns-over-explosive-weapons/</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n ‘UNGA71 First Committee General Debate. Statement’. Permanent Mission of Liechtenstein to the United Nations. 6 October 2016. <a href=\"https://www.un.org/disarmament/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/6-Oct-Liechtenstein.pdf\">https://www.un.org/disarmament/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/6-Oct-Liechtenstein.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Liechtenstein’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/212.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/212.html</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li class=\"p7\">UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"140","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"LT","countryName":"Lithuania"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":false,"content":"Lithuania has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration where it argued that in the declaration as a whole, and especially in Section 3, there must exist a clear distinction between discriminate and indiscriminate uses of explosive weapons in populated areas, because in its view “not all explosive weapons use” harms civilians.[1] Lithuania also supported the use of qualifiers throughout the text indicating that harm “can” potentially arise from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas—not that it does. Finally, Lithuania argued that the Declaration must make clear that International Humanitarian Law (IHL) applies equally to all parties in armed conflicts, including non-state armed groups, which it says pose the greatest challenge to IHL implementation.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the European Union (EU), Lithuania has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [2] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[3], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[4] The EU, with Lithuania signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nLithuania also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[5]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: #2c3236; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf.</a></li>\n</ol>\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"4\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Lithuania’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/2136.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/2136.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"46","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"LU","countryName":"Luxembourg"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Luxembourg was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. \nLuxembourg made a written submission to the March 2021 consultation suggesting revisions to the draft Political Declaration including: the inclusion of “education” along with healthcare as essential services; the replacement of the term “urban warfare” with “armed conflict in populated areas” in Sections 1 and 4,; the replacement of the word “restricting” to “minimising” the use of explosive weapons on section 3; and that meetings to review the implementation of the Declaration should be organised regularly on a voluntary and informal basis with civil society organisations, instead of “on a regular basis” as suggested in the original draft.[1] During the fourth consultation in April 2022, Luxembourg praised the commitment to collect and share information. It also reiterated that the Declaration is not an end in itself, but a step aimed at protecting civilians better in armed conflicts under all circumstances.[2] Luxembourg reiterated this at the signing ceremony in Dublin in November 2022, when it also commended the work of the UN, ICRC and civil society in the process of the Political Declaration.[3]\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nLuxembourg has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. In 2013, at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, Luxembourg condemned the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas[4] and in 2016, it highlighted the impact of those weapons on schools and hospitals.[5] At the January 2022 UN Security Council open debate on war in cities, Luxembourg welcomed the development of the political Declaration and said it would support a Declaration in which states commit to refraining from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[6]\nAlongside its individual statements, Luxembourg has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), Luxembourg has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict[7] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[8], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[9] The EU, with Luxembourg signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nLuxembourg also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.” [10] Luxembourg also aligned with the Commitment 123002 at the World Humanitarian Summit in May 2016, reinforcing the commitment to data collection on the impacts of explosive weapons in populated areas, to exchange of best practices, and to explore effective measures to ensure respect for international humanitarian law (IHL), including a Political Declaration on the issue.[11]\nAs a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Luxembourg has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians.[12] Luxembourg also endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly’s First Committee in 2019.[13] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[14]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Draft Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences that Can Arise from the Use of Explosive Weapons with Wide Area Effects in Populated Areas’.Permanent Mission of Luxembourg to the United Nations. 29 January 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Luxembourg-March2021.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Luxembourg-March2021.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 3’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWCKiv5gpPI\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWCKiv5gpPI</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Explosive Weapons Raised as Key Issue in Security Council Debate on Protection of Civilians’. INEW. February 2013. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/explosive-weapons-raised-as-key-issue-in-security-council-debate-on-protection-of-civilians/\">https://www.inew.org/explosive-weapons-raised-as-key-issue-in-security-council-debate-on-protection-of-civilians/</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Recognition of Harm from Explosive Weapons at the UN over Summer 2016’. INEW. 2016. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/un-ewipa-refs-summer-2016/\">https://www.inew.org/un-ewipa-refs-summer-2016/</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Luxembourg’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/123.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/123.html</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"47","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MG","countryName":"Madagascar"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":true,"content":"Madagascar was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the signing ceremony, Madagascar expressed support for the Declaration, highlighting the humanitarian effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and saying that each state has an obligation to develop policies and practices consistent with existing law on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, Madagascar endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.[2] The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support. In its statement during the General Debate of the 73rd UN General Assembly First Committee in 2018, Madagascar recalled the content of the Maputo Communiqué and expressed its concerns regarding the humanitarian impacts of explosive weapons in populated areas, particularly on civilians.[3]\nMadagascar aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016. This included the commitment: “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[4] In 2018 and 2019, Madagascar joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[5]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Conférence de haut niveau pour adopter la Déclaration politique sur le renforcement de la protection des civils des conséquences humanitaires découlant de l’utilisation d’armes explosives dans les zones peuplées.’ Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Madagascar_French.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Madagascar_French.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee General Debate Statement’. Permanent Mission of Madagascar to the United Nations. 29 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/29Oct_Madagascar.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/29Oct_Madagascar.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Madagascar’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/212.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/212.html</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"48","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MW","countryName":"Malawi"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":true,"content":"Malawi was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the Dublin Conference in November 2022, Malawi expressed concern over the impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on women and children and said that states need to make commitments to adopt and implement policies and practices by restricting and refraining from use of explosive weapons in populated areas in populated areas.[1]\n ","references":"<ol>\n<li>Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"49","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MY","countryName":"Malaysia"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":true,"content":"Malaysia was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. Early in the consultations, Malaysia affirmed the need for the declaration to address the nature of the physical and psychological harm towards human beings, but also the harm on civilian infrastructure, on the environment, and longer-term effects.[1] It also stressed the need to reinforce and reaffirm International Humanitarian Law (IHL), as well as to collect better data in order to develop further studies about the impacts of urban warfare. Malaysia argued that the declaration should include non-discriminatory assistance to victims. The country also said that the declaration should not “stigmatise” certain types of weapons and gave support for a follow up mechanism.[2] It also underlined the need for the document to reflect the reverberating effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[3]\nAs consultations progressed, Malaysia supported the inclusion of provisions regarding long-term environmental challenges and public health risks caused by explosive weapons.[4] It also agreed that provisions on victim’s assistance should be strengthened, by better defining its scope and taking into account families and others affected. In a written submission as a response to the proposed draft[5], Malaysia added the destruction of agricultural areas and grazing land as actions that aggravate civilian suffering (in addition to the destruction of schools and housing, which were already included in the original draft). \n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nMalaysia has several times spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, including the UN Security Council. At the February and August 2013 Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict Malaysia expressed concern over the high number of civilian casualties from explosive weapons in populated areas[6] and called on parties to conflict to “restrict themselves from employing heavy weapons and explosive munitions that have been known to inflict untold misery, deaths and injuries to civilians”.[7] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict in June 2015, Malaysia recalled that in various countries across the world “children are losing their lives as the result of air strikes and the use of explosive weapons in densely populated settings.”[8] At the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, Malaysia welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the Political Declaration.[9] Similarly, at the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, Malaysia welcomed the Political Declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption.[10]\nAlongside its individual statements, Malaysia has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. In 2018 and 2019, Malaysia joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[11]\nIn addition, as a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Malaysia aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity.’ This included the commitment: “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[12]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.4’. Reaching Critical Will. 22 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf</a>; ‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. Reaching Critical Will. 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-wepons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement - Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations’. Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations. 18 November 2019. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Malaysia-Written-Submission--18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Malaysia-Written-Submission–18-November-2019.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Written Submission - Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations’. Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations. 10 February 2020. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Malaysia-Written-Submission---10-February-2020.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Malaysia-Written-Submission—10-February-2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6917. 12 February 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘States Acknowledge Impact of Explosive Weapons at UN Debate, Austria to Host Meeting’. INEW. June 2015. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/caac-2015/\">https://www.inew.org/caac-2015/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Inputs to the Draft Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from Humanitarian Harm Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Malaysia to the United Nations. 17 March 2020. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Malaysia-Written-Submission---17-March-2020.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Malaysia-Written-Submission—17-March-2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Malaysia’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/212.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/212.html</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"86","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MV","countryName":"Maldives"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":true,"content":"The Maldives did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration but was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, The Maldives aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]","references":null}},{"id":"141","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"ML","countryName":"Mali"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Mali has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration, though expressed its support for the process where it advocated for the respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) by allowing for safe evacuation of civilians and necessary precautions to avoid or minimise damage to infrastructure. Mali also stressed the need for states to prevent explosive weapons from reaching non-state actors’ hands and to prevent them from using these weapons, especially in populated areas. [1] \n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, Mali endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[2]\nMali is a member of the Human Security Network, which issued a statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, expressing its concerns with the use of such weapons, stressing that they can pose unacceptable risk to civilians and that more systematic data collection is necessary.[3] The Network also made a statement during the February 2014 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, when it called on all parties to conflict to refrain from using explosive weapons with a wide impact area in populated areas.[4]\nMali is also a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity” in May 2016, including the commitment to “refrain from using explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas owing to their likelihood of causing immediate effects; [collecting] and [sharing] good practices on minimizing impacts on civilians when using explosive weapons in populated areas; [and identifying] targets and indicators to monitor progress in reducing the humanitarian impacts of explosive weapons in populated areas.”[5]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Agenda for Humanity: Annex to the Report of the Secretary-General for the World Humanitarian Summit’. 2 February 2016. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/sites/default/files/AgendaforHumanity.pdf\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/sites/default/files/AgendaforHumanity.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"50","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MT","countryName":"Malta"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Malta was involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. In the early stages of consultation, it was among several states who opposed the use of qualifiers, defending the use of the expression “arising from” instead of “can arise”, and welcomed the draft Declaration’s acknowledgement of reverberating effects.[1] At the fourth consultation in April 2022, Malta welcomed the inclusion of schools and educational facilities in Section 3, and underlined the importance of regular training of military personnel and the adoption of national policies and practices intended to protect civilians.[2]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nMalta has on several occasions spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. At the UN Security Council open debate on war in cities: on 25 January 2022, Malta welcomed the development of the Political Declaration and called on parties to conflict to avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[3] Later that year, at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians on 25 May 2022, Malta encouraged states to pursue synergies between the Call for Humanitarian Action, the Safe Schools Declaration and the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas.[4]\nAlongside its individual statements, Malta has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), Malta has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict [5] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[6], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[7] The EU, with Malta signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nMalta aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitment to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in its national capacity and as an EU member state. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[8]\nIn 2018 and 2019, Malta joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[9]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives, ‘Malta’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/127.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/127.html</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"142","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MH","countryName":"Marshall Islands"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":false,"content":"The Marshall Islands has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration, though it was present at the second round of consultations. ","references":null}},{"id":"143","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MR","countryName":"Mauritania"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Mauritania has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Mauritania aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"144","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MU","countryName":"Mauritius"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Mauritius has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nMauritius endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly’s First Committee in 2019.[1] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[2]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"51","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MX","countryName":"Mexico"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":true,"content":"Mexico was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. Mexico regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration, as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums.\nEarly in the consultation process, Mexico delivered a joint statement with seven other Latin American and Caribbean states. In this statement, states delineated key elements of a Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas including: acknowledgement of the likely humanitarian consequences of the use of explosive weapons of wide area effects in populated areas; a commitment to avoid use of such weapons in populated areas and to develop military operational policies and procedures in this regard and identify, develop and exchange best practices; promote greater compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law; commit states to enable secure and sustainable humanitarian access; recognize the rights of victims and affected communities; encourage collection of disaggregated data; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organizations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[1] Mexico also noted that avoiding the use of explosive weapons in populated areas would contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16, and supported the suggestion by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for the declaration to contain an unequivocal commitment by states to avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated areas as matter of policy and good practice and to operationalise their commitment through mitigation measures. \nMexico also delivered several joint statements with Chile throughout the consultation process in which it reaffirmed many of these positions[2] and called for the Political Declaration to include clear delineations of existing obligations under International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in order to promote adherence to them regarding explosive weapons in populated areas use.[3] It asserted that the Political Declaration should strengthen compliance with IHL through the creation of new policy commitments.[4] These joint statements also emphasised the importance of clarity regarding the harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, opposing the suggestions of other states to include qualifiers[5], and spoke in favour of inclusive international cooperation and called for a transparent implementation and follow-up process to monitor progress on the commitments within the Political Declaration.[6] At the fourth round of consultations, Mexico and Chile’s joint comments on the draft welcomed the removal of the caveated language throughout the text, as well as the clear acknowledgement of the multifaceted nature of the effects caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on the civilian population. They also welcomed a proposal to include an additional paragraph that clarifies the application of international human rights law during armed conflict.\nAt the final consultation in June 2022, Chile and Mexico welcomed the final version of the draft, and said that although paragraph 3.3 does not reflect the language that they would have preferred (a commitment to “avoid” the use of explosive weapons in populated areas), it does establish a concrete political commitment that goes beyond the mere implementation of IHL. They said that the paragraph should be implemented as a clear-cut commitment to avoid the use of explosive weapons of wide area effects in populated areas.[7]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nMexico has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. Mexico called for ending the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in light of its indiscriminate effects at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in November 2010,[8]June 2012,[9] and January 2015,[10] as well as in 2019.[11] During the UN Security Council Debate on the Protection of Civilians held in 2021, Mexico condemned attacks on medical facilities and personnel and noted the civilian harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. At the UN Security Council Open Debate War in Cities: Protection of Civilians in Urban Settings on 25 January 2022, Mexico noted that although the use of explosive weapons in populated areas isn’t expressly prohibited under international humanitarian law (IHL), because of the density of populations in urban areas it is virtually impossible for these weapons to be used without a high risk of violating the principles of discrimination and proportionality.[12] It also Mexico said the Political Declaration should recognise that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas has unacceptable humanitarian consequences and acknowledge the impact such use has on the physical and mental health of people.[13] During the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict on 23 May 2023, Mexico welcomed the Political Declaration and urged states to sign it.[14] Similarly, at the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, Mexico welcomed the Political Declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption.[15] \nMexico held the <a href=\"http://www.un.org/dpi/ngosection/conference/\">62nd Annual DPI/NGO Conference</a>, in 2009, where the outcome document, amongst many other things, endorsed a ban on the use of explosive force in populated areas.[16] Mexico has also drawn attention to the humanitarian consequences of the use explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee Debate on Conventional Weapons in 2015.[17]\nMexico has also repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. Alongside 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Ecuador participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, resulting in the Santiago Communiqué[18] in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. In 2018 and 2019, Mexico joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [19]. At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in May 2023, the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, of which Mexico is a member, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[20]\nIt is also aligned with World Humanitarian Summit <a href=\"http://www.agendaforhumanity.org/core-commitments\">Core Commitments</a> to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity.” This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[21] Mexico also aligned with Commitment 123002 to “support the collection of data on the direct civilian harm and the reverberating effects on civilians and civilian objects resulting from the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas, and to contribute to the collection and exchange of information on good practices and lessons learned in minimizing impacts on civilians when using such weapons in populated areas. It further pledges to continue to look for effective measures to strengthen the respect for international humanitarian law in this regard, among them an international Political Declaration on the issue.”[22]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Latin American and Caribbean states: Joint Statement to the First Informal Consultations’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Joint-Statement-of-LATAM-and-Caribbean-States-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/explosive weapons in populatedareas/Joint-Statement-of-LATAM-and-Caribbean-States-Written-Submission—18-November-2019.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Permanent Missions of Chile and Mexico to the United Nations: Working Paper on EWIPA–Key Elements for a Political Declaration’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 10 February 2020. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Chile-and-Mexico-Written-Paper-Submission---10-February-2020.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Chile-and-Mexico-Written-Paper-Submission—10-February-2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Permanent Missions of Chile and Mexico to the United Nations: Comments on the Draft Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians From Humanitarian Harm Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 17 March 2020. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Chile-Mexico-Written-Submission---17-March-2020-.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Chile-Mexico-Written-Submission—17-March-2020-.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Towards a Political Declaration to Address the Humanitarian Harm Arising from the Use of EWIPA–Virtual Informal Consultation Process: Written Comments by Chile and Mexico’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 3-5 March 2021. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions3-5march/Mx-Chile-Written-comments-on-EWIPA-v.-submission.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions3-5march/Mx-Chile-Written-comments-on-EWIPA-v.-submission.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>; ‘Consultation Process 6-8 April 2022: Comments by Chile and Mexico’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 6-8 April 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/258825/1f9dc2be-a288-4513-affe-a9b58d696e1a.pdf#page=null\">https://www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/258825/1f9dc2be-a288-4513-affe-a9b58d696e1a.pdf#page=null.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Morning’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement to the November 2010 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations. 22 November 2020. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/mex_poc_nov2010_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/mex_poc_nov2010_0.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Security Council Debate highlights Harm From Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/security-council-debate-highlights-harm-from-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/security-council-debate-highlights-harm-from-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘”Indiscriminate Harm”: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas Raised at UN Protection Debate, Expert Meeting Announced.’ INEW. January 2015. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/poc-jan-2015/\">https://www.inew.org/poc-jan-2015/</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nMoyes, R. 2009. ‘NGO Conference Endorses Ban on Explosive Force in Populated Areas’. Article 36. 25 September 2009. <a href=\"https://article36.org/updates/ngo-conference-endorses-ban-on-explosive-force-in-populated-areas\">https://article36.org/updates/ngo-conference-endorses-ban-on-explosive-force-in-populated-areas</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA70 First Committee Conventional Weapons Debate Statement’. Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations. 26 October 2015. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com15/statements/26October_Mexico.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com15/statements/26October_Mexico.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity, ‘Mexico’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/127.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/127.html</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity, ‘Austria’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/123.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/123.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"145","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"FM","countryName":"Micronesia"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":false,"content":"Micronesia has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"52","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MC","countryName":"Monaco"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Monaco was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, though it attended the 2020 consultation in Geneva.[1] It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and priorities</h2>\nIn 2018 and 2019, Monaco joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[2]\nMonaco also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[3]\nMonaco has also with several statements delivered by the European Union (EU) on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas, most recently during the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, in which the EU welcomed the Political Declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption. The EU also highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments, including at the 2024 Oslo Conference.[4]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘More than 70 States Engage in Discussions on Political Declaration’. INEW. 10 February 2020. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/\">https://www.inew.org/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Monaco’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/338.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/338.html</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 23 October 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"146","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MN","countryName":"Mongolia"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Mongolia has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. It participated in the Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare in October 2019 held in Vienna, but did not issue any statement.[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘Vienna Conference Marks Turning Point as States Support Negotiation of an International Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons’. INEW. 2019. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/\">https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"87","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"ME","countryName":"Montenegro"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Montenegro has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was present at but did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nMontenegro has spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums: during the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in 2013 it called on the parties to conflicts to “honour their obligations in refraining from the use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas”[1] and at the 2016 open debate, continued to express its concern at the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[2]\nAlongside its individual statements, Montenegro has aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. Montenegro aligned with several statements delivered by the European Union (EU) on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas, most recently UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, in which the EU welcomed the Political Declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption as well as the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments.[3] In 2018 and 2019, Montenegro joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [4]. ","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Permanent Mission of Montenegro to the United Nations (2013). ‘UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Statement’. <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917(Resumption1).</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Permanent Mission of Montenegro to the United Nations (2016). ‘UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Statement’. <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7711\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7711.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">European Union (2023) . ‘Statement on Conventional Weapons’. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf</a>. </li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"53","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MA","countryName":"Morocco"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":true,"content":"Morocco was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the signing ceremony in Dublin in November 2022, Morocco recognised the harm caused by explosive weapons in populated areas, particularly to women and children, and expressed concern about the lack of accountability by non-state actors. Morocco also underlined the danger caused by the inaccuracy of the weapons, and said its armed forces are trained in compliance with IHL.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nDuring the June 2012 UN Security Council Open Debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict Morocco noted that “[t]he use of artillery against urban zones, and the shelling of buildings and social edifices such as hospitals, schools and places of worship, are not only contrary to international humanitarian and human rights law but are, above all, unjustified and unjustifiable. It is our collective duty to put an end to it.”[2] In 2018, Morocco issued a statement regarding the use of explosive weapons in populated areas during the Annual Meeting of High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, recognising the humanitarian harm from explosive weapons in populated areas, and noting the process for a Political Declaration on the topic.[3] \nAlongside its individual statements, Morocco has also aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. Though Morocco did not participate in the 2017 Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, it nevertheless expressed its support for the resulting Matupo Communiqué.[4] Morocco is also a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which is aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity”, in May 2016, including the commitment: “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[5]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Security Council Debate Highlights Harm from Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/security-council-debate-highlights-harm-from-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/security-council-debate-highlights-harm-from-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons Annual Meeting of High Contracting Parties Statement’. Permanent Mission of Morocco to the United Nations. 21 November 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2018/hcp-meeting/statements/21Nov_Morocco.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2018/hcp-meeting/statements/21Nov_Morocco.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Vienna Conference Marks Turning Point as States Support Negotiation of an International Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons’. INEW. October 2019. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/\">https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/</a>. For the Maputo Communiqé, see: ‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). ‘Agenda for Humanity’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"147","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MZ","countryName":"Mozambique"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Mozambique has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did, however, actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration, and has raised concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. \nAt the beginning of the consultations process, Mozambique said that the Declaration should commit states to avoid using explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas and supported a call for the adoption and review of policies and practices—including in military doctrines, tactical instructions, rules of engagement, the testing and development of new weapons, education, and other measures—to enhance protection of civilians and compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL). It called for investigating allegations of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in violation of IHL, and, where appropriate, for the due prosecution of perpetrators, and also supported the establishment of a follow-up mechanism. Mozambique also emphasised the importance of collecting data disaggregated by gender, disability, and age and said the declaration should recognise the rights of victims and affected communities as well as provide appropriate victim assistance to those affected in line with the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities.[1] \nAs the consultations progressed, Mozambique echoed many of these points. It added that the Political Declaration could reflect the impacts of explosive weapons in populated areas on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 16, and suggested this should be referenced in the preamble along with other relevant materials and initiatives including the commitments of the World Humanitarian Summit and the Safe Schools Declaration.[2]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nMozambique has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. In 2017, Mozambique endorsed the communiqué arising from the (Mozambique-hosted) Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[3]\nIn 2018 and 2019, Mozambique joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [4]. \nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Mozambique aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity” in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[5] Mozambique aligned with the Joint Commitment <a href=\"http://www.agendaforhumanity.org/commitment/495\">123002</a> to the World Humanitarian Summit led by Austria, in May 2016, pledging to continue to raising awareness about the challenges for the protection of civilians by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and to develop a Political Declaration on the issue.[6]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Reaching Critical Will (2019). ‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>; ‘Statement at Geneva Consultations on Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare Geneva’. Permanent Mission of Mozambique to the United Nations. 10 February 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/10Feb_Mozambique.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/explosive weapons in populated areas/declaration/statements/10Feb_Mozambique.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). ‘Agenda for Humanity’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/233.html.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/123.html#495\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/123.html#495</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"148","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MM","countryName":"Myanmar"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Myanmar has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"149","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"NA","countryName":"Namibia"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Namibia has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration, where it called for an outright commitment to stop the use of EWIPA. Namibia also argued that provisions on victim assistance should be strengthened, by better defining victim assistance, what assistance is needed, and taking into account families and others affected. [1]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nNamibia endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[2] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of EWIPA on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international political declaration on this issue.[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>; ‘More than 70 States Engage in Discussions on Political Declaration’. INEW. February 2020. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/\">https://www.inew.org/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/</a>;</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"150","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"NR","countryName":"Nauru"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":false,"content":"Nauru has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"151","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"NP","countryName":"Nepal"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Nepal has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"54","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"NL","countryName":"Netherlands"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"The Netherlands was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. The Netherlands regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration[1], as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums.\nEarly in the consultation process, the Netherlands emphasised that the Declaration should recognise that existing International Humanitarian Law (IHL) provides a sufficient framework to address the problem of explosive weapons in populated areas and should not ignore the threat posed by non-state and state actors who knowingly violate IHL. It also expressed support for better data collection as well as the sharing of information and good practices. The Netherlands also stressed the need for the Declaration to encourage states that have not yet done so to develop operational policies and procedures that will minimise the civilian harm in operations, and to contribute to enhancing transparency on the underlying causes of the civilian harm caused by operations in urban areas by supporting efforts on data collection.[2]\nThese themes were repeated throughout the Netherlands’ statements to the consultations. At the second round of consultations in Geneva in February 2020, the Netherlands reiterated the call for a stronger focus on non-state actors and said that the Political Declaration must not weaken IHL by being selective in references or abbreviating or restating it.[3] Regarding data collection, it agreed the Declaration should encourage states to take “all practical measures” so as not to impose unreasonable or unrealistic burdens. It also supported the suggestion that, rather than trying to provide an exhaustive list of ways to disaggregate data, it would support a broader reference “disaggregating where appropriate”.[4] As consultations progressed, the Netherlands reiterated its belief that “existing International Humanitarian Law (IHL) provides the necessary framework to protect civilians during warfare in all contexts” and therefore “the Political Declaration should first and foremost address the implementation-deficit of existing IHL”.[5] It also reiterated its belief that lack of compliance with IHL is the primary cause of civilian casualties and harm to civilian infrastructure [6] and expressed strong support for the inclusion of reverberating effects in the Political Declaration, saying it should properly recognise the differing impacts of explosive weapons.[7]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nThe Netherlands has on several occasions spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, including at meetings of the UN General Assembly First Committee. Here, the Netherlands emphasised the need for concrete and practical measures to limit casualties and damage from explosive weapons in populated areas, stressing that much will depend on the exact circumstances and context in which weapons are used.[8] During the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, the Netherlands welcomed the conclusion of the Political Declaration and announced its intention to sign it.[9]\nAlongside its individual statements, the Netherlands has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), The Netherlands has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [10] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[11], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on war in cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[12] The EU, with the Netherlands signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nThe Netherlands also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[13]\nThe Netherlands endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement on explosive weapons in populated areas during the 74th UN General Assembly First Committee in October 2019.[14] The statement, delivered by Ireland, encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[15] As a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, the Netherlands has also supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians from the effects of explosive weapons in populated areas [16] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict on 23 May 2023 the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, of which Netherlands is also a member, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[17]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement at Geneva Consultation on Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare Geneva’. Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the United Nations. 18 November 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_Netherlands.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_Netherlands.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Comments on the Draft Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from Humanitarian Harm Arising From the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the United Nations. March 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Netherlands-March2020.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Netherlands-March2020.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Introductory remarks’. Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the United Nations. 6-9 April 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/Netherlands.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/Netherlands.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUNGA69 First Committee General Debate Statement’. Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the United Nations. 10 October 2014. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com14/statements/10Oct_Netherlands.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com14/statements/10Oct_Netherlands.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA70 First Committee General Debate Statement’. Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the United Nations. 26 October 2015. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com15/statements/26October_Netherlands.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com15/statements/26October_Netherlands.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA71 UN First Committee General Debate Statement’. Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the United Nations. 20 October 2016. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/statements/20Oct_Netherlands.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/statements/20Oct_Netherlands.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA72 General Assembly First Committee General Debate Statement’. Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_Netherlands.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_Netherlands.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Netherlands’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/223.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/223.html</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement to the Review Conference of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the Netherlands to the United Nations. 12 December 2016. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2016/RevCon/statements/12Dec_Netherlands.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2016/RevCon/statements/12Dec_Netherlands.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li class=\"p7\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a></li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"55","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"NZ","countryName":"New Zealand"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":true,"content":"New Zealand was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the endorsing conference in Dublin, New Zealand called on all states to endorse the Declaration as a meaningful contribution towards reducing civilian harm as a result of urban conflict. It also reiterated its commitment in promoting the Declaration in the Indo-Pacific region with a view to achieving its universalisation and full implementation.[1]\nNew Zealand regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration[2], as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums. Early in the consultation process New Zealand highlighted four key points which it considered to be central to an effective Political Declaration: a focus on addressing the high likelihood of harm to civilians and civilian objects when explosive weapons with wide area effects are used in populated areas and an acknowledgment that this harm includes the indirect or reverberating effects; a focus on compliance with existing obligations under International Humanitarian Law (IHL); add value from a policy perspective, in particular through practical guidance on how to respond to the challenges of protecting civilians and civilian objects during conflict in urban areas; and the Political Declaration should not be an end in itself but rather a launching pad for further engagement and action to address the harm caused by explosive weapons.[3]\nThese points were often reflected in New Zealand’s statements to the consultations as they progressed. In the second round of consultations, New Zealand said that the Political Declaration should be as clear as possible about what it is adding to ensure IHL can be better implemented with respect to the use of EWIPA, and supported the inclusion of an implementation process for the Declaration.[4] In later consultations it opposed the use of the word “refrain”, considering it insufficient when the use of weapons that are inherently indiscriminate is prohibited outright under IHL. New Zealand also encouraged the inclusion of detail and specificity on what could be considered unclear terms such as “indirect” and “reverberating” as well as regarding obligations such as military cooperation and sharing of good practices.[5] Alongside numerous other states it opposed the use of qualifiers such as “can cause harm” in the text, and supported an expanded list of direct effects of explosive weapons in populated areas including the destruction of hospitals.[6] New Zealand also expressed support for a follow-up mechanism, and spoke on the importance of any and all follow-up processes retaining inclusivity toward and participation of civil society organizations.[7]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nNew Zealand has on several occasions spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, primarily to stress the grave destruction caused by use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including destruction of civilian infrastructure, and the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of such use including displacement. New Zealand issued statements on explosive weapons in populated areas at UN Security Council Open Debates on the Protection of Civilians in February 2013,[8] May 2017,[9] and in May 2019[10]. It also referred to the explosive weapons in populated areas at UN General Assembly First Committee in 2015,[11] urging to explore ways to minimise harm from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. New Zealand also issued a statement at the UN General Assembly First Committee Debate on Conventional Weapons in October 2016, welcoming the process for a Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas.[12] In 2017, New Zealand stressed the “downstream consequences” of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee.[13] New Zealand reiterated its views at the 2018 UN General Assembly First Committee.[14] and in 2023 repeated its call for states to join the Political Declaration, including states from the Indo-Pacific region.[15]\nAlongside its individual statements, New Zealand has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. In 2018 and 2019, it joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [16].\nNew Zealand also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit <a href=\"http://www.agendaforhumanity.org/core-commitments\">Core Commitments</a> to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including: “Commit to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[17] It supported the statement by Austria to the World Humanitarian Summit in which Austria pledged to continue to engage in raising international awareness about the challenge for the protection of civilians in armed conflict posed by the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas and committed to support the collection of data on civilian harm.[18] ","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement by H.E. Lucy Duncan Ambassador for Disarmament’. New Zealand. 18 November 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/New-Zealand.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/New-Zealand.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement to the EWIPA Open Consultations on Political Declaration’. Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations. 18 November 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_NZ.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_NZ.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nConsultations on EWIPA Elements Paper, Interventions by New Zealand’. Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations. 10 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/10Feb_NZ.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/10Feb_NZ.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Submission on the Draft Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from Humanitarian Harm arising from the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations. March 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/NewZealand-March2020.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/NewZealand-March2020.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid. See also: ‘Statement by Nicholas Clutterbuck Deputy Permanent Representative to the Conference on Disarmament.’ New Zealand. April 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/April2022_NewZealand-Section4.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/April2022_NewZealand-Section4.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6917. 12 February 2013. Available from:<a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7951. 25 May 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA70 First Committee Statement’. Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations. 26 October 2015. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com15/statements/26October_NZ.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com15/statements/26October_NZ.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA71 First Committee Statement’. Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations. 21 October 2016. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/statements/21Oct_NZ.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/statements/21Oct_NZ.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA72 First Committee Statement’. Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations. 20 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/20Oct_NZ.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/20Oct_NZ.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 UN General Assembly First Committee Statement’. Permanent Mission of New Zealand to the United Nations. 29 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/29Oct_NewZealand.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/29Oct_NewZealand.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘New Zealand Statement delivered by Permanent Representative, H.E. Ms. Carolyn Schwalger’. New Zealand Permanent Mission to the United Nations. 30 October 2023. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/3Oct_AotearoaNewZealand.pdf\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/3Oct_AotearoaNewZealand.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘New Zealand’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/224.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/224.html</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/123.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/123.html</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"152","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"NI","countryName":"Nicaragua"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":false,"content":"Nicaragua has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration, though expressed its support for the process. ","references":null}},{"id":"153","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"NE","countryName":"Niger"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Niger has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nNiger has aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. At the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in May 2021, the A3+1 (of which Niger is a member, alongside Kenya, Tunisia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), condemned the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, highlighting the grave impacts for civilians.[1] They also specifically expressed alarm at the bombings in Gaza and hostilities in the other occupied Palestinian territories, and called for full implementation of the ceasefire and provision of humanitarian assistance to Palestinians. At the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in May 2023, the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, of which Niger is a member, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[2]\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Niger aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2021. ‘Protecting Civilians by Preventing Conflict’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 June 2021. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15343-protecting-civilians-by-preventing-conflict\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15343-protecting-civilians-by-preventing-conflict. </a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1). </a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"154","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"NG","countryName":"Nigeria"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Nigeria has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It participated in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration where it renewed its commitment to pursue the actualization of the Maputo Communiqué and reiterated its support for cooperation and partnerships with international organisations and civil society to draw upon their expertise and support in the area of victim assistance and rehabilitation. It also repeated its support for the promotion of bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing of experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons in populated areas, and said it remained open to engage constructively in the process of the Political Declaration.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, Nigeria endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.[2] The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.\nNigeria is a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity” in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[3]\nNigeria also endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[4] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[5]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 3’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWCKiv5gpPI\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWCKiv5gpPI.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/233.html.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"88","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MK","countryName":"North Macedonia"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"The Republic of North Macedonia has endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nNorth Macedonia has aligned with several statements delivered by the European Union (EU) on the issue of EWIPA, most recently during the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, in which the EU welcomed the political declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption. The EU also highlighted the work ahead for implementing the declaration’s commitments, including at the 2024 Oslo Conference.[1]\nIn 2018 and 2019, Germany joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[2]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Statement on Conventional Weapons’. The European Union. 23 October 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf</a>. </li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"56","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"NO","countryName":"Norway"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Norway was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the endorsement conference, Norway said that the Political Declaration represents both the acknowledgement of humanitarian suffering caused by explosive weapons in populated areas, and the commitment to take action to mitigate its consequences. It expressed support for the implementation phase and said it looks forward to confirming Norway’s firm ambition to stay the course.[1] \nNorway regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration, as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums. Early in the process, it outlined its belief that the objective of the Declaration should be to strengthen International Humanitarian Law (IHL), adding that the Declaration should include encouragement of cooperation among states and/or with civil society to build a community of practice.[2] Norway also emphasised that the Declaration must not weaken IHL by being selective in references or abbreviating or restating it, and that the reverberating effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas should also be included.\nThroughout the consultations Norway opposed use of qualifies such as “can cause harm” in the text, but especially where used to weaken the causal connection between use of explosive weapons in populated areas and civilian harm. It also firmly opposed attempts to restrict the Declaration to addressing only ‘indiscriminate’ use of explosive weapons in populated areas [3], and raised specific concerns with the phrase “restrict use” in the draft text, suggesting it be replaced with “minimise” which more clearly asks for as little use of explosive weapons in populated areas as possible. Norway also raised concerns about the “relatively new” term “reverberating effects” noting that both direct and indirect effects are already part of their own operational decision-making, but that reverberating effects were less familiar though nonetheless important.[4]\nIn addition, Norway asked that the Declaration should clearly acknowledge the specific risks to children, as well as the particular challenge of clearance of explosive remnants of war and the environmental effects of use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[5] In addition, Norway noted that 3.3’s most important added value is in developing policies and practices to avoid civilian harm, for which IHL already “provides a solid toolbox”. Norway also spoke to its support for a regular schedule of meetings to ensure the Declaration remains relevant.[6] At the final consultation in June 2022, Norway commended the text and said that the Declaration reflects a clear commitment to review and improve the way states conduct their military operations to make significant efforts to strengthen the protection of civilians from the harm that explosive weapons in populated areas causes.[7]\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nNorway has spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, primarily to condemn the harm caused to civilians and call for international action on the issue. Norway has spoken against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict[8] and at the May 2022 open debate welcomed the Political Declaration and said that armed forces must adopt and implement specific policies and practices to avoid civilian harm.[9] At the UN Security Council open debate on war in cities on 25 January 2022, Norway said the use of weapons designed for the open battlefield, including heavy explosive weapons, “should be minimised in urban areas.”[10] At the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, Norway recognised the harm caused by explosive weapons in populated areas, reminding states that civilians represent 90 per cent of casualties recorded from such use. Norway also welcomed the finalised Declaration and announced its intention to sign it. [11]\nAlongside its individual statements, Norway has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. At the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, the Nordic Countries, of which Norway is a member, welcomed the finalised Political Declaration. The group also said that the Declaration is a positive outcome at a time of increased pressure within the international security environment, as well as a good sign that the international community can still work together towards tangible humanitarian goals.[12] Norway has also signed onto other joint statements by the Nordic Group that have drawn attention to the importance of adhering to IHL and avoiding the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016.[13] In these statements, the Nordic Group highlighted the use of explosive weapons in populated areas as an issue that requires immediate attention, including through robust data collection on its impact and the sharing of policies and practices to prevent the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. At the UN Security Council open debate on war in cities on 25 January 2022, the Nordic Countries jointly called on all parties to conflict to prevent civilian harm resulting from use of explosive weapons in populated areas, especially those with wide area effects.[14] \nAt this same meeting, the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (of which Norway is a member) called on states to enhance the protection of civilians, including from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and took note of the ongoing consultations to develop a Political Declaration on this subject.[15] The Group made similar remarks at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in 25 May 2022.[16] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict on 23 May 2023, the Group noted the adoption of the Political Declaration.[17] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in May 2023, the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, of which Norway is a member, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[18]\nIn 2018 and 2019, Norway joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [19].\nNorway aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitment to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity, that included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[20]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement to EWIPA Consultations Geneva’. Permanent Mission of Norway to the United Nations. 18 November 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_Norway.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_Norway.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 2’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6v1iIZG8A\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6v1iIZG8A</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Morning’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6531. 10 May 2011. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6531(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6531(Resumption1)</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7951. 25 May 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951</a> \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.2’. Reaching Critical Will. 8 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.2’. Reaching Critical Will. 8 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7606. 19 January 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.2’. Reaching Critical Will. 8 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Norway’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/227.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/227.html</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"155","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"OM","countryName":"Oman"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":false,"content":"Oman has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Oman is aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’, May 2016, including: “Commit to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"156","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"PK","countryName":"Pakistan"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Pakistan has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the consultations towards a Political Declaration, though it attended the second round of consultations. \n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Pakistan aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity” in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"57","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"PW","countryName":"Palau"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":true,"content":"Palau was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the signing ceremony, Palau expressed support for the declaration and the protection of civilians from the devastating impacts of warfare, particularly children and humanitarian infrastructure that are critical to civilians. Palau spoke about the effects of war that go far beyond the war itself, saying that the country still suffers from a high rate of illnesses such as throat and mouth cancer associated with soil and water contamination from World War II legacies, and the high presence of unexploded ordinance and contaminants from explosive weapons. It expressed its commitment to support the declaration at the national and global level, and said it is continuously seeking resources to build national capacity to implement the declaration.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nPalau endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[2] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of EWIPA on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[3]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"58","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"PS","countryName":"Palestine"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":true,"content":"Palestine was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the endorsing conference in Dublin, Palestine stressed that ending the use of explosive weapons in populated areas is the most effective way to protect civilians, and that it views this Declaration as a positive step forward towards an avoidance policy. It also expressed hope that the adoption of this language will lead states to adopt policies and eventually stop the use of these weapons altogether in populated areas.[1]\nPalestine regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration, as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums. Early in the consultation process, Palestine stressed the imperative of a clear commitment to establish a clear presumption against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas that would meaningfully improve the protection of civilians from the grave harms caused by explosive weapons.[2] Palestine also opposed the use of the qualifier “can” throughout the text, as well as the use of “wide area effects” when it believed the substance applied to explosive weapons more generally.[3] It also called for data collection on reverberating effects and types of weapons used, and suggested disaggregation by disability status in addition to sex and age.[4] Palestine welcomed proposals to recognise the efforts of civil society organisations and UN entities, and suggested the Declaration text should emphasise an inclusive approach to follow-up meeting.[5] It also supported strong provisions on humanitarian access and relief efforts.[6]\nPalestine reiterated many of these points as consultations progressed, strongly supporting the inclusion of reverberating effects and a presumption of non-use of explosive weapons in populated areas, as well as clear recognition of the link between the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the grave humanitarian consequences. Regarding the final draft, it also welcomed references to accountability, facilitating humanitarian access, victim assistance, and the role of data collection and analysis to better understand humanitarian impacts.[7]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nPalestine has spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. In 2014, at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, it spoke against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, describing the devastating impacts of such weapons in Gaza.[8] During the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, Palestine referenced the destruction and suffering caused by the use of explosive weapons in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.[9]\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Palestine aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[10]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Draft Political Declaration circulated by Ireland on 17 March 2020: Proposals by the State of Palestine’. Permanent Mission of Palestine to the United Nations. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Palestine-March2021.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Palestine-March2021.pdf</a>. See also: Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Second Revised Draft Political Declaration circulated by Ireland on 3 March 2022 Proposals by the State of Palestine’. Permanent Mission of Palestine to the United Nations. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/State-of-Palestine.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/State-of-Palestine.pdf</a>; Irish Foreign Ministry (2022). Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Morning’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"157","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"PA","countryName":"Panama"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":false,"content":"Panama has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration, submitting a written contribution suggesting that the objectives of the declaration should be: “(i) Recognize that parties to armed conflict cannot fight in populated areas in the same way as they would on open battlefields; (ii) Address the humanitarian and human rights consequences resulting from the use of explosive weapons in areas populated (cities, towns and refugee camps); (ii) Promote political and operational leadership that reduce the suffering and damage caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and improve the protection of civilians in armed conflicts.”[1] \nAs consultations progressed, Panama supported the ICRC and UN Secretary-General’s call for an ‘avoidance policy’ and said the Declaration should contain a clear commitment to avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas. It urged states and organisations to provide international cooperation and assistance for implementing the Political Declaration commitments. It supported the inclusion of ‘reverberating effects’ and said that the socioeconomic consequences and environmental impacts of use of explosive weapons in populated areas should also be included. Panama also supported strong provisions on victim assistance, and encouraged inclusive disaggregated data collection. It opposed the inclusion of qualifiers in the text. Panama said the follow-up mechanism should include periodic meetings and could follow the model of the Geneva Declaration on Armed Violence and Development or Safe Schools Declaration.[2]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAlong with 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Panama participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018. The meeting produced the Santiago Communiqué, in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. This included: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; act to enhance compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects; fully support the process that will lead to the negotiation and adoption of an international Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas; encourage collection of data; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at the international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organisations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[3]\nPanama endorsed the joint statement on explosive weapons in populated areas during the 74th UN General Assembly First Committee in October 2019.[4] The statement, delivered by Ireland, encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[5] As part of the Human Security Network, Panama also endorsed two statements addressing the risk of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in 2013[6] and 2014.[7] The statements called for data collection and to refrain from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. ","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Written contribution’. Permanent Mission of Panama to the United Nations. 18 November 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Panama-Written-Submission---18-Novmeber-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Panama-Written-Submission—18-Novmeber-2019.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>; ‘Written Contribution’. Permanent Mission of Panama to the United Nations. February 2020. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Panama-Written-Paper-Submission---10-February-2020.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Panama-Written-Paper-Submission—10-February-2020.pdf</a>; Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>; ‘Panama’s proposals on the revised version of the Draft Political Declaration on EWIPA’. Permanent Mission of Panama to the United Nations. March 2021. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Panama-March2021.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Panama-March2021.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"158","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"PG","countryName":"Papua New Guinea"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":false,"content":"Papua New Guinea has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nPapua New Guinea endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2019.[1] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[2]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"159","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"PY","countryName":"Paraguay"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":false,"content":"Paraguay has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nParaguay has spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. During the June 2016 UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians expressed support for the UN Secretary-General’s call on states to develop a Political Declaration on to explosive weapons in populated areas.[1] More recently, during the May 2019 UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians, Paraguay called on states to participate in the development of a political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.”[2]\nAlongside its individual statements, Paraguay has also aligned with other states on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas. With 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Paraguay participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018. The meeting produced the Santiago Communiqué, in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. This included: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; act to enhance compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian objects; fully support the process that will lead to the negotiation and adoption of an international political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas; encourage collection of data; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at the international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organisations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7711. 10 June 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7711\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7711.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"59","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"PE","countryName":"Peru"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":true,"content":"Peru was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. During the Dublin Conference in November 2022, Peru recalled the Santiago Communiqué, and expressed hope for the implementation of the declaration, stressing the need for cooperation with civil society and others for an appropriate follow up process. [1]\nEarly in the consultations process, Peru issued a statement urging the declaration to include “a recognition and description of direct and indirect consequences of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas” and noting that avoiding the use of explosive weapons in populated areas would contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 16.[2] Peru also supported a call for the adoption and review of policies and practices to enhance protection of civilians and compliance with International Humanitarian Law (IHL)[3] as well as to prevent the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[4] It also called for data collection to be gender-disaggregated, and for the declaration to recognise the rights of victims and affected communities and to provide appropriate victim assistance to those affected.[5] \nThese positions were reflected in Peru’s statements throughout the consultations, where it encouraged strong language on victim assistance, opposed the use of qualifies such as “can cause harm” in the text, and agreed that IHL was the fundamental legal reference point whilst also underscoring that the application of IHL is the minimum and that civilian harm can also arise from lawful attacks.[6] Peru also consistently argued for a presumption of non-use of explosive weapons in populated areas or ‘avoidance policy’ [7] and for the inclusion of gender references.[8]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nPeru has raised the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in a number of international forums. During the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in May 2019, Peru recalled the damage caused by explosive weapons in populated areas, and called for improving compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL).[9] In September 2021, at the Preparatory Committee of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), Peru welcomed the development of a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[10]\nPeru has also repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. Alongside 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Ecuador participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, resulting in the Santiago Communiqué[11] in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. In 2018 and 2019, Peru joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[12]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘PERU statement in English’. Permanent Mission of Peru to the United Nations. November 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_Peru.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_Peru.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid. See also: Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 3’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWCKiv5gpPI\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWCKiv5gpPI</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2021. ‘CCW Report, Vol.9, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 10 September 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2021/prepcom/reports/CCWR9.5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2021/prepcom/reports/CCWR9.5.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"60","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"PH","countryName":"Philippines"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":true,"content":"The Philippines was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. \nDuring the consultations, the Philippines said it was delighted to see strong elements emphasising the harm to civilians, including explicit recognition of lifelong disabilities arising from injuries from explosive weapons in populated areas, as well as the references to reverberating effects, including those arising from damage and disruption to infrastructure. It also welcomed references to rapid and unimpeded passage of humanitarian relief, and said that the language on victim assistance could be more robust to also include the facilitation of their full social economic reintegration, and the full realisation of their rights and their full participation as members of communities. It also expressed concerns over threats posed by non-state actors.[1] During the final round of consultations in June 2022, the Philippines emphasised that the centrality of the victims should be the overriding consideration and advocated for comprehensive and gender differentiated victim assistance, the facilitation of rapid safe and unhindered humanitarian access, and the recognition that the impact of explosive weapons reverberates even long after the cessation of hostilities.[2] At the Dublin Conference in 2022, the Philippines reiterated many of these remarks and reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing the protection of civilians against the threat and reverberating impact of explosive weapons in populated areas.[3]\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nThe Philippines has on several occasions spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. During the 75th UN General Assembly First Committee in October 2020, the Philippines expressed concern over the humanitarian harm arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and committed to participating in international efforts to address it.[4] During the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, the Philippines welcomed the Political Declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption.[5] That same year, at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the Philippines emphasised the applicability of IHL to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[6]\nAlongside its individual statements, the Philippines has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. It endorsed the joint statement on explosive weapons in populated areas during the 74th UN General Assembly First Committee in October 2019.[7] The statement, delivered by Ireland, encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[8]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 2’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6v1iIZG8A\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6v1iIZG8A</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Morning’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘High-Level Conference to Adopt the Political Declaration to Address Humanitarian Harm from Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA): Philippines Statement’. Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations. 18 November 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Philippines.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Philippines.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA75 First Committee Statement’. Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations. 9 October 2020. <a href=\"https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/philippines-en.pdf\">https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/philippines-en.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"160","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"PL","countryName":"Poland"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":false,"content":"Poland has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration where it said the declaration should stress that existing International Humanitarian Law (IHL) provides a sufficient framework to address the problem of EWIPA.[1] Poland also argued that it is important not to limit the legitimate use of weapons and said that “[i]n the context of CCW it is also important to differentiate between explosive weapons and IEDs”.[2]\nEarly in the consultation process, Poland argued that humanitarian issues arising from use of EWIPA would be effectively mitigated with full implementation of IHL, noting that adequate preparedness of military personnel is important to this end.[3] It also urged the clear and consistent use of language and terms throughout the text, and warned that a commitment to collect data – especially disaggregated by sex and age – is extremely difficult to implement.[4] These points were reflected as consultations progressed: Poland argued that the concept of EWIPA rather than of urban warfare must be applied throughout the text, and emphasised that the declaration should clarify that it is only the “unlawful” use of EWIPA that it seeks to condemn. Poland praised the inclusion of “women and girls” in the declaration, but noted that it would prefer if the text referred to all affected groups—including elderly people, disabled people, boys, etc.[5] At the final consultation in June 2022, Poland said that the declaration is a well-balanced document that takes into account national security concerns, military necessity, and at the same time maintaining the humanitarian perspective.[6]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nPoland has spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums: at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in 2016[7] and 2017[8] it acknowledged the harms caused by use of EWIPA. At the January 2022 UN Security Council open debate on war in cities, Poland said the use of EWIPA takes a devastating toll on people and services, noting that it causes severe disruption of health care, water, sanitation, and more.[9] At the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, Poland referenced the harmful use of explosive weapons in populated areas across the world[10] and in 2023 said that the “Shelling and air bombardments by Russian forces of densely populated areas are unequivocal violations of International Humanitarian Law”.[11]\nAlongside its individual statements, Poland has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), Poland has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [12] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[13], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[14] The EU, with Poland signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nPoland also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.” [15]\nAs a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Poland has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians from the effects of explosive weapons in populated areas [16], and as a member of the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[17] In 2018 and 2019, Poland joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[18]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare Geneva Consultations: Statement of Poland’. Permanent Mission of Poland to the United Nations. 18 November 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_Poland.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_Poland.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: #2c3236; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Ibid.</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Written Submission on Elements of a political declaration to ensure the protection of civilians from humanitarian harm arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’ .Permanent Mission of Poland to the United Nations. February 2020. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Poland-Written-Submission---10-February-2020.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Poland-Written-Submission—10-February-2020.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Morning’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7606. 19 January 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7951. 25 May 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.8953. 25 January 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8953\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8953.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Statement of the Republic of Poland to the 78th United Nations General Assembly First Committee General Debate’. Permanent Mission of Poland to the United Nations. October 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/5Oct_Poland.pdf\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/5Oct_Poland.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: #2c3236; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf.</a></li>\n</ol>\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"14\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians. </a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Germany’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/175.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/175.html.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: #2c3236; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a style=\"text-indent: 36pt;\" href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042.</a></li>\n</ol>\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"17\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"61","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"PT","countryName":"Portugal"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Portugal was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. Portugal made several written contributions to the process, welcoming the reaffirmation of current international humanitarian law (IHL) and its applicability to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and suggesting the inclusion of an express reference to the obligation to not impede humanitarian access.[1] In addition, Portugal suggested highlighting some of the effects that the use of wide-ranging explosive weapons has on the environment, from the point of view of the survival of the civilian population. To maintain the Declaration’s focus on the protection of civilians, it suggested that this environmental reference include a note about safeguarding of natural resources essential to human life (namely as regards soil and groundwater).[2]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nPortugal has on several occasions spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums.During the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians on 25 May 2022, Portugal said it remained concerned about the disproportionate use of explosive weapons in populated areas and their impact on civilians and civilian infrastructure. It supported the ongoing process developing a Political Declaration on the subject and called for the implementation of resolution 2601 (2021), on safeguarding the right to education, and resolution 2573 (2021), on critical civilian infrastructure, among other resolutions.[3] At the UN Security Council Open Debate War in Cities: Protection of Civilians in Urban Settings on 25 January 2022, Portugal welcomed the development of the Political Declaration and said it is a good example of encouraging best practices based on IHL.[4] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in May 2023 Portugal said it was encouraged by positive steps taken regarding the protection of civilians, including the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas.[5]\nAlongside its individual statements, Portugal has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), Portugal has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [6] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[7], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[8] The EU, with Portugal signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nPortugal also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.” [9]\nAs a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Portugal has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians from the effects of explosive weapons in populated areas [10]. In 2018 and 2019, Portugal joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[11]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Written Submissions to the Consultations on explosive weapons in populated areas Elements Paper’. Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations 10 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/written-submission-Portugal.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/written-submission-Portugal.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Portugal Contribution to the Project of Political Declaration on EWIPAs’. Permanent Mission of Portugal to the United Nations. March 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Portugal-March2020.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Portugal-March2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUN Security Council (2023). ‘Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Meeting Transcript’. <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Portugal’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/242.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/242.html</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"62","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"QA","countryName":"Qatar"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":true,"content":"Qatar was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\nQatar submitted a written contribution to the consultations in 2020 suggesting that the Declaration: focus on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas rather than urban warfare or protection of civilians more broadly; recognise the relationship between the large-scale effects of explosive weapons and the risk of harm to civilians; highlight the indirect effects of explosive weapons in populated areas, while recognizing that damage to vital infrastructure may disrupt basic services and ultimately affect a large portion of the civilian population; and contain a clear and express commitment to avoid the use of explosive weapons of large-scale effects in populated areas. It also suggested that the Declaration oblige states to take measures through political obligations and good practices to enhance the protection of civilians against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and that the Declaration establish a mechanism to monitor its implementation.[1]\nQatar is also a member of the Arab Group, which participated in the round of consultations that took place in 2021 in Geneva.[2] There, the Arab Group emphasised that existing international humanitarian law (IHL) rules and principles must be applied, and expressed concern that explosive weapons could be stigmatised by the Declaration. It also noted that the Declaration draft overlooked the use of human shields, and that a number of terms - namely “populated areas”, “reverberating effects” and “critical civilian infrastructure” lacked agreed definitions.[3]\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nQatar has also addressed the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, aligning with other states to deliver statements. At sessions of the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in 2013, Qatar delivered the statement of the Arab Group, saying states need to “do more to compel parties to conflict to refrain from using explosive weapons in densely populated areas”.[4]\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Qatar aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[6]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Memorandum of the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law on the Adoption of a Political Declaration to Strengthen the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations. March 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Qatar-March2020.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Qatar-March2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Arab Group Statement EWIPA political declaration informal consultations’. Arab Group 3 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/3March_Arab-Group.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/3March_Arab-Group.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6917. 12 February 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"63","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"KR","countryName":"Republic of Korea"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":true,"content":"The Republic of Korea was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. \nThe Republic of Korea regularly delivered statements to the consultations towards a Political Declaration. At the meeting in March 2021, it supported Sweden’s suggestion to add “in accordance with IHL” to Section 3.3 of the Political Declaration draft.[1] At the fourth round of consultations in April 2022, the Republic of Korea said it had difficulty in fully supporting the draft because it was too vague, and supported the suggestion to include a qualifier such as “indiscriminate” or “unlawful” before explosive weapons in populated areas in the title and relevant parts of the text. [2] It also echoed Human Rights Watch’s and Sweden’s suggestion to delete “critically” in “people critically injured” in paragraph 4.4, and said that paragraph 4.2 on data collection should be balanced with military and security concerns.[3] During the fifth round of consultations in June 2022, Republic of Korea thanked the government of Ireland and said that the text was well-balanced.[4] At the Dublin Conference, the Republic of Korea said it recognizes the harm caused by explosive weapons in populated areas and shared the concerns on the indirect effects, including displacement. It expressed support for the implementation of the Declaration.[5]\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nThe Republic of Korea has also spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. At the 2022 Meeting of High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW), the Republic of Korea said that the Declaration is a meaningful step forward and expressed appreciation for the work of Ireland in this regard[6]. Previously, during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, the Republic of Korea called for avoiding the use of explosive weapons with wide area impact in densely populated areas.[7]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Memorandum of the National Committee for International Humanitarian Law on the Adoption of a Political Declaration to Strengthen the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Qatar to the United Nations. March 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Qatar-March2020.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Qatar-March2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Arab Group Statement EWIPA political declaration informal consultations’. Arab Group 3 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/3March_Arab-Group.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/3March_Arab-Group.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6917. 12 February 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"64","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"MD","countryName":"Republic of Moldova"}}},"region":null,"endorsed":true,"content":"Moldova was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nMoldova issued a statement on explosive weapons in populated areas during the Review Conference of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in December 2016, expressing concern regarding the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It also expressed support for a political commitment to prevent the humanitarian harm from the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas.[1]\nMoldova has also aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. In October 2018, Moldova was one of 50 states to endorse the joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[2] Moldova also endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly’s First Committee in 2019.[3] The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[4]\nThe Republic of Moldova aligned with several statements delivered by the European Union (EU) on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas, the latest one being the statement delivered during the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, in which the EU welcomed the Political Declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption. The EU also highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments, including at the 2024 Oslo Conference.[5]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement at the Fifth Review Conference of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of Moldova to the United Nations. 12 December 2016. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2016/RevCon/statements/12Dec_Moldova.pdf\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2016/RevCon/statements/12Dec_Moldova.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nPermanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations (2018). ‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA)’.<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n<li class=\"p6\">‘Statement on Conventional Weapons’. European Union. 23 October 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"65","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"RO","countryName":"Romania"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Romania was not actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It participated in the Vienna Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare in 2019,[1] and in the second round of consultations in Geneva in 2020,[2] but did not issue any statements at those events. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the European Union (EU), Romania has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [3] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[4], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[5] The EU, with Romania signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nRomania also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[6]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘States Commit to Take Political Action on Explosive Weapons at Vienna conference’. Reaching Critical Will. October 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14061-states-commit-to-take-political-action-on-explosive-weapons-at-vienna-conference\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14061-states-commit-to-take-political-action-on-explosive-weapons-at-vienna-conference</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘More than 70 States Engage in Discussions on Political Declaration’. INEW. February 2020. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/\">https://www.inew.org/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Romania’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/248.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/248.html</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"161","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"RU","countryName":"Russia"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":false,"content":"The Russian Federation has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nThe Russian Federation has rarely referenced the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. At the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, however, it noted the harmful use of explosive weapons in populated areas across the world.[1] At the UN Security Council open debate on war in cities in January 2022, the Russian Federation argued that non-state armed groups have used hospitals, schools, and other civilian areas for military purposes, “turning them into legitimate targets for attack.” Without explicitly referencing the work to create a political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, the Russian Federation objected to “attempts to invent endless innovative concepts to fill imaginary lacunae,” which it argued dilutes international norms. It argued that existing treaties and legal framework like International Humanitarian Law (IHL) are sufficient to protect civilians, including in urban warfare, and that IHL norms have a particular degree of “flexibility” to ensure precautions taken correspond to the context.[2]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Young, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.2’. Reaching Critical Will. 8 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"162","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"RW","countryName":"Rwanda"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Rwanda has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. Rwanda participated in the Vienna Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare in October 2019,[1] but it did not issue any statement regarding the use of EWIPA.","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘Vienna Conference Marks Turning Point as States Support Negotiation of an International Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons’. INEW. 2019. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/\">https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"66","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"KN","countryName":"Saint Kitts and Nevis"}}},"region":"Caribbean","endorsed":true,"content":"Saint Kitts and Nevis was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAlongside 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Colombia participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, resulting in the Santiago Communiqué[1] in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. In 2019, Colombia joined 71 states to endorse a joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[2]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"163","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"LC","countryName":"Saint Lucia"}}},"region":"Caribbean","endorsed":false,"content":"Saint Lucia has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"164","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"WS","countryName":"Samoa"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":false,"content":"Samoa has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nSamoa endorsed the joint statement on explosive weapons in populated areas during 73th UN General Assembly First Committee in October 2018. The statement, delivered by Ireland, called attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[1] Samoa also endorsed the joint statement on explosive weapons in populated areas during the 74th UN General Assembly First Committee in October 2019.[2] The statement, also delivered by Ireland, encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"68","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SM","countryName":"San Marino"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"San Marino was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the Dublin Conference, San Marino recognized the harm from the use of EWIPA and welcomed the declaration as an important achievement.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nSan Marino has frequently spoken on EWIPA in multilateral forums, primarily to highlight the harms caused by EWIPA. San Marino addressed the use of EWIPA at the UN General Assembly First Committee in October 2016[2] and 2017[3] calling for the parties to a conflict to refrain from using EWIPA. More recently, during the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, San Marino said that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas now represents the main cause of civilian suffering in armed conflicts, including long-lasting physical harm and psychological trauma, as well as impeded access to vital services such as hospitals and schools.[4] During the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, San Marino similarly highlighted the effects of the use of EWIPA and called on all parties involved in armed conflicts to avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas. It also invited all countries to support and implement the political declaration.[5]\nSan Marino has also spoken at a number of UN Security Council open debates. In a statement during te May 2019 UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, San Marino expressed support for the UN Secretary-General’s call to avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas.[6] In May 2023 it welcomed the declaration at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict[7] and in July 2023 at the UN Security Council open debate on children and armed conflict it said that “the use of explosive weapons in populated areas has resulted in increases in the numbers of deaths, physical injuries and trauma among civilians, including children, who subsequently find themselves unable to return to their daily lives even after a conflict ends.” It encouraged all states to endorse the Political Declaration and to abide by its commitments.[8]\nAlongside its individual statements, San Marino has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on EWIPA. In 2018 and 2019, San Marino joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[9] San Marino has also aligned with several statements delivered by the European Union (EU) on the issue of EWIPA, the latest one being the statement delivered during the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, in which the EU welcomed the political declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption. The EU also highlighted the work ahead for implementing the declaration’s commitments, including at the 2024 Oslo Conference.[10]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nStatement by Permanent Mission of San Marino to the United Nations at the General Debate of the First Committee 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly’. Permanent Mission of San Marino to the United Nations. 10 October 2016. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/statements/10Oct_SanMarino.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/statements/10Oct_SanMarino.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement by Permanent Mission of San Marino to the United Nations at the General Debate of the First Committee 71st session of the United Nations General Assembly’. Permanent Mission of San Marino to the United Nations. 9 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/10Oct_SanMarino.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/10Oct_SanMarino.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung. K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.3’. Reaching Critical Will. 15 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No3.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No3.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9366. 5 July 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1)</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement by the Republic of San Marino to the United Nations at the General Debate of the First Committee 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly’. Republic of San Marino to the United Nations. 6 October 2023. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/6Oct_SanMarino.pdf\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/6Oct_SanMarino.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement on Conventional Weapons’. European Union. 23 October 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"165","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"ST","countryName":"São Tomé and Príncipe"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"São Tomé and Príncipe has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"166","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SA","countryName":"Saudi Arabia"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":false,"content":"Saudi Arabia has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration, where it supported a suggestion to include mention of states that fight “terrorism” in section 2 of the draft.[1] Saudi Arabia aligned with the Arab Group’s statement to the 2021 round of consultations in which the Group noted that the aim of the Declaration should be to strengthen protection of civilians through enhancing existing IHL, not by establishing new rules, concepts, or mechanisms and emphasised that existing IHL rules and principles must be applied fully and effectively to protect civilians. The Group also expressed concern that the Declaration overlooked use of human shields, and may stigmatise explosive weapons use in general.[2]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Saudi Arabia aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>; ‘Arab Group Statement–EWIPA Political Declaration Informal Consultations’. Arab Group. March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/3March_Arab-Group.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/3March_Arab-Group.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Agenda for Humanity. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"69","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SN","countryName":"Senegal"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":true,"content":"Senegal was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. \nSenegal participated in the Vienna Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare in October 2019,[1] as well as in the first two rounds of consultations for a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in 2019 and 2020.[2]\nDuring the 2019 consultations, Senegal said that the Declaration should commit states to avoid using explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas. It also said the Declaration should encourage cooperation among states and/or with civil society to build a community of practice, which includes a better dialogue with UN agencies and international and national humanitarian organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross, to better understand protection needs.[3] Senegal also joined other states in calling investigations into the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in violation of international humanitarian law, and, where appropriate, for the prosecution of perpetrators. It also called for the consideration of non-state actors in the Declaration.[4]\nIn its written submission, Senegal suggested that the Declaration could: stress the imperative to prevent non-state armed groups, including terrorists and criminals, from acquiring and using explosive weapons with wide effects; include concrete commitments to reinforce accountability and the fight against impunity; commit states to avoiding the use of high impact explosive weapons in populated areas; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through the sharing of experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused to civilians by explosive weapons; encourage states to engage constructively in international initiatives that can effectively contribute to greater protection of civilians in armed conflict; strengthen cooperation and partnership with international organisations and civil society organisations, and build on their expertise and support.[5]\n<h2 class=\"p6\">Statements and positions</h2>\nSenegal has also aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. In 2017, Senegal endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas[6]. The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Senegal aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity” in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[7]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Vienna Conference Marks Turning Point as States Support Negotiation of an International Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons’. INEW. October 2019. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/\">https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nBoillot, L. 2020. ‘More than 70 States Engage in Discussions on Political Declaration’. Article 36. 27 February 2020. <a href=\"https://article36.org/updates/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/\">https://article36.org/updates/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. Reaching Critical Will. 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Declaration Du Senegal Aux Consultations Informelles Sur Le Projet de Déclaration Politique Sur Les Ewipa’. Permanent Mission of Senegal to the United Nations. 18 November 2019. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Senegal-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Senegal-Written-Submission—18-November-2019.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).’ <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"70","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"RS","countryName":"Serbia"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Serbia was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nSerbia endorsed the joint statement on explosive weapons in populated areas during the 73th UN General Assembly First Committee in October 2018. The statement, delivered by Ireland, called attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[1] Serbia also endorsed the joint statement on explosive weapons in populated areas during the 74th UN General Assembly First Committee in October 2019.[2] The statement, also delivered by Ireland, encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue.[3]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n<li class=\"p6\">‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"167","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SC","countryName":"Seychelles"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Seychelles has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"71","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SL","countryName":"Sierra Leone"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":true,"content":"Sierra Leone was not actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. In Dublin, Sierra Leone said that it is a living example of first-hand experience of the impact of EWIPA. It said that the declaration is the beginning of a long-term commitment and effective process to develop stronger standards and change in the use of explosive weapons. Sierra Leone also said that an assistance program would help states to move swiftly to make these changes.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nDuring the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, Sierra Leone said that “the use of explosive weapons in populated areas poses complex challenges and a grave danger for the protection of civilians.”[2]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>. \n</li>\n<li class=\"p5\">‘Statement by Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations during the First Committee General Debate on Disarmament’. Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone. 9 October 2023. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/9Oct_SierraLeone.pdf\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/9Oct_SierraLeone.pdf</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"168","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SG","countryName":"Singapore"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Singapore has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. It participated in the Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare in October 2019 in Vienna but it did not issue any statement on the subject.[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘Vienna Conference Marks Turning Point as States Support Negotiation of an International Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons’. INEW. 2019. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/\">https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"72","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SK","countryName":"Slovakia"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Slovakia was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. Slovakia participated in the Vienna Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare in October 2019[1] and in the second round of consultations in Geneva in 2020 but did not issue any statements.[2]\nAt the Dublin Conference in November 2022, Slovakia underlined that civilians suffer devastating harm not only directly, but also through long-lasting indirect effects. It also expressed its belief that the improvement of national policies and strengthening international cooperation, including through exchange of expertise as well as good policies and practice, could strengthen the protection of civilians. Slovakia said that the commitments in the area of victim assistance, risk education and explosive remnants of war should mitigate humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It also stressed its commitment to the implementation of the Political Declaration and through the regular collective follow-up process.[3]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nSlovakia has spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, arguing that “more effective mechanisms to monitor the use of explosive weapons in heavily populated areas must be created.”[4] At the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, Slovakia referenced the harmful use of explosive weapons in populated areas across the world.[5]\nSlovakia has also repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), Slovakia has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [6] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[7], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[8] The EU, with Slovakia signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nSlovakia also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[9]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Vienna Conference Marks Turning Point as States Support Negotiation of an International Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons’. INEW. October 2019. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/\">https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nBoillot, L. 2020. ‘More than 70 States Engage in Discussions on Political Declaration’. Article 36. 27 February 2020. <a href=\"https://article36.org/updates/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/\">https://article36.org/updates/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement by H. E. Mr. Andrej Droba, Ambassador of the Slovak Republic to Ireland at the EWIPA Conference’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Slovakia.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Slovakia.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.2’. Reaching Critical Will. 8 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Slovakia’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/351.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/351.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"73","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SI","countryName":"Slovenia"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Slovenia was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. In a written contribution to the consultations, Slovenia suggested including an appeal for universalisation of relevant instruments in the field of disarmament.[1] It also agreed with a proposal that the improvised explosive devices (IEDs) get a more prominent place in the Declaration, and suggested the inclusion of a reference to risk education on explosive remnants of war (ERW) and IED in paragraph 4.3.[2] At the signing conference in November 2022, Slovenia underlined the long-lasting consequences of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and said it attaches great importance to victims' assistance. Slovenia said that efforts should continue to focus on providing a safe environment for all and ensuring the social and economic inclusion of survivors.[3]\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and priorities</h2>\nSlovenia has on several occasions spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums: speaking at UN security council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, Slovenia has raised concerns over the harms caused by explosive weapons in populated areas.[4] During the UN General Assembly First Committee, Slovenia welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the Political Declaration.[5]\nAlongside its individual statements, Slovenia has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), Slovenia has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [6] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[7], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[8] The EU, with Slovenia signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nIn 2018 and 2019, Slovenia joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [9]. As part of the Human Security Network, Slovenia has also endorsed two statements addressing the risk of explosive weapons in populated areas, emphasising the importance of data collection, and calling on states to refrain from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in 2013[10] and 2014.[11] \nSlovenia also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[12]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIt proposed the following text within Section 3 or 4 of the draft: “Strengthen the efforts pertaining to the universalisation of relevant disarmament instruments, such as the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction and the Convention on Cluster Munitions.”\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EWIPA Political Declaration: Proposals of the Republic of Slovenia’. Permanent Mission of Slovenia to the United Nations. 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/written-submission-Slovenia.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/written-submission-Slovenia.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement of Slovenia at the Dublin Conference – EWIPA.’ Republic of Slovenia in Ireland. 18 November 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Slovenia.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Slovenia.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6531. 10 May 2011. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6531(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6531(Resumption1)</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7951. 25 May 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7951</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung. K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.3’. Reaching Critical Will. 15 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No3.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No3.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Slovenia’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/254.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/254.html</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"169","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SB","countryName":"Solomon Islands"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":false,"content":"Solomon Islands has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"74","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SO","countryName":"Somalia"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":true,"content":"Somalia was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\nAt the Dublin Conference in November 2022, Somalia said that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas by the extremist group Al Shabaab has been a main cause of loss of civilian lives and destruction of critical infrastructure. Somalia said that the declaration is a critical milestone, and emphasized the need for training and equipment to help minimize the risk of civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p3\">Statements and position</h2>\nIn 2017, Somalia endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas[2]. The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.\nSomalia aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity” in May 2016, in its national capacity and as member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation[3], including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[4]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/233.html</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Somalia’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/353.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/353.html</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"170","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"ZA","countryName":"South Africa"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"South Africa has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration where it advocated for a core commitment to avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas, arguing that such a policy would neither stigmatise explosive weapons nor create new obligations, as it is not a prohibition, but rather a regulation. South Africa also echoed Namibia’s argument that the victim assistance provisions should be strengthened, by better defining victim assistance, what assistance is needed, and taking into account families and others affected.[1]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nSouth Africa has spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in several multilateral forums. At the January 2022 UN Security Council open debate on war in cities it warned that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas exacerbates humanitarian crises, highlighting the destruction of lives and livelihoods in the Gaza Strip. It also noted that the destruction of civilian infrastructure and the resulting impact on the environment will further intensify long-term consequences of armed conflict.[2] During the UN General Assembly First Committee thematic debate on conventional weapons in October 2016, South Africa expressed concern about the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[3]\nAs part of the Human Security Network, South Africa endorsed two statements addressing the risk of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in 2013[4] and 2014.[5] The statements called for data collection and to refrain from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA71 First Committee Conventional Weapons Thematic Debate Statement’. Permanent Mission of South Africa to the United Nations. 20 October 2016. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/statements/20Oct_SouthAfrica.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com16/statements/20Oct_SouthAfrica.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"171","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SS","countryName":"South Sudan"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"South Sudan has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"75","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"ES","countryName":"Spain"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Spain was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. In Dublin, Spain welcomed the provisions that guarantee access to humanitarian aid teams and said that victim assistance must be a priority. Spain said it endorses the Declaration with hope it will strengthen the protection of civilians in urban conflict.[1]\nSpain regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration, as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums. In its statements, Spain regularly suggested that terms such as “wide area effects,” “reasonably foreseen,” and “reverberating effects” lack a clear definition and should be avoided or further explained.[2] It also several times suggested expansions in the scope of particular provisions of the Declaration, for example advocating for the addition of a reference or new element on protection of schools and medical facilities[3], and the addition of “communication networks” and “education services” to the list of direct effects in Section 1.2. Spain was also clear that it would not support any inclusion of new obligations that required states to go beyond existing international humanitarian law (IHL), but encouraged efforts to improve national policy and practice to better protect civilians. Regarding the follow-up process, Spain opined that a stand-alone fora or body would be less useful than a review princess embedded within an existing framework such as the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW).\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nSpain has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN Security Council open debates on the protection of children in armed conflict[4], primarily to express concern about the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in urban areas, and urge the Security Council and states to exploit all possible means to put an end to it. It has also stressed the disproportionate impacts of explosive weapons in populated areas on women and children. At the May 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, Spain encouraged states to sign the Political Declaration[5] and at the July 2020 open debate on children and armed conflict reiterated its commitment to the implementation of the Declaration and urged all states to sign it.[6] Spain also noted ongoing discussions about the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the Convention on Conventional Weapons Preparatory Committee meeting held in September 2021, and said states must not ignore the increasing urbanisation of warfare.[7]\nAlongside its individual statements, Spain has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the European Union (EU), Spain has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict [8] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[9], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[10] The EU, with Spain signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nSpain also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.” [11] Spain aligned with the Joint Commitment 123002 to the World Humanitarian Summit led by Austria, in May 2016 where it pledged to minimise impacts on civilians when using explosive weapons in populated areas.[12] Spain also supported Austria’s Statement to the World Humanitarian Summit Roundtable on Upholding the Norms that Safeguard Humanity, in May 2016, where it announced its efforts to strengthen international humanitarian law, including through a Political Declaration.[13]\nAs a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Spain has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians from the effects of explosive weapons in populated areas [14]. In 2018 and 2019, Spain joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [15].","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6917. 12 February 2013. Available from:<a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6917(Resumption1)</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7466. 18 June 2015. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7466\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7466</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7606. 19 January 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9366. 5 July 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9366(Resumption1)</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2021. ‘CCW Report, Vol.9, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 10 September 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2021/prepcom/reports/CCWR9.5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ccw/2021/prepcom/reports/CCWR9.5.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘Spain’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/123.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/123.html</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Austria’s Statement at the World Humanitarian Summit Roundtable on Upholding the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’. Government of Austria. 2016. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/sites/default/files/resources/2017/Jul/Statement_by_the_Government_of_Austria_Roundtable_Uphold_the_Norms_that_Safeguard_Humanity.pdf\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/sites/default/files/resources/2017/Jul/Statement_by_the_Government_of_Austria_Roundtable_Uphold_the_Norms_that_Safeguard_Humanity.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"172","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"LK","countryName":"Sri Lanka"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Sri Lanka has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nDuring the August 2016 Security Council open debate on children and armed conflict, Sri Lanka underscored the devastating impact of explosive weapons on schools and hospitals.[1] In 2018 and 2019, Sri Lanka joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [2]. ","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7753. 2 August 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7753\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7753.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf.</a> ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"173","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SD","countryName":"Sudan"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Sudan has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Sudan aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"174","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SR","countryName":"Suriname"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":false,"content":"Suriname has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Suriname aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"76","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SE","countryName":"Sweden"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Sweden was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. Sweden regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration, as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums. During the Dublin Conference in November 2022, Sweden reiterated its commitment, and said that the political declaration will strengthen the respect for and implementation of existing International Humanitarian Law (IHL) globally and help to uphold the rules and principles that states are bound by.[1] \nEarly in the consultation process Sweden emphasised that the declaration should stress that the existing IHL provides a sufficient framework to address the problem of EWIPA, and that the objective of the declaration should be to strengthen IHL.[2] This was a repeated theme: at the 2020 consultation meeting, Sweden echoed Switzerland’s statement that the political declaration should condemn only clear violations of IHL[3] and during the 2021 consultations it raised concerns that the wording of the draft text, specifically the use of the word “restrict” in relation to the use of EWIPA, arguing it could be interpreted as requiring states to take precautions that go beyond existing IHL.[4] At the fourth round of consultations in April 2022, Sweden said the text had many improvements, but warned against adopting a declaration that gives the impression of seeking to create new rules and norms. It stressed that there is not a lack of humanitarian law provisions, but rather lack of compliance with IHL.[5] Sweden also suggested that the follow-up process/review mechanism referenced in the text must be voluntary.\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nSweden has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on EWIPA. As a member of the European Union (EU), Sweden has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict [6] and at the General Debate of UN General Assembly First Committee[7], as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on War in Cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities.[8] The EU, with Sweden signing on, has also repeatedly welcomed the Political Declaration on explosive weapons in populated areas – at the 2022 Dublin Conference, the 2022 and 2023 UN General Assembly First Committee (where it highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments), and at the 2023 UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians.\nSweden also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.” [9]\nIn 2018 and 2019, Sweden joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[10]\nAt the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, the Nordic Countries, of which Sweden is a member, welcomed the finalised political declaration. The group also said that the declaration is a positive outcome at a time of increased pressure within the international security environment, as well as a good sign that the international community can still work together towards tangible humanitarian goals.[11] Sweden has also signed onto other joint statements by the Nordic Group that have drawn attention to the importance of adhering to IHL and avoiding the use of EWIPA, including at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016.[12] In these statements, the Nordic Group highlighted the use of EWIPA as an issue that requires immediate attention, including through robust data collection on its impact and the sharing of policies and practices to prevent the use of EWIPA. At the UN Security Council Open Debate War in Cities: Protection of Civilians in Urban Settings on 25 January 2022, the Nordic Countries jointly called on all parties to conflict to prevent civilian harm resulting from use of EWIPA, especially those with wide area effects.[13] \nAt this same meeting, the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (of which Sweden is a member) called on states to enhance the protection of civilians, including from the use of EWIPA, and took note of the ongoing consultations to develop a political declaration on this subject.[14] The Group made similar remarks at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in 25 May 2022.[15] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict on 23 May 2023, the Group noted the adoption of the Political Declaration.[16] On the same occasion, the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, of which Sweden is also a member, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[17]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement at the High-Level Conference to adopt the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA)’. Government Offices of Sweden. 18 November 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Sweden.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Sweden.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. Reaching Critical Will. 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-wepons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>; ‘Written Comments’. Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations. March 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Sweden-March2020.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Sweden-March2020.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>; Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 2’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6v1iIZG8A\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK6v1iIZG8A</a>; ‘Swedish comments to the draft declaration’. Permanent Mission of Sweden to the United Nations. 3 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/3March_Sweden.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/3March_Sweden.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Sweden’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/261.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/261.html</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.2’. Reaching Critical Will. 8 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6790. 25 June 2012. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6790(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6790(Resumption1)</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7606. 19 January 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"77","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"CH","countryName":"Switzerland"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"Switzerland was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the endorsing conference in Dublin, Switzerland noted that the principal purpose of IHL – to limit the effects of armed conflict – must always guide states in their actions, and expressed hope that improved data collection and sharing will help to avoid future civilian harm.[1]\nSwitzerland regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration, as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums. Early in the consultation process, Switzerland emphasised that the declaration should stress that existing IHL provides a sufficient framework to address the problem of explosive weapons in populated areas and that the objective of the declaration should be to strengthen International Humanitarian Law (IHL).[2] Switzerland also said that the declaration should address the challenges posed by the urbanisation of violence, where civilians and combatants intermingle, noting that it is often not possible to choose to conduct military operations outside this setting.[3] In addition, it supported a call for the adoption and review of policies and practices—including in military doctrines, tactical instructions, rules of engagement, the testing and development of new weapons, education, and other measures—to enhance protection of civilians and compliance with IHL, and called for investigating allegations of use of explosive weapons in populated areas in violation of IHL, and, where appropriate, for the due prosecution of perpetrators.[4]\nAs consultations progressed, Switzerland echoed these positions, whilst adding that it believed it would be appropriate to focus the Political Declaration on the conduct of hostilities in urban areas rather than focus on a particular system of weapons.[5] It also said that the Declaration should better reflect the role of non-state armed groups and strongly urged that the Declaration not focus only on clear violations of IHL.[6] It opposed the use of the qualifier ‘can’ in the title and text [7], and encouraged a broad approach to delineating the humanitarian consequences of explosive weapons in populated areas, including through reflecting reverberating effects.[8] It encouraged the inclusion of a commitment on accountability on the Declaration, and also called for an open, transparent, and inclusive follow-up process, stressed the importance of ensuring such a process is adequate to meet the needs of the declaration.[9]\n<h2 class=\"p5\">Statements and positions</h2>\nSwitzerland has on several occasions spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. Switzerland made reference to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN Security Council Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in 2010,[10] where it said that their use was a “major source of suffering for civilians”. More recently, at the Security Council open debate in May 2023, Switzerland called on states to sign the Political Declaration.[11] Switzerland had already welcomed the final text at the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022[12] and, at the General Debate of the First Committee in 2017, had called for anchoring the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in the agenda of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW).[13]\nAlongside its individual statements, Switzerland has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Switzerland has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians from the effects of explosive weapons in populated areas.[14] The Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, of which Switzerland is also a member, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[15] In 2018 and 2019, Switzerland joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[16]\nAs part of the Human Security Network, Switzerland endorsed two statements addressing the risk of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict in 2013[17] and 2014.[18] The statements called for data collection and to refrain from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Switzerland also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016. This included the commitment: “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[19]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Cérémonie d'adoption de la Déclaration politique sur le renforcement de la protection des civils contre les conséquences humanitaires découlant de l’utilisation d’armes explosives dans les zones peuplées’. Switzerland 18 November 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Switzerland_French.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Switzerland_French.pdf</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. Reaching Critical Will. 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-wepons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare Towards a Political Declaration to Address the Humanitarian Harm Arising from the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas Informal Consultations’. Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations. 18 November 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_Switzerland.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/18Nov_Switzerland.pdf</a>; ‘Elements for a political declaration on the challenges of protecting civilians in urban warfare: Written Comments’. Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations. 18 November 2019. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Switzerland-Paper-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Switzerland-Paper-Written-Submission—18-November-2019.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid. See also: ‘Switzerland’s comments to the draft political declaration on strengthening the protection of civilians from humanitarian harm arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations. March 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Switzerland-March2020.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Switzerland-March2020.pdf</a>; Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>; Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>. ‘Switzerland’s comments to the draft political declaration on strengthening the protection of civilians from the humanitarian consequences that can arise from the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas’. Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations. March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Switzerland-March2021.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Switzerland-March2021.pdf</a>; Irish Department of Foreign Affairs ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP82llmUacw\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP82llmUacw</a>; ‘Switzerland’s comments to the draft political declaration on strengthening the protection of civilians from the humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations. April 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/20220413_5th_Informal_Consultations_CH-comments_REV2_fnl.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/20220413_5th_Informal_Consultations_CH-comments_REV2_fnl.pdf</a>; Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nO5frX2hnM</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6427. 22 November 2010. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6427\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6427</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.2’. Reaching Critical Will. 8 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee General Debate’. Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations. 5 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/5Oct_Switzerland.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/5Oct_Switzerland.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042</a>; ‘Security Council Debate Highlights Harm From Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/security-council-debate-highlights-harm-from-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/security-council-debate-highlights-harm-from-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>; Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Switzerland’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/262.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/262.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"175","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"SY","countryName":"Syria"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":false,"content":"Syria has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. In the early consultations it stated that the political declaration should: be in line with the UN Charter and should be preventative to avoid an increase in urban nature of warfare; include a clear call to implement UN resolutions on combating terrorism; respect the sovereignty of states, territorial integrity, and non-interference in internal affairs; include a call to end foreign occupation as main cause of suffering of civilians; and reflect the imposition of coercive measures on states and consequent inability to respond to needs of civilians.[1] \nIt also said the political declaration must include a clear article on the root causes of increasing use of urban warfare, foremost amongst which is support to armed terrorist groups that are able to occupy cities and towns using civilians as human shields.[2] It said all data should be well documented and substantiated with evidence, and that when referencing commitment to International Humanitarian Law (IHL) it is necessary to mention “in all contexts”. Finally, Syria said the political declaration should not “welcome” the work of the UN Security Council but refer to the UN Charter and the UN Secretary-General’s statement on fighting terrorism.[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Ibid.</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Ibid.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"176","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"TJ","countryName":"Tajikistan"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Tajikistan has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Tajikistan aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity” in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"177","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"TZ","countryName":"Tanzania"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Tanzania has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. Tanzania participated in the Vienna Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare in October 2019, but did not issue any individual statement on EWIPA.[1] ","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Vienna Conference Marks Turning Point as States Support Negotiation of an International Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons’. INEW. 2019. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/\">https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"178","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"TH","countryName":"Thailand"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":true,"content":"Thailand has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs part of the Human Security Network, Thailand endorsed two statements addressing the risk of EWIPA at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in 2013[1] and 2014.[2] The statements called for data collection and to refrain from the use of EWIPA. ","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7019. 19 August 2013. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7019.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"180","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"TL","countryName":"Timor-Leste"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Timor-Leste has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"78","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"TG","countryName":"Togo"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":true,"content":"Togo was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. Togo participated in the Vienna Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare in October 2019,[1] as well as in the consultation for a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in 2020 but did not issue any statement.[2] At the fourth round of consultations in April 2022, Togo expressed support for the Political Declaration and noted with satisfaction that the draft takes into account states’ responsibility in guaranteeing humanitarian assistance.[3]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nDuring the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, Togo expressed concern at the high number of civilians killed by explosive weapons in armed conflict.[4]\nAlongside its individual statements, Togo has also aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. In 2017, Togo endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas[5]. The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Togo aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity” in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[6]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Vienna Conference Marks Turning Point as States Support Negotiation of an International Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons’. INEW. October 2019. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/\">https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘More than 70 States Engage in Discussions on Political Declaration’. INEW. February 2020. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/\">https://www.inew.org/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.6790. 25 June 2012. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6790\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6790</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’ <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"181","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"TO","countryName":"Tonga"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":false,"content":"Tonga has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"182","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"TT","countryName":"Trinidad and Tobago"}}},"region":"Caribbean","endorsed":true,"content":"Trinidad and Tobago has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. Trinidad and Tobago participated in the Vienna Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare in October 2019, but did not issue any individual statement on EWIPA.[1] ","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">‘Vienna Conference Marks Turning Point as States Support Negotiation of an International Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons’. INEW. 2019. <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/\">https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"183","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"TN","countryName":"Tunisia"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Tunisia has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nDuring the November 2011 Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians, Tunisia said that the indiscriminate use of EWIPA must be banned.[1] Tunisia has also aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. At the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in May 2021, the A3+1 (of which Tunisia is a member, alongside Kenya, Niger, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), condemned the use of EWIPA, highlighting the grave impacts for civilians.[2] They also specifically expressed alarm at the bombings in Gaza and hostilities in the other occupied Palestinian territories, and called for full implementation of the ceasefire and provision of humanitarian assistance to Palestinians.\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Tunisia aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">United Nations Security Council. S/PV.6650. 9 November 2011. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6650(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6650(Resumption1).</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Acheson, R. 2021. ‘Protecting Civilians by Preventing Conflict’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 June 2021. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15343-protecting-civilians-by-preventing-conflict\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15343-protecting-civilians-by-preventing-conflict.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"83","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"TR","countryName":"Türkiye"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":true,"content":"Türkiye was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022.\nTürkiye participated in the Vienna Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare in October 2019[1] and in the first round of consultations in Geneva in 2019.[2] In the latter, it asserted that the Political Declaration should not aim to create new norms, and called for the consideration of non-state actors in the declaration, it its written contribution noting that care should be taken when using the term “non-state actor” due to its ambiguity.[3] It reiterated these concerns in subsequent consultations, arguing that the Political Declaration should not open the door to NSAGs.[4] Throughout the consultations, Türkiye emphasised the need to strengthen protection of civilians through enhancing existing international humanitarian law (IHL) rather than by establishing new rules, concepts or mechanisms. [5] During the Dublin Conference in November 2022, Türkiye said it endorsed the declaration with the understanding that it is legally non-binding, and it does not create new obligations or reinterpret existing obligations. Türkiye also said that the term “non-state armed group” remains ambiguous.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nTürkiye aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitment to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in its national capacity and as a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[6]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement by Turkey: Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare - Towards a Political Declaration’. Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations. 18 November 2019. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Turkey-Written-Submission-18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Turkey-Written-Submission-18-November-2019.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Written Submission’. Permanent Mission of Turkey to the United Nations. March 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Turkey-March2020.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Turkey-March2020.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Foreign Ministry (2022). ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>; Irish Foreign Ministry (2022). ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity. ‘Turkey’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/273.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/273.html</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"184","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"TM","countryName":"Turkmenistan"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Turkmenistan has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Turkmenistan aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity” in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1] ","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"185","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"TV","countryName":"Tuvalu"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":false,"content":"Tuvalu has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"186","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"UG","countryName":"Uganda"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Uganda has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, Uganda endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.[1] The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.\nIn 2018 and 2019, Uganda joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[2] \nUganda is a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity” in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).’ <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"187","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"UA","countryName":"Ukraine"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":false,"content":"Ukraine has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It participated in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration: at the fourth round of consultations in April 2022, Ukraine condemned the use of EWIPA by Russia against Ukraine and suggested adding in the declaration language from the resolution adopted by the UN General Assembly condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. [1]\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nUkraine has spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, often referencing its own experience. During the 2022 UN General Assembly First Committee, Ukraine referenced the harmful use of explosive weapons in populated areas[2], and in 2023 highlighted the humanitarian consequences of explosive weapon use by Russian forces in Ukraine.[3] During the January 2016 Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians, Ukraine expressed concern about the humanitarian impact of EWIPA, and called for stricter norms to protect civilians.”[4]\nAlongside its individual statements, Ukraine has on several occasions aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. In 2018 and 2019, Ukraine joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [5]. As a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Germany has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians from the effects of explosive weapons in populated areas.[6]\nUkraine also aligned with the statement delivered by the European Union (EU) during the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, in which the EU welcomed the political declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption. The EU also highlighted the work ahead for implementing the declaration’s commitments, including at the 2024 Oslo Conference.[7]","references":"1. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>.\n<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"2\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.2’. Reaching Critical Will. 8 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No2.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">\nYoung, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">\nUN Security Council (2016). ‘UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict Meeting Transcript’. <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7606.</a>\n</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">\n‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a>\n</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: #2c3236; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042.</a>\n</li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"color: #2c3236; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">\n‘Statement on Conventional Weapons’. European Union. October 2023. Available from: .<a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com23/statements/23Oct_EU.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"188","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"AE","countryName":"United Arab Emirates"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":false,"content":"The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not individually participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration but, as a member of the Arab Group, participated in the round of consultations that took place in 2021. There, the Arab Group highlighted the following said that the aim of the Declaration should be to strengthen protection of civilians through enhancing existing International Humanitarian Law (IHL), not by establishing new rules, concepts, or mechanisms. The Group expressed concern that the Declaration would stigmatise explosive weapons use, noting that it is their use in contradiction to the rules of IHL rather than the weapons themselves that makes some attacks unlawful. The Arab Group said any reference to non-state armed groups should be confined to IHL, without prejudice of self-determination and resistance to foreign occupation and aggression, and argued that the Political Declaration draft overlooked the use of human shields by such groups. The Arab Group also urged clarity over terms such as “populated areas”, “reverberating effects”, and “critical civilian infrastructure” which it argued were undefined and open to interpretation.[1]\nStatements and positions\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, the UAE aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[2]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>; ‘Statement to EWIPA Political Declaration Informal Consultations’. The Arab Group. 3 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/3March_Arab-Group.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/3March_Arab-Group.pdf.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"79","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"GB","countryName":"United Kingdom"}}},"region":"Europe","endorsed":true,"content":"The United Kingdom was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. The UK regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration, as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums. Early in the consultation process the United Kingdom underlined its belief that the Declaration should stress that existing International Humanitarian Law (IHL) provides a sufficient framework to address the problem of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and that the Political Declaration include a clear distinction between the legitimate use of explosive weapons in populated areas in specific conflict situations and indiscriminate use that breaches IHL.[1] In addition, it called for the consideration of non-state actors in the Declaration.\nThese were repeated themes throughout the United Kingdom’s statements to the negotiations. At the second round of consultations in 2020, the United Kingdom also suggested (and in subsequent consultations supported) the use of qualifiers in the text, such as that explosive weapons in populated areas “can have” rather than “are having” devastating impacts. It further argued that data collection in conflict environments is difficult so the Political Declaration should say “all practical measures” so as not to impose unreasonable or unrealistic burdens. It also suggested a broader reference such as “disaggregating where appropriate”. In its written contribution, the United Kingdom argued that “reverberating effects” has no definitional underpinning outside explosive weapons in populated areas debates, and that the Political Declaration needs to establish what is meant by the term. ”[2] It further opposed the text of paragraph 3.3, saying that the extant language on ‘restricting’ use of weapons is unacceptably prescriptive, and that without a definitional basis, there are major questions over how ‘effects’ and ‘immediate area’ would be defined.[3]\nAs consultations progressed, the United Kingdom continued to support the use of qualifiers in the text, expressed concern that the Declaration would stigmatise explosive weapons use and argued against any phrasing in 3.3 that would commit states to changing their existing behavior and decision-making with respect to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, considering that there are many legitimate and lawful uses of explosive weapons. It raised concerns that the current wording (“restrict”) could be interpreted as requiring states to take precautions that go beyond existing IHL.[4] As consultations concluded, the United Kingdom expressed hope the Declaration would “make a tangible contribution to the promotion of fill compliance with IHL… and [create] a community for the sharing of best practice, along with the improvement of processes and procedures, underpinned by real military experience.”[5]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nThe UK has spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums: during the May 2019 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, the United Kingdom stated that it agreed “with what the Minister of Germany said on their need for us to be examining the use of high explosives in urban areas.”[6] At the UN Security Council Open Debate War in Cities: Protection of Civilians in Urban Settings on 25 January 2022, the United Kingdom said it welcomed work on the Political Declaration, which “must serve to increase the protection of civilians without jeopardising ‘legitimate’ military actions.”[7]\nAt the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2022, the United Kingdom welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the Political Declaration.[8] During the Dublin Conference in November 2022, the United Kingdom reiterated its support for the Declaration, and said it will implement its own national policies, review them, and if necessary, improve them, and will continue to work with and support its civilian and military partners.[9] At the UN General Assembly First Committee in 2023, the United Kingdom welcomed the Political Declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption. It also highlighted the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments, including at the Oslo Conference in 2024.[10]\nAlongside its individual statements, the United Kingdom has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. As a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, the United Kingdom has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians from the effects of explosive weapons in populated areas and welcoming the Declaration[11], and as a member of the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[12]\nThe United Kingdom also aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ as an EU member state in May 2016. This included the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[13]\nAs a previous member of the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom has signed onto numerous joint statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, including during the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in 2011, 2012, and 2013.[14] The EU also spoke out against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas during the General Debate of the 72nd UN General Assembly First Committee in 2017, recognising its potential impact on civilians and calling on all parties to armed conflict to fully comply with international humanitarian law (IHL).[15]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nPermanent Missions of France, Germany, and United Kingdom to the United Nations (2019). ‘Written Submission’. Permanent Missions of France, Germany, and United Kingdom to the United Nations. 19 November 2019. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/France-Germany-United-Kingdom-Paper-Written-Submission---18-November-2019.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/France-Germany-United-Kingdom-Paper-Written-Submission—18-November-2019.pdf</a>; ‘Written Contribution’.Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations. March 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/UK-March2020.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/UK-March2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Written Contribution’. Permanent Mission of the United Kingdom to the United Nations. March 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/UK-March2020.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/UK-March2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>;‘Draft Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences arising from the use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. United Kingdom. April 2022) <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/United-Kingdom.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/United-Kingdom.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement by the United Kingdom’. United Kingdom. 17 June 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/writtensubmissions-17june2022consultations/UK-statement.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/writtensubmissions-17june2022consultations/UK-statement.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.4’. Reaching Critical Will. 22 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement by the United Kingdom’. United Kingdom. November 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/United-Kingdom.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/United-Kingdom.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2023. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.21, No.5’. Reaching Critical Will. 4 November 2023. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM23/FCM-2023-No5.pdf</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042</a>; United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAgenda for Humanity Archives. ‘United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/275.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/275.html.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement during the May 2011 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 10 May 2011. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/eu_poc_11may2011_0.pdf</a>; ‘EU Statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 25 June 2012. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/\">http://www.peacewomen.org/security-council/security-council-open-debate-protection-civilians-armed-conflict-june-2012/</a>; ‘EU Statement during the August 2013 UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 19 August 2013. <a href=\"http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf\">http://www.peacewomen.org/sites/default/files/european_union_poc_august_2013_debate_0.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘EU Statement to the UN General Assembly 72nd Session First Committee Thematic Discussion on Conventional Weapons’. Permanent Mission of the European Union to the United Nations. 18 October 2017. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com17/statements/18Oct_EU.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"80","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"US","countryName":"United States"}}},"region":"Northern_America","endorsed":true,"content":"The United States was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. During the endorsing conference in Dublin, the United States said it looks forward to continuing its collaboration on this Declaration, adding that to have a lasting impact this Declaration will need robust implementation by each state and active follow-on exchanges among states.[1]\nThe United States regularly delivered statements throughout the consultations towards a Political Declaration[2], as well as raising concerns around explosive weapons in populated areas and expressing support for a Political Declaration in other multilateral forums. In the early stages the Unites States argued that the Political Declaration should not focus on the use explosive weapons in populated areas but more broadly on the protection of civilians in urban warfare, suggesting extensive revisions to widen the text and emphasising that explosive weapons should not be stigmatized as it their misuse, not their use, that is problematic.\nThough the United States maintained that a Political Declaration should not create new norms or renegotiate existing international humanitarian law (IHL) obligations, nor establish new concepts or mechanisms, it agreed that good military practices might go beyond what was required by IHL. It also suggested that non-state actors be included within the text, and argued that data does not need to be disaggregated and that data collection be “operationally feasible”.[3]\nAs consultations progressed, the United States supported qualifiers throughout the text indicating that harm “can” potentially arise from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, arguing that not all explosive weapons use causes civilian harm. It also argued that: “In some circumstances, the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects could actually be the best means for minimizing civilian casualties” and called for the Declaration to recognise this as part of the “full range of good policies and practices that contribute to such protection.”[4] It also supported France’s suggestion to delete “wide area effects” throughout the entire text on the basis that the text should deal with all types of explosive weapons. The United States also expressed concern with the use of the phrase “populated areas,” as it is not defined under IHL, and noted the importance of protecting civilians outside of populated areas as well. It also said that damage to infrastructure does not automatically impact essential services and opposed use of the term “reverberating effects”.[5]\nThe United States suggested that humanitarian consequences of “urban warfare” arise to a great extent from non-state armed groups that use human shields and operate in urban areas, which should be reflected in the Political Declaration. Unlike other participants, it specifically spoke against a review mechanism though it did later express support for a follow-up process that establishes a positive collaborative way forward, and not a forum that would judge states compliance in a politicized way.[6] Regarding paragraph 4.4. on victim assistance, the United States said it preferred the previous formulation to “make every effort to assist victims” instead of “provide, facilitate and support assistance to the injured survivors, families and communities affected by armed conflict”, saying that this commitment is unrealistic and too broad.[7] Regarding paragraph 4.4. on victim assistance, the United States said the draft formulation of “provide, facilitate and support assistance to the injured survivors, families and communities affected by armed conflict” was unrealistic and too broad. Regarding paragraph 3.3, the United States said that it's not feasible or realistic in combat generally to restrict or refrain from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and that if this provision does not reflect IHL and operational realities, it could prevent the United States and other states that are currently engaged in armed conflict to join the Declaration. [8]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nThe US has on occasion spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. During the Interactive Dialogue with the UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict at the Human Rights Council in September 2012, the United States expressed concern at the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[9] At the UN Security Council Open Debate War in Cities: Protection of Civilians in Urban Settings on 25 January 2022, the United States noted that explosive weapons “have made it devastatingly easy to threaten and kill civilians” and said that “armed actors exploit this,” putting schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure in deliberate danger.[10] It also noted its participation in the diplomatic process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in May 2023, the Group of Friends of Action on Conflict and Hunger, of which the US is a member, strongly welcomed the Political Declaration, called on other states to join it, and said that the Oslo Conference will provide a critical opportunity to make progress in implementing the Declaration.[11] Similarly, at the 2022 UN General Assembly First Committee, the US welcomed the conclusion of the negotiations on the Political Declaration.[12]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Morning Session.’ <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2VpYQzoKyo</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nReaching Critical Will (2019). ‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Towards a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: States Need to Ensure that Expressed Commitments Translate into Real Impacts on the Ground’. Reaching Critical Will. 2019. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14451-towards-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-wepons-in-populated-areas-states-need-to-ensure-that-expressed-commitments-translate-into-real-impacts-on-the-ground</a>; Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>; ‘Elements of a Political Declaration to Strengthen the Protection of Civilians from Humanitarian Harm Arising From Military Operations During Armed Conflict, Including in Urban Warfare’. Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations. 10 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/10Feb_US.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/statements/10Feb_US.pdf</a>; Written Submission’. Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations. March 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/US-March2020.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/US-March2020.pdf</a>; Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nRafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n Irish Department of Foreign Affairs ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations’. <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP82llmUacw\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EP82llmUacw</a>; ‘US government proposed edits’. United States. April 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/United-States.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/United-States.pdf.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Statement to the Human Rights Council’. Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations. 11 September 2012. <a href=\"https://geneva.usmission.gov/2012/09/11/successes-of-children-and-armed-conflict-process-include-the-freeing-of-over-10000-child-soldiers/\">https://geneva.usmission.gov/2012/09/11/successes-of-children-and-armed-conflict-process-include-the-freeing-of-over-10000-child-soldiers/</a>. \n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nYoung, K. 2022. ‘First Committee Monitor, Vol.20, No.4’. Reaching Critical Will. 22 October 2022. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/FCM22/FCM-2022-No4.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"81","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"UY","countryName":"Uruguay"}}},"region":"Latin_America","endorsed":true,"content":"Uruguay was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. During the Dublin Conference in November 2022, Uruguay expressed support for the declaration, as it recognizes the harm caused by explosive weapons in populated areas and will contribute to reduce human suffering.[1] During the early consultations, Uruguay agreed the regional Maputo and Santiago Communiqués should be reflected in the text, as well as the impacts of explosive weapons use on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).[2] It also agreed that language on victim assistance could be strengthened, and that the protection of schools and medical facilities should be explicitly included, and urged that the declaration reflect the reverberating effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.[3]\nThis was a recurring theme throughout Uruguay’s statements, alongside support for strong and detailed commitments on non-discriminatory humanitarian assistance. This included suggestions that reference should be made to emergency medical assistance, physical and psychological rehabilitation, family reunification and the protection of children, women and minority and vulnerable groups for their social reintegration, as well as replacing “make every effort to assist” with “ensure assistance is provided”.[4] Uruguay consistently opposed the inclusion of qualifying language such as “can cause harm” in the text.[5] It also agreed with the principle of avoiding the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, in line with the principle of the non-use of force. On this, it added that “when there are no other means to achieve a given military objective, it will be required that mitigation measures are adopted to limit its effects on the chosen objective, seeking to safeguard human lives in populated areas.”[6]\n<h2 class=\"p4\">Statements and positions</h2>\nUruguay has frequently spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, primarily to highlight the harms caused to civilians. During the August 2016 Security Council Open Debate on Children and Armed Conflict, Uruguay said the growing use of explosive weapons in populated areas was “reprehensible,” and condemned attacks against civilians in Syria and Yemen, including attacks against schools and hospitals.[7] During the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in May 2019 Uruguay called for a reduction of the proliferation of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and highlighted a regional meeting on the issue in Chile in 2018.[8]\nUruguay has also repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. Alongside 22 other Latin American and Caribbean states, Ecuador participated in the Santiago Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas in 2018, resulting in the Santiago Communiqué[9] in which the participating states agreed to take further action on the issue. In 2019, Uruguay joined 71 states to endorse a joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm.[10]\nAt the UN Security Council Open Debate War in Cities: Protection of Civilians in Urban Settings on 25 January 2022, the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, of which Uruguay is a member, called on states to enhance the protection of civilians, including from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and took note of the ongoing consultations to develop a Political Declaration on this subject.[11] At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict on 23 May 2023, the Group noted the adoption of the Political Declaration.[12]","references":"<ol>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIrish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch back. Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Dublin Conference – Afternoon Session’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmkCPwSq5M4</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nIbid. See also: Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Written Comments’. Permanent Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations. May 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Uruguay-March2020.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Uruguay-March2020.pdf</a>; Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas</a>; ‘Written Comments’. Permanent Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations. March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Uruguay-March2021.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Uruguay-March2021.pdf</a>; Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg\">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg</a>; ‘EWIPA – Informal consultations April 2022’. Uruguay. April 2022. <a href=\"https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/Uruguay.pdf\">https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/submissions6-9april/Uruguay.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Written Comments’. Permanent Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations. March 2021. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Uruguay-March2021.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Uruguay-March2021.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Written Comments’. Permanent Mission of Uruguay to the United Nations. May 2020. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Uruguay-March2020.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/ewipa/declaration/documents/Uruguay-March2020.pdf</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.7753. 2 August 2016. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7753\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7753.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.8534. 23 May 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.8534.</a>\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘Santiago Communiqué from the Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (Santiago, Chile)’. INEW. December 2018. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile\">https://www.inew.org/communique-from-regional-meeting-on-protecting-civilians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas-santiago-chile</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\n‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nAcheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. <a href=\"https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians\">https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians</a>.\n</li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\" aria-level=\"1\">\nUnited Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: <a href=\"https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)\">https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1)</a>.\n</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"189","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"UZ","countryName":"Uzbekistan"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Uzbekistan has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Uzbekistan aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1] ","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"190","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"VU","countryName":"Vanuatu"}}},"region":"Pacific","endorsed":false,"content":"Vanuatu has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"191","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"VN","countryName":"Viet Nam"}}},"region":"Asia","endorsed":false,"content":"Viet Nam has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). It has not yet commented on the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums, and it did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration. ","references":null}},{"id":"192","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"YE","countryName":"Yemen"}}},"region":"Middle_East","endorsed":false,"content":"Yemen has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nAs a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Yemen aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[1]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; border: none; mso-padding-alt: 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt 31.0pt; mso-border-shadow: yes;\">Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).’ <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"193","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"ZM","countryName":"Zambia"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Zambia has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, Zambia endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.[1] The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.\nIn 2018 and 2019, Zambia joined some 50 and 71 states respectively to endorse joint statements on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm [2]. Zambia also aligned with the Joint Commitment <a href=\"http://www.agendaforhumanity.org/commitment/495\">123002</a> to the World Humanitarian Summit led by Austria in May 2016, where it pledged to raise awareness about the challenges posed to civilians by the use of explosive weapons with wide are effects in populated areas.[3]","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘UNGA73 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (explosive weapons in populated areas)’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 25 October 2018. <a href=\"https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_EWIPA.pdf\">https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com18/statements/25Oct_explosive weapons in populated areas.pdf</a>; ‘UNGA74 First Committee Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations. 24 October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf\">https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf</a>; ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. International Network on Explosive Weapons. October 2019. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/\">https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.</a></li>\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Agenda for Humanity’. <a href=\"https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/123.html#495\">https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholders/commitments/123.html#495</a>. </li>\n</ol>"}},{"id":"194","attributes":{"country":{"data":{"attributes":{"countryCode":"ZW","countryName":"Zimbabwe"}}},"region":"Africa","endorsed":false,"content":"Zimbabwe has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did not actively participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration.\n<h2 class=\"p7\">Statements and positions</h2>\nIn 2017, Zimbabwe endorsed the communiqué arising from the Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.[1] The Maputo Communiqué discussed the harms of explosive weapons in populated areas, the role of African states in working against it, and the need to create a Political Declaration on the matter. The 19 African states present agreed to work independently and cooperatively to, inter alia: avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas; encourage collection of data and information; fully support the process towards adoption of an international Political Declaration; promote bilateral and regional cooperation through sharing experiences, good practices and expertise on reducing the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians; constructively engage in discussions and initiatives at international level that could effectively provide greater protection to civilians in armed conflicts; foster deeper and further engagement from African States; and strengthen cooperation and partnerships with international organizations and civil society organisations to draw upon their relevant expertise and support.","references":"<ol style=\"margin-top: 0cm;\" start=\"1\" type=\"1\">\n<li class=\"MsoNormal\" style=\"mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1;\">‘Communiqué from Maputo Regional Conference on the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas’. INEW. 28 November 2017. Available from: <a href=\"https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/\">https://www.inew.org/maputo-regional-conference-on-the-protection-of-civlians-from-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas/</a>.</li>\n</ol>"}}]