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.
At 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
Statements and positions
Cambodia attended the first international follow-up conference on the Political Declaration in Oslo, Norway, April 2024, and spoke during the session on ‘Assisting Conflict-Affected Communities’. In its statement, Cambodia emphasised the widespread use of explosive weapons in populated areas in conflicts across the world has killed thousands of civilians. Furthermore, it underlined the damage and destruction of civilian infrastructure, such as water and electricity supplies, housing, and other essential service networks, as well as environmental harm, all of which “triggers domino effects that exacerbate suffering”. Cambodia recalled the UN Secretary General’s appeal for “parties to conflict to refrain from the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas, owing to the widespread and predictable harm that results from such use.”2
Cambodia has shared the challenges posed by landmines and explosive remnants of war in its territory on numerous occasions, including at the first international follow-up conference in Norway, and at the signing ceremony for the Political Declaration in Ireland in 2019. At the Oslo Conference, Cambodia stressed that the rise in conflicts and the explosive remnants of war necessitates unwavering commitment to strengthening international humanitarian law, human rights and human security, and drew attention to its hosting of the Fifth Review Conference of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Antipersonnel Mines and on Their Destruction. In Dublin, Cambodia thanked the host, Ireland, and other stakeholders for the support in demining activities.3