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
Statements and positions
The 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
As 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 Ireland3. 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 Declaration4. 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