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
The Dominican Republic attended the first international follow-up conference on the Political Declaration in Oslo, Norway in April 2024.
Statements and positions
At the first international follow-up conference on the Political Declaration the Dominican Republic drew attention to the widespread harm caused to civilian populations and infrastructure in ongoing conflicts, as well as highlighting the harm caused in its own country. The Dominican Republic underlined the relevance and importance of the Political Declaration across conflicts today, and pointed to recommendations put forward by the ICRC and Article 36’s Implementation Framework to improve protection. The Dominican Republic also highlighted its work to clear its own territory from explosive remnants from war.2
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.3
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 Ireland4. At the UN Security Council open debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict in May 2024 the Group highlighted the harm caused by explosive weapons in populated areas across ongoing conflicts, and stressed that “the effective protection of civilians and civilian objects must be made a strategic priority in the planning and conduct of military operations.” To that end, the Political Declaration was identified as providing “practical tools that ensure that protection is real and effective.”5 At the debate in May 2023, the Group noted the adoption of the Political Declaration6. 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.7 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.8