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.
Statements and positions
At the United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2024, Lebanon’s statement drew attention to Israel’s use of and harm from the explosive weapons in populated areas in Lebanon. 1
Lebanon has acknowledged the need to protect civilians from the humanitarian consequences from explosive weapons in populated areas as a member of the Arab Group. At the Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in 2024, a working paper submitted by the Group drew attention to the Political Declaration, and the importance of strengthening civilian protection from the humanitarian consequences of explosive weapons in populated areas.2
As 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.”3
Lebanon also endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement on the use of EWIPA 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 EWIPA on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international political declaration on this issue.5