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
Statements and positions
South 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
As 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 20134 and 2014.5 The statements called for data collection and to refrain from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.