On 29 February – 1 March 2024, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the Explosive Weapons Monitor (EWM) organised a multi-stakeholder workshop on effective measures and practices for data collection on the reverberating effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA), in Geneva, with the support from the governments of Germany and Norway.
The workshop featured break-out groups and plenary discussions, with an opportunity for participants to exchange views and perspectives on measures, tools, and methodologies for collecting, analysing and sharing data on the reverberating effects of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on specific areas of civilian life.
The workshop sought to contribute to the implementation of relevant provisions of the Political Declaration and help prepare for meaningful dialogue at the first international follow-up conference in Oslo. The intended outcomes included:
- Raising awareness and enhancing the shared understandings of measures and effective practices for documenting the reverberating effects of the use of EWIPA, and identifying appropriate tools and methodologies;
- Identifying gaps and challenges in existing efforts to collect and share data on the reverberating effects of the use of EWIPA, as well as actions and resources needed to overcome these;
- Strengthening the communities of knowledge and practice for collecting and sharing data on the reverberating effects of the use of EWIPA and identifying opportunities for further collaboration; and
- Contributing to efforts to strengthen the evidence base that shows patterns of cumulative civilian harm resulting from military operations involving the use of EWIPA.
This working paper, submitted to the Oslo Conference in April 2024, summarises key reflections arising from the workshop’s discussions and provides considerations to help inform future collaborative work on this topic within the framework of the Political Declaration.