The Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas is the first formal international recognition that the use of explosive weapons in populated areas is the leading cause of civilian casualties in armed conflict, and that this must be addressed urgently and directly. Read the Political Declaration here.
On November 18, 2022 in Dublin, 83 states officially endorsed the Political Declaration, which was finalised on 17 June 2022 in Geneva after decade-long advocacy efforts led by the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and the United Nations and almost three years of diplomatic negotiations led by Ireland. View the timeline of negotiations and highlights here.
Currently, there are 83 states that have endorsed the Declaration: view the map of states here, and read state positions here.
States that endorse the Declaration are committing to work together, along with the UN, ICRC, and civil society, to strengthen the protection of civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.Endorsement of the Declaration is an act of recognition of the civilian harm caused by explosive weapons and expression of solidarity with the countless victims of such violence in armed conflicts around the world. It is an important example of international cooperation among a diverse set of actors to address a very complex problem.The Declaration is a starting point—not an endpoint. We know that changing military practice, to move away from using explosive weapons in populated areas, will be a long-term undertaking.
Implementing the Declaration will require action in a number of key areas, including:
- Developing national policy and practice to restrict or refrain from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas when such use may be expected to cause harm to civilians or civilian objects.
- Developing national policy and practice to protect civilians and civilian objects, including infrastructure critical to the survival of the civilian population, from the foreseeable direct and indirect or reverberating effects of military operations.
- Establishing capacities to gather and share data to better understand the humanitarian consequences of military operations, including data on civilian harm and damage to civilian infrastructure, and on the use of explosive weapons.
- Assisting victims, their families and affected communities, and facilitating humanitarian access to civilians in need.
Read more about implementation of the Political Declaration in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.
States wishing to endorse the Declaration should send a Note Verbale to the Permanent Mission of Ireland in Geneva, ewipa@dfa.ie or the Permanent Mission of Ireland in New York, ewipa@un.org.