On 18-20 November 2025, the Costa Rica Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship will hold the second international follow-up conference to review implementation of the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. 

INEW, SEHLAC and FUNPADEM will co-convene the Protection Forum on 18 November 2025, to which all conference delegates are invited.

The conference will see senior officials and experts from Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, and key partners including the UN agencies, ICRC, civil society organisations and academia come together to review and discuss progress made as implementation and universalisation of the Declaration continues. This will be the second follow-up conference, succeeding the first conference in Oslo, Norway in April 2024. 

The aims of the conference are:

• Foster and promote global universalization, both in the region and globally, as well as to serve as an important occasion for non-endorsing States to announce their formal endorsement and grow support for the Declaration;
• Review and advance implementation efforts with a focus on responding to the reality of the impacts of EWIPA, fostering dialogue, sharing knowledge and best practice;
• Set a roadmap for action leading up to the third international conference and beyond.

The conference will also provide an opportunity for more states to join the Declaration and to commit to strengthening the protection of civilians.

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