The UN Security Council held its annual open debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict on 21-22 May 2024. Ahead of the debate INEW issued a short briefing calling for strengthened action to prevent suffering from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. 

Delegations described the ongoing harm experienced by civilians as “shocking”, “alarming”, “appalling”, “nothing but disturbing” and “overwhelmingly tragic.” This “grim picture” coincides with the 25th year anniversary of UNSC Resolution 1265 (1999), which put the protection of civilians on the Security Council’s agenda, and the 75th year anniversary of the Geneva Conventions (1949). Pointing to the dismal current state of civilian protection, many states referenced the anniversaries not in a celebratory tone, but as exasperated call to action.

A full write up of the debate is available here.

2024 Statement by members of the NGO Working Group on the Protection of Civilians

Prior to the debate, several members of the network signed onto the joint statement by the NGO working group which recognises and describes the critical problems that “as conflict is increasingly fought in urban areas, the levels of harm to civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure increases exponentially, especially when parties to conflict use explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). In all cases, the physical, psychological and reverberating effects of violence often continue to impact civilian lives and livelihoods for generations after the conflict has ended.” The statement also included a call to action for Member States to “at the national level… take meaningful action to improve civilian protection in conflict.” Herein, the statement said this “should include reinforcing guidance, policies, strategies, legislation and mechanisms at the national level to strengthen protection of civilians” and “endorsing initiatives aimed at strengthening civilian protection in conflict including the EWIPA Political Declaration”.

Side Event on Protecting Civilians from Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, 23 May 2024

A side event on “Protecting Civilians from Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas” was convened to coincide with the annual debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. The panel included:

• Ambassador Fergal Mythen, (Moderator) Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations
• Ms. Edem Wosornu, Director for Operations and Advocacy, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)
• H.E. Merete Fjeld Brattested, Permanent Representative of Norway to the United Nations
• Ms Laetitia Courtois, Permanent Observer to the UN & Head of Delegation for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in New York
• Ms Camilla Molyneux, Researcher and Project Lead for the International Network on Explosive Weapons
• Dr Hamza al-Kateab, Syrian Doctor, Human Rights Activist and Co-Founder of Action for Sama

The side event convened a focused discussion on the impact of and harm caused to civilians from use of explosive weapons in populated areas. An expert panel discussed the direct and indirect harm from explosive weapons in the conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar and Ukraine, reflected over the necessary steps to facilitate prevention and mitigation, the importance of accountability, and how the Political Declaration and its commitments provides a practical framework for mitigating and preventing harm. 

The panel was organised and sponsored by the Permanent Missions to the United Nations of Ireland, Jordan, the Republic of Liberia, Norway and Sierra Leone, the International Network on Explosive Weapons, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.