The process to develop the political declaration on explosive weapons
States will gather in Dublin, Ireland, on 18 November 2022 for a conference to endorse the new Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons. The declaration is a landmark achievement with the potential to significantly strengthen the protection of civilians.
Ireland led the process to develop the international political declaration to strengthen the protection of civilians arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. The political declaration text was finalised on 17 June 2022, following other consultations in Geneva that have taken place since 2019.
Prior to this, in October 2019 Austria hosted the international Vienna Conference on Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare, where the floor was opened to all interested parties, including all UN Member and Observer States, international organisations and civil society with relevant expertise, to present their facts and expertise on the issue, as well as engage in debate among participants. At the close of the conference, Ireland announced it would hold a series of consultations with a view towards developing a political declaration to address the humanitarian harm arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
At the close of the conference, Ireland announced it would hold a series of consultations with a view towards developing a political declaration to address the humanitarian harm arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
See: Ireland’s webpage on the political declaration process
The process:
Photo: © United States Mission Geneva. Original.