Côte d’Ivoire has acknowledged the harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA) and has committed to take action against EWIPA use.

Statements

In statements to the United Nations General Assembly First Committee in 2012, 2017, 2019, and 2020, Côte d’Ivoire has stated its commitment to the protection of civilians in conflict.[1] It has drawn attention to the many victims harmed by the use improvised explosive devices (IEDs) used by non-state actors.[2] To prevent these harms, Côte d’Ivoire has committed to training its security forces in the neutralisation of explosive as part of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons.[3]

As a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Afghanistan aligned with World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to ‘Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity’ in May 2016, including the commitment “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”[4]

[1] Permanent Mission of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations (2012). ‘UNGA67 First Committee Statement’. https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/unga/2012/GA67_CotedIvoire.pdf.; Permanent Mission of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations (2017). ‘UNGA72 First Committee Statement’. https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com19/statements/17Oct_CoteIvoire.pdf.; Permanent Mission of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations (2019). ‘UNGA74 First Committee Statement–Conventional Weapons Debate’. https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com19/statements/25Oct_CoteIvoire.pdf.

[2] Permanent Mission of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations (2020). ‘UNGA75 First Committee General Debate Statement’. https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmamentfora/1com/1com20/statements/19Oct_CDI.pdf.

[3] Permanent Mission of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations (2017). ‘UNGA72 First Committee Statement’. https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com19/statements/17Oct_CoteIvoire.pdf.; Permanent Mission of Côte d’Ivoire to the United Nations (2019). ‘UNGA74 First Committee Statement–Conventional Weapons Debate’. https://reachingcriticalwill.org/images/documents/Disarmament-fora/1com/1com19/statements/25Oct_CoteIvoire.pdf.

[4] Agenda for Humanity. ‘Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’. https://agendaforhumanity.org/stakeholder/233.html.