‘Reducing harm from explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA): Data collection as a basis for effective harm reduction’ will take place during the Humanitarian Networks & Partnership Weeks in Geneva on Thursday, 27 April 2023, at 14.00-15.30 (UTC+1, Geneva time).

Each year, tens of thousands of civilians are killed and injured from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas: a pattern of harm that has been well-documented over the past decade. Yet more suffer from long-term reverberating effects. In November 2022, 83 Member States endorsed the EWIPA Declaration, committing to enhance the protection of civilians by placing limits on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and agreeing to measures to assist affected communities. The Declaration marks the culmination of many years work, and repeated calls by the UN Secretary-General to address this top humanitarian priority.

The EWIPA Declaration requires the collection and sharing of data on the impact on civilians of the use of EWIPA to improve the understanding of the full impact of such use, which in turn can provide an evidential basis for harm reduction and inform operational changes and responses, including in developmental programming. Data collection is also a key obligation in other international agreements on weapons and protection of civilians, and recognised in the World Health Organisation’s core agenda item on “harnessing research, information and evidence” as foundational for setting priorities, defining strategies, and measuring results.

Speakers include:

Katherine Young, Explosive Weapons Monitor

Ingrid Schøyen, Team Lead, Humanitarian Affairs, Disarmament Affairs, Permament Representation of Norway to the United Nations, Geneva

Dominique Gassauer, Humanitarian Affairs Officer, OCHA Civil-Military Coordination Service

Dr. Eirini Giorgou, Legal Advisor, ICRC

(Moderator) Laura Boillot, International Network on Explosive Weapons