This year’s UN General Assembly’s 78th session started in mid-September, with the First Committee on Disarmament and International Security taking place throughout the month of October.

This year is the first year since the political declaration on strengthening the protection of civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas was adopted and subsequently endorsed by 83 states. The declaration is the first international recognition of this problem, and it commits states to action. As such, First Committee is an important opportunity for states to:

• Acknowledge the ongoing harm to civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas
• Outline steps being taken to implement the declaration at a national level, including through policies and changes to practice
• For states that have not yet joined the declaration, it is an opportunity to announce steps being taken to join the declaration, or even announce decisions to join it.

INEW has developed this briefing paper for states to encourage them to raise the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas, and action to prevent and address this harm, in their national statements.

Read more about the impact of explosive weapons in the Explosive Weapons Monitor report, Documenting Two Years of Global Harm to Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (2021-2022).