Albania has acknowledged the harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA) but is not involved in the process to develop a political declaration.

Statements

As a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Albania 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.”[1]

At the UN Security Council Open Debate War in Cities: Protection of Civilians in Urban Settings on 25 January 2022, Albania warned that when cities become theatres of war, streets become deathbeds. It noted that the use of EWIPA always leads to mass civilian casualties, destruction of critical infrastructure, and displacement. It also called on all parties to conflict to stop or avoid the use of EWIPA.[2]

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

[2]  Ray Acheson, Reaching Critical Will (2022). ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians.