Recommendations for a political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas

As a contribution to the diplomatic process to address humanitarian harm from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, WILPF has published these recommendations for the development of a political declaration.

The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) welcomes the diplomatic process to develop a political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA) as an important effort to prevent humanitarian suffering and uphold international humanitarian law and international human rights law. As member of the International Network on Explosive Weapons, WILPF has consistently advocated for parties to conflict and other actors to acknowledge and address the harm caused by the use of EWIPA; develop strong international standards and undertake commitments to end this practice; gather and share disaggregated data to track the problems associated with use of EWIPA; and provide assistance to victims and survivors of the use of EWIPA.

It is within this context that WILPF offers these recommendations to diplomats and others negotiating the text of a political declaration on the use of EWIPA. We urge signatories of the declaration to stop the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas and to undertake relevant gender- and affected-community sensitive commitments to prevent humanitarian suffering, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and to uphold international humanitarian law and international human rights law.

Written by Ray Acheson • Published in January 2020 by the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom

In January 2020, WILPF also published comments in response to draft elements for a political declaration circulated by Ireland.