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Parliamentary Appeal

International Parliamentary Appeal to prevent human suffering from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas

Harm

The use of explosive weapons in populated areas causes broad, substantial and ongoing harm.

Smoke rises over Syrian town of Kobani after an airstrike. © REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach

Political response

INEW calls for immediate action to prevent human suffering from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas

The tail of a 120 mm mortar in a garden in the village of Semenivka, Ukraine. © Dirk-Jan Visser for PAX and UNOCHA

Resources

INEW member Save the Children's recent report highlights the impact of explosive weapons on children

Events

INEW organises, hosts and participates in a range of meetings, conferences and other events related to explosive weapons use

Views of Beit Hanoun, one of the neighbourhoods most affected by the bombings in Northern Gaza. © Yann Libessart/MSF

The Vienna Conference

The Vienna Conference on Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare

Unexploded MK 82 bomb dropped by the Coalition, which was subsequently rigged by IS and turned into a large IED, surrounded by six mortars locally produced by IS. © Amnesty International

Welcome to INEW

The International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW) is an NGO partnership calling for immediate action to prevent human suffering from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

Explosive weapons include improvised explosive devices (IEDs) as well as explosive ordnance such as mortars, rockets, artillery shells and aircraft bombs. These weapons use blast and fragmentation to kill and injure people in the area around the point of detonation. When used in public places, this area-effect means that innocent people are often severely affected. Data indicate that between 80 and 90% of those killed and injured are civilians; still more are affected when there is damage to vital infrastructure (such as schools, hospitals, housing and water and sanitation systems).

INEW believes that this suffering can be reduced and unnecessary deaths and injuries prevented. We are calling on states and other actors to face up to this problem as a policy challenge, to meet the needs of victims and survivors, to review their national practices and to come together to develop stronger international standards to curb this pattern of violence. INEW members undertake research and advocacy to promote greater understanding of the problem and the concrete steps that can be taken to address it.

Latest news

Recent News See all post

Turkey’s operations in north-eastern Syria: The devastating impact of explosive weapons

October 17, 2019

The escalation of hostilities in north-eastern Syria once again illustrates the urgent need for the international community to take decisive political action that will set a stronger standard for civilian protection from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
Photo: © Save the Children

Recent News See all post

First Committee 2019 update – week 1

October 17, 2019

Photo credit: Philippe Kropf/OCHA

Recent Resource See all resources

INEW briefing on protecting civilians from explosive weapons, October 2019

October 17, 2019

INEW briefing on protecting civilians EWIPA UNGA2019

Recent News See all post

INEW briefing on protecting civilians from explosive weapons, October 2019

October 17, 2019

INEW briefing on protecting civilians EWIPA UNGA2019

Recent News See all post

INEW statement to the UN General Assembly’s First Committee 2019

October 17, 2019

Photo credit: Francisco Leong/AFP/Getty Images

Recent News See all post

Vienna Conference marks turning point as states support negotiation of an international political declaration on explosive weapons

October 2, 2019

Vienna Conference marks a turning point as states support negotiation of an international political declaration on explosive weapons 133 countries Read More

Recent News See all post

INEW statement at the Vienna Conference on Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare

October 2, 2019

INEW statement at Vienna conference on urban warfare

Recent Event See all calendar

Vienna Conference on Protecting Civilians in Urban Warfare

October 1, 2019

© IHH Humanitarian Relief Fondation https://flic.kr/p/mC9de1

Recent Resource See all resources

Elements for a declaration on explosive weapons

October 1, 2019

Elements of a political declaration to prevent harm.
Photo: Children in Azaz, Aleppo governorate in Syria (© IHH Humanitarian Relief Fondation https://flic.kr/p/mC9de1)