INEW advocacy sheet on Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict

The International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW) calls on States and international organisations to use the opportunity provided by the UN Security Council debate on the Protection of Civilians to:

• Acknowledge that use of explosive weapons in populated areas tends to cause severe harm to individuals and communities and furthers suffering by damaging vital infrastructure;
• Support the call of the UN Secretary-General for further work by States, UN agencies, international organisations and NGOs to better understand the impact of explosive weapons in populated areas and to develop mechanisms for improving civilian protection.

The last UN Secretary General’s report on protection of civilians in armed conflict, 11 Nov 2010, highlighted the humanitarian impact of explosive weapons when used in populated areas (paras 48-51). It urged Member States to respond by providing information on both the pattern of harm and the policies in place to limit that impact. INEW is calling on states to act on those recommendations.