The Philippines has acknowledged the harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA) and committed to action against it.

Statements

The Philippines endorsed the joint statement on EWIPA during the 74th UN General Assembly First Committee in October 2019.[1] The statement, delivered by Ireland, encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of EWIPA on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international political declaration on this issue.[2]

The Philippines participated in the Vienna Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare on October 2019,[3] where it announced support for a political declaration for the first time. It encouraged that the declaration provide for exchange of practices and emphasised that a declaration should comprise practical measures and procedures. 

During the 75th UN General Assembly First Committee in October 2020, the Philippines said it “remains concerned about the humanitarian harm arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). We remain committed to actively participate in all international efforts to address this concern.”[4]

Political declarationThe Philippines participated in the second round of consultations for a political declaration on the use of EWIPA in February 2020 but did not issue any statement.[5]

[1] INEW (2019). ‘Seventy-one States call for Action on Impact of Explosive Weapons in Joint Statement to UN General Assembly’. https://www.inew.org/seventy-one-states-call-for-action-on-impact-of-explosive-weapons-in-joint-statement-to-un-general-assembly/.

[2]  Permanent Mission of Ireland to the United Nations (2019). ‘UNGA74 First Committee Debate on Conventional Weapons: Joint Statement on Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas Delivered by H.E. Ambassador Geraldine Byrne Nason Permanent Representative of Ireland to the United Nations, 2019, https://article36.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/UNGA74-joint-statement-on-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas.pdf.

[3] INEW (2019). ‘Vienna Conference Marks Turning Point as States Support Negotiation of an International Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons’.  https://www.inew.org/vienna-conference-marks-turning-point-as-states-support-negotiation-of-an-international-political-declaration-on-explosive-weapons/. 

[4] Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the United Nations (2020). UNGA75 First Committee Statement’. https://front.un-arm.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/philippines-en.pdf. 

[5]  INEW (2020). ‘More than 70 States Engage in Discussions on Political Declaration’. https://www.inew.org/more-than-70-states-engage-in-discussions-on-political-declaration/.