On 23 April 2024, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs will hold the first international follow-up conference to review implementation of the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. This will be the first follow-up since the high-level international conference in Dublin on 18 November 2022, which saw the Declaration formally adopted by 83 states.
The conference will see senior officials and experts from Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Defence, and key partners including the UN agencies, ICRC, civil society organisations and academia come together to review and discuss progress made as implementation and universalisation of the Declaration continues.
The aims of the conference are:
- to review implementation of the declaration from endorsing states, any progress, and respective challenges;
- continue to highlight the humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the need to strengthen the protection of civilians;
- build a shared understanding of the priority areas and key issues including different regional experiences and approaches.
The conference will also provide an opportunity for more states to join the Declaration and to commit to strengthening the protection of civilians.
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In addition, INEW and the Norwegian Red Cross will co-convene the Protection Forum on 22 April 2024, to which all conference delegates are invited.