INEW ~ States from southern Africa attend regional roundtable on “Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas”

On 27-28 February 2025, 40 representatives attended a regional roundtable for Southern African Development Community States hosted by Article 36. Among attendees were international organisations, including the African Union, United Nations and the ICRC, civil society organisations and states.

The roundtable meeting on strengthening the protection of civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas took place in Johannesburg, South Africa with the aim of building support for the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas as a framework that can reduce harm to civilians.

Additionally, the roundtable intended to:

Enhance understanding of the humanitarian impact of explosive weapons in populated areas among government representatives in Southern African and awareness of the Political Declaration and the international policy agenda on this theme;
Better understand perspectives and state positions on the issue in the sub-region, by providing space to explore views on the Declaration, considerations for joining and implementing it, and impact of geopolitical dynamics;
Foster collaboration between states, civil society organisations and international organisations working on this issue, in order to provide information and support that aides endorsement and national level implementation of the Declaration;
Highlight successful initiatives and policies that have been implemented in the region and globally to address challenges posed by EWIPA, or to mitigate the effects of weapons and armed conflict under other related humanitarian and disarmament frameworks.

The two-day meeting featured a series of discussions exploring both the humanitarian and policy perspectives of explosive weapons impact and use. Sessions covered the ongoing challenges and humanitarian impacts, efforts to strengthen military policies for civilian protection, and strategies for tracking and addressing civilian harm. Participants also examined international and national approaches for implementation of the Political Declaration and supporting conflict-affected communities.

Following the regional meeting, Human Rights Watch, a member organisation of INEW, has urged South Africa to sign onto the Political Declaration to deepen their commitment to the protection of civilians.