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

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

133 countries gathered in Vienna for a Conference on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Warfare on 1-2 October 2019 where states discussed the harm caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, the legal context and examples of good military practice.

The meeting ended with widespread support from states for developing an international political declaration to prevent and reduce the harms resulting from bombing and shelling in towns and cities, including civilian deaths and injury, destruction of infrastructure and essential services, psychological trauma, and displacement.

The Vienna Conference is a watershed moment. The International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW) has long advocated for recognition of the humanitarian challenges raised by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and has carried out several studies on this subject.

Around 40 states intervened in the final session of the Vienna Conference on “the way forward” to talk about next steps, with widespread support for developing an international political declaration.

In the last couple of years, African states have met in Mozambique and Latin American and Caribbean states met in Chile, with both regional meetings resulting in regional communiqués urging work to begin on agreeing an international commitment on explosive weapons.

Ireland announced that it will convene states in Geneva on 18 November 2019 for open consultations on the text of a new international political declaration, with a view to finalising it in the Spring of 2020.

So far, a group of around 80 countries have voiced support for developing an international political declaration on explosive weapons. States that announced support for a political declaration for the first time include Belgium, France, Lesotho, Nicaragua and the Philippines.

INEW has laid out its view on possible elements of an international political declarationon explosive weapons to raise international standards, help shape the conduct of parties to armed conflict and assist victims and communities harmed by explosive weapons. A political declaration could describe the harm we are committed to preventing, and contain action-oriented commitments for endorsing states to:

• Develop operational policies and procedures that will stop the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas

• Share positive practice and policy

• Provide assistance to victims towards the realisation of their rights, and support affected communities

• Support and undertake data gathering, including casualty recording, with data on victims disaggregated by age, sex and disability

• Enable humanitarian and protection measures, and

• Build a community of practice, including through regular meetings to discuss the issue and progress towards reducing harm.

States who have expressed their support for a political declaration on explosive weapons

1. Angola

2. Antigua and Barbuda

3. Argentina

4. Austria

5. Bangladesh

6. Barbados

7. Belgium

8. Belize

9. Bosnia and Herzegovina

10. Botswana

11. Brazil

12. Bulgaria

13. Cameroon

14. Central African Republic

15. Chile

16. Colombia

17. Congo

18. Costa Rica

19. Croatia

20. Cyprus

21. Czech Republic

22. Dominican Republic

23. Ecuador

24. El Salvador

25. Ethiopia

26. Finland

27. France

28. Georgia

29. Germany

30. Ghana

31. Guatemala

32. Guyana

33. Haiti

34. Honduras

35. Iceland

36. Indonesia

37. Ireland

38. Islamic Republic of Iran

39. Italy

40. Jamaica

41. Kenya

42. Liechtenstein

43. Liberia

44. Lesotho

45. Luxembourg

46. Madagascar

47. Malaysia

48. Mali

49. Malta

50. Mexico

51. Moldova

52. Monaco

53. Montenegro

54. Mozambique

55. Morocco

56. New Zealand

57. Nicaragua

58. Nigeria

59. Norway

60. North Macedonia

61. Panama

62. Paraguay

63. Peru

64. Philippines

65. Portugal

66. Samoa

67. San Marino

68. Senegal

69. Serbia

70. Slovenia

71. Somalia

72. Spain

73. Sri Lanka

74. St Kitts and Nevis

75. St Vincent and the Grenadines

76. Sweden

77. Switzerland

78. Togo

79. Uganda

80. Ukraine

81. Uruguay

82. Zambia

83. Zimbabwe

Participating countries at the Vienna Conference (133 states)

Afghanistan, Algeria, Andorra, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Canada, Cameroon, Chad, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Costa Rica, Cote d’Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Estonia, Eswatini, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya,, Lao PDR, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russian Federation, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, UAE, UK, USA, Uruguay, Viet Nam, Yemen.

Photo: Syria, a mutilated future: A focus on the persons injured by explosive weapons, Humanity and Inclusion, May 2016. Rajab9, 63, suffered severe injuries in both legs when his house was bombed in Syria, in 2013. © C. Fohlen/ Handicap International.