International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW)

The declaration creates an opportunity for states to improve and adjust their military policies and practice, ensuring compliance with IHL. Read INEW's Implementation Framework here ➡️ http://bit.ly/4bWxf0e

According to UNICEF, “in North Darfur, more than 400 children have reportedly been killed and maimed in recent escalation of fighting in and around El Fasher, while the continued use of #explosiveweapons in populated areas is creating further risks for children and families.” More than 3,800 children have been reportedly killed or injured since the escalation of fighting in April 2023, in #Sudan. The use of #EWIPA is widely acknowledged to be a leading cause of harm to civilians in conflict, with children being especially vulnerable. 💬 “This is the biggest child displacement crisis in the world. Children do not start wars, but they pay the highest price. We need the world to know what is happening to the children of Sudan and insist that all parties stop the violence and end this war” says Catherine Russell, UNICEF Chief. Read more here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eNizmUdT Watchlist on Children and Armed Conflict's report explores the impact that explosive weapons have on children, stating that “explosive weapons are among the leading causes of the killing and maiming of children in armed conflict. Among the civilian population, children face distinct vulnerabilities.” Read the report here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eZTeqgXK #StopBombingCivilians

📚 The Global Coalition to Protect Education from Attack welcomes their new report, Education Under Attack 2024. The 2024 edition is the seventh in a series of publications examining the threat of, or actual use of, force against students, teachers, professors, education personnel, or educational facilities and materials, as well as the military use of schools and universities. Some key findings show that: ✅ #explosiveweapons were used in around 1/3 of all reported attacks on education in 2022 & 2023. A significant number of these attacks occurred in #Colombia, #Palestine, #Sudan, #Syria, #Ukraine, and #Yemen. ✅ Palestine, Sudan, and Yemen were affected by attacks on #highereducation in 2022 and 2023. Many of these attacks used explosive weapons, causing widespread harm to students, educators, and civilian infrastructure. ✅ 10,000+ students and educators were killed, injured, abducted, arrested, or otherwise harmed in attacks on education over the last 2 years. Urgent action is needed to #protecteducation. Learn more and download the report here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/den_5rEq

🌍 Today is World Refugee Day The use of #explosiveweapons in populated areas is a key driver of displacement, owing to the devastating consequences on civilians and civilian infrastructure that is essential to their survival. Proximity to #bombing and #shelling can also force civilians to leave their homes due to both physical and psychological trauma. Civilians may also flee to find shelter as the destruction caused by #EWIPA can render their homes uninhabitable. Some key research and resources document findings of the relationship between explosive weapons in populated areas and displacement: ✅ "Multiple patterns of displacement have been documented in contexts where the use of heavy EWIPA is protracted,” according to International Committee of the Red Cross - ICRC. “Often, civilians are repeatedly displaced, as they are forced to move from one location or community to another.” Read more in their report here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gaxaQycQ ✅ To reduce harm to civilians, @Article36 suggests that “curbing the use of EWIPA is essential to provide greater protection to civilians experiencing armed conflict and to reduce the increase of displaced people.” Read more here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eYUXAPgP ✅ Research, illustrated below, by Explosive Weapons Monitor shares figures on displacement in Sudan, where the use of explosive weapons has devastated towns and cities. See this case study and more in their 2023 report: ➡️https://bit.ly/ewm2023 #StopBombingCivilians #WorldRefugeeDay

INEW’s summary of the @UN's debate on the Protection of Civilians is available to read now ➡️ https://bit.ly/4ewf8PY Delegations described the ongoing harm experienced by civilians as “shocking”, “alarming”, “appalling”, “nothing but disturbing” and “overwhelmingly tragic.” #EWIPA #StopBombingCivilians

💬 Izumi Nakamitsu expressed concern over the "continued, intensified attacks affecting civilian populations and infrastructure” in both the Russian Federation and #Ukraine, and that “the use of explosive weapons in populated areas must be avoided." Read more here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/epkB4UkG #EWIPA #StopBombingCivilians

In a briefing to the United Nations Security Council, Edem Wosornu remarked that “fourteen months of conflict have created a nightmare for civilians in #Sudan” and “#bombing and #shelling continues in densely populated areas, causing widespread and long-term harm to civilians." She continued that “many Member States noted the devastating effects of the use of #explosiveweapons in populated areas during the Council’s annual debate on the protection of civilians four weeks ago.” A summary on the debate is available here ➡️ https://bit.ly/4ewf8PY Explosive Weapons Monitor's Fragments article “Explosive Weapons Use in Sudan” states “the damage and destruction to civilian infrastructure from the use of #EWIPA, in particular, has left civilians with a dangerous shortage of food and water, unreliable access to electricity and impeded access to healthcare.” Read the article here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eBAafbx3 ✅ To prevent harm and mitigate risk to civilians, armed forces and groups in Sudan – and elsewhere – must avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. INEW calls on Sudan and all states to endorse the Political Declaration on Explosive Weapons and avoid the use of explosive weapons in populated areas due to their indiscriminate effect on civilians. #StopBombingCivilians

According to United Nations Satellite Centre (UNOSAT), over half of all buildings in #Gaza have been destroyed to date. Many #explosiveweapons systems were designed for use in open battlefields. When explosive weapons are used in populated areas they have devastating consequences on civilians and the infrastructure essential to their survival. See more here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/dhJmWjQq #EWIPA

The humanitarian situation in #Gaza continues to worsen. Since the bombing of displaced persons in #Rafah on 26 May, there have been ongoing strikes across the Gaza Strip, resulting in civilian casualties, displacement and the destruction of vital civilian infrastructure. Since October 7, at least 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip and another 83,000 Palestinians reportedly injured, according to ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e5mahnqX On 6 June, an #airstrike hit a UN-run school in Gaza and killed 37 people, including 14 children, with others injured. When #explosiveweapons are used in populated areas, they destroy vital infrastructure that civilians depend on. The effects of these explosive weapons are often indiscriminate, with a staggering pattern of harm resulting in death and injuries of civilians. In a recent statement, Volker Türk stated “the killing, destruction and widespread human rights violations are unacceptable, and must cease immediately”. INEW calls on all parties to conflict to stop the use of #EWIPA due to the high risk of harm to civilians. #StopBombingCivilians