Preventing and mitigating the indirect effects on essential services from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas: ICRC Recommendations

In November 2022, the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas was adopted and has since been endorsed by 87 states. This milestone declaration recognizes the grave indirect (reverberating) effects resulting from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It commits endorsing states, inter alia, to take meaningful measures and adopt policies and good practices that will alleviate human suffering caused by indirect effects on essential services during armed conflicts and in their aftermath.

In October 2023, the ICRC organized a meeting of experts to discuss how to advance implementation of the Political Declaration’s commitments relevant to preventing and mitigating the indirect effects on essential services from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. The following ICRC recommendations are informed not only by the views shared at the October 2023 expert meeting but also by ICRC’s own experience and analysis. As such the recommendations presented beyond go beyond the good practices discussed at the expert meeting. Their aim is to present a range of possible measures for States to consider and work towards over the coming years as they implement their commitments under the political declaration, both during and after armed conflicts.