Turkey’s operations in north-eastern Syria: The devastating impact of explosiv...

The escalation of hostilities in north-eastern Syria once again illustrates the urgent need for the international community to take decisive political action that will set a stronger standard for civilian protection from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. There is a clear and familiar pattern of civilian harm when explosive weapons, especially those whose effects extend over a wide area, are used in areas where civilians live and work. Where towns and are... Read more

The value of ‘victim assistance’ in international agreements on civilian pro...

In this new paper, Article 36 looks at the content and implementation of commitments to ‘victim assistance’ in recent weapons treaties as well as the Safe Schools Declaration, arguing that similar commitments are both necessary and valuable to include in future international agreements on weapons policy and civilian protection. The impetus for several recent international agreements to prohibit or restrict specific weapons or practices in armed conflict has been to prevent future suffering. Treaties prohibiting... Read more

Vienna Conference marks turning point as states support negotiation of an intern...

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... Read more

Framing harms: Analysing responses in international commitments addressing armed...

Reducing and responding to the harms caused by violence – and making progress towards conditions internationally where civilian protection is prioritised and resorting to violence is minimised – is a diffuse and complex global task. It implicates many different actors, fields of action and expertise, forums and processes. Within this broad picture, agreements and statements of commitment between states that address armed violence, weapons policy and civilian protection in armed conflict – ranging from resolutions,... Read more