International campaign against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas

Context

Backed by its successful advocacy campaigns against anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions, Handicap International is now conducting an ambitious new campaign against the use of explosive weapons with a large destructive radius in populated areas, known as the "EWIPA campaign".

This military practice is absolutely contrary to international humanitarian law.  It is still systematically used in present-day conflicts. In 2016, explosive weapons killed or injured 45,624 people, 92% of whom were civilians, when these weapons were used in populated areas (e.g. Syria, Iraq, Yemen). For the sixth consecutive year, these figures are on the rise.

Faced with this reality, the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW) and a group of States, supported by the Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the UN Secretary-General, has embarked on a diplomatic process to develop a strong political declaration, with the ambitious goal of ending the use of explosive weapons with a large destructive radius in populated areas.

In order to give a strong political dimension to this crucial declaration, and convince key States (with strong diplomatic and military influence) to join the process, Handicap International and the INEW network have decided to focus this primarily on citizens, by replacing civil society as a whole as a driver for international political mobilisation, through this project, in 3 key political areas: Paris, Berlin and the European Union.

Project owner

Handicap International Federation.

Overall objective 

Give increased protection to civilians in situations of armed conflict by mobilising States and civil society to implement a political declaration to end the use of explosive weapons with a large destructive radius in populated areas.

Specific objectives

Mobilise civil society to create a political and civic environment that is conducive to changes in military positions and practices with regard to the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

Beneficiaries

• Civilian victims of armed conflict and internally displaced persons
• European civil societies

Anticipated outcomes

• Civil society is the driving force behind the political campaign against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, leading to the signing of a political declaration against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas in 2018
• Political decision-makers are provided with up-to-date information in the field on the humanitarian consequences of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and undertake to take concrete measures to limit this practice and denounce it in international forums
• In 3 key European countries (France, Germany, Belgium/EU), victims and survivors play a special and increased role in raising public awareness, mobilising citizens and putting pressure on policy-makers in the campaign against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas