Over the past two months, the urgency of strengthening civilian protection measures has gained renewed attention. At a widely attended conference in Vienna, states showed strong support for a new legally binding instrument on autonomous weapons systems, given the range of threats these systems pose. In his annual protection of civilians report, the UN secretary-general highlighted the unacceptable civilian harm caused by a variety of problematic weapons. He argued these humanitarian consequences warrant new laws and standards and better implementation of existing ones. Civil society organizations meanwhile documented ongoing harm, leveraged Protection of Civilians Week to amplify their calls for stronger global commitments, and considered how humanitarian disarmament can enhance civilian protection.
On May 21, the United Nations Security Council held its annual open debate on protection of civilians. Credit: @NorwayUN, 2024.
In case you missed it:
From April 29-30, more than 1,000 participants from 144 states as well as international organizations and civil society convened for an Austrian-sponsored conference entitled “Humanity at the Crossroads: Autonomous Weapons and the Challenge of Regulation.” The conference highlighted the grave legal and ethical concerns raised by autonomous weapons systems and stressed the need for human control over the use of force. The chair’s summary concluded by “affirm[ing] our strong commitment to work with urgency and with all interested stakeholders for an international legal instrument to regulate autonomous weapons systems.” For more information, see Reaching Critical Will’s resource page on the conference.
Human Rights Watch reported on an April 29 Russian cluster munition strike on Odesa, Ukraine, that killed seven civilians and injured dozens more. In addition to highlighting the danger posed to civilians by these weapons, Human Rights Watch called on Russia, Ukraine, and the United States to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions and to destroy their stockpiles of the weapons.
On May 21, the United Nations Security Council held its annual Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians. The International Network on Explosive Weapons prepared a briefing note for the open debate which calls for “strengthened action to prevent human suffering from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.”
In his annual report on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, the secretary-general of the United Nations described “the state of the protection of civilians in 2023” as “resoundingly grim.” Approximately 33,443 civilians died in armed conflict in 2023, which is a 72 percent increase when compared with 2022. Regarding humanitarian disarmament issues in particular, the report stated that “impact on civilians was particularly acute” when it involved the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and called for states to join the 2022 political declaration on that topic. It also highlighted the risks to civilians posed by autonomous weapons systems and the need for a new legally binding instrument. The report further emphasized that landmines “exacted a heavy toll on civilians” in several countries and noted that environmental damage compounded civilian harm.
During Protection of Civilians Week 2024, 20 organizations released a statement calling on the UN Security Council to “reckon with the reality of the shocking civilian toll of armed conflict.” That toll is attributable to a range of factors, including the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and arms transfers that do not consider the “overriding risk they might contribute to serious [international humanitarian law] or [international human rights law] violations.”
May 30 marked 16 years since the Convention on Cluster Munitions was adopted in Dublin, Ireland. The Cluster Munition Coalition published a reflection recognizing both the significant progress that has been made since the convention’s adoption and the challenges the convention still faces, such as the ongoing use of cluster munitions by Russia, Ukraine, Myanmar and Syria.
In a June 4 article, the Conflict and Environment Observatory urged states to integrate military greenhouse gas mitigation commitments into all new Nationally Determined Contributions, national plans for dealing with climate change required by the Paris Agreement. Effective climate action requires addressing the impact of military greenhouse gas emissions.
On June 4, the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR) and the Small Arms Survey held an event on “Fostering Gender-Responsive Arms Control.” Watch the recording here.
A June 4 Just Securityarticle and accompanying podcast by Bonnie Docherty discuss how the 2022 Political Declaration for Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas could be used as a “valuable tool for reducing harm to cultural heritage.”
On June 5, the Forum on the Arms Trade and Harvard Law School’s Armed Conflict and Civilian Protection Initiative co-hosted a discussion on the “Ongoing Humanitarian Disarmament Agenda.” The panelists grappled with the question of how humanitarian disarmament can make a difference at a time when armed conflict has presented challenges to the protection of civilians. Watch the recording here, and see the conference report here.
Also on June 5, Human Rights Watch issued a report documenting the widespread use of white phosphorus by Israeli forces in Lebanon. The organization documented use in at least 17 municipalities, including five where airburst munitions were unlawfully used over residential areas. The incendiary effects of white phosphorous inflict death or cruel injuries and have contributed to displacement.
On June 6, Ambassador Robert in den Bosch of the Netherlands, the chair of the Convention on Conventional Weapons Group of Governmental Experts on Lethal Autonomous Weapons Systems (LAWS), convened a consultation that focused on the characterization of LAWS as well as the application of international humanitarian law to the systems. Read Reaching Critical Will’s report on the consultation here.
The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, which provided compensation for individuals who were unknowingly exposed to radiation from US nuclear weapons testing, expired on June 10 when the US Congress failed to pass an extension.
Looking ahead, from June 17-28, states and civil society organizations will meet at the United Nations for the Fourth Review Conference of the United Nations Programme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons. The second preparatory committee meeting of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty will be held in Geneva from July 22 to August 2.
Armed Conflict and Civilian Protection Initiative
Over the past two months, the urgency of strengthening civilian protection measures has gained renewed attention. At a widely attended conference in Vienna, states showed strong support for a new legally binding instrument on autonomous weapons systems, given the range of threats these systems pose. In his annual protection of civilians report, the UN secretary-general highlighted the unacceptable civilian harm caused by a variety of problematic weapons. He argued these humanitarian consequences warrant new laws and standards and better implementation of existing ones. Civil society organizations meanwhile documented ongoing harm, leveraged Protection of Civilians Week to amplify their calls for stronger global commitments, and considered how humanitarian disarmament can enhance civilian protection.
In case you missed it:
Looking ahead, from June 17-28, states and civil society organizations will meet at the United Nations for the Fourth Review Conference of the United Nations Programme of Action on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons. The second preparatory committee meeting of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty will be held in Geneva from July 22 to August 2.
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