Arms trafficking / Wars in cities: controlling the use of heavy explosives

Armed conflicts are often fought in populated areas with explosive weapons designed for use in open battlefields. With their wide-area effects, these weapons wreak harm on civilians and disrupt essential services. A diplomatic process led by Ireland aims to secure the adoption of a political declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas that provides clear political commitments on civilians’ protection.

Experts will discuss African states’ role in the diplomatic process. Speakers will consider the humanitarian consequences of deploying these weapons and how governments should curtail them. The seminar will also cover the use of illegal explosives by criminal syndicates in South Africa for armed robberies and illegal mining.

This seminar is co-hosted by ENACT and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).