Human Rights Watch (HRW) urged South Africa and other countries on Monday to endorse the political declaration on strengthening the protection of civilians from the humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.
Crisis, conflict and arms director at HRW Ida Sawyer commented, “South Africa should deepen its determination to protecting civilians by endorsing the declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and by encouraging other governments in the region to follow suit.” HRW claims South Africa should consider adopting this declaration because of its leading role in the region for the protection of civilians. Africa advocacy director at HRW Allan Ngari added, “South Africa can further help to prevent carnage and destruction from being repeated in ongoing and future armed conflicts by joining the political declaration on explosive weapons.”
The rights organization petitioned South Africa to sign the international declaration following recent discussions held in Johannesburg on the subject of explosive weapons. This regional roundtable aimed at contributing to the endorsement of the Political Declaration. This declaration has been endorsed by 87 States. The majority of African countries have not endorsed this declaration, reason why HRW urges South Africa to play a leading role in ensuring humanitarian law.
This political declaration is not a legally binding document but ensures a State’s commitment to refrain from using explosive weapons against civilians. The declaration seeks to promote international humanitarian law for the protection of civilians during war.
The use of explosive weapons poses a serious threat to human rights for civilians in zones of conflict. Rights organizations like Amnesty International in January 2025 called for an end to the use of explosive weapons in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In the DRC over 100 individuals were killed between January and July 2024 due to the use of rockets. In Europe, the UN has also recognized the disproportionate attacks against civilians employing explosive weapons by Russian forces in Ukraine. Both the DRC and Russia have not endorsed the political declaration on the use of explosive weapons.
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