Explosive weapons monitor 2023 – World

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KEY RESULTS

1. In 2023, harm to civilians from the use of explosive weapons occurred in at least 75 countries and territories around the world.

• Civilians in at least 75 countries and territories were affected by incidents of use of explosive weapons that caused at least one civilian death or injury, or affected access to healthcare, education or humanitarian aid in 2023.

• Twenty-eight countries and territories affected by the use of explosive weapons in 2023 have endorsed the Political Declaration.

• Civilians in nine countries and territories (Lebanon, Myanmar, Pakistan, Palestine, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Ukraine and Yemen) were severely affected by the use of explosive weapons in all areas of harm (casualties, healthcare, education and access to help). .

1. Civilian deaths caused by the use of explosive weapons increased in 2023.

• Civilian deaths recorded as a result of the use of explosive weapons increased in 2023 compared to 2022. This increase can largely be attributed to the use of explosive weapons in Palestine.

• Civilian deaths also increased in other countries and territories in 2023, including Myanmar,
Pakistan, Sudan and Syria.

• Civilian deaths decreased in other countries in 2023, including Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Iraq, Ukraine and Yemen. Although civilian deaths decreased in these countries compared to 2022, they remained high and contributed to the overall harm caused to civilians by the use of explosive weapons in 2023.

1. The use of explosive weapons in attacks on healthcare increased by 12 percent in 2023.

• Insecurity Insight recorded at least 763 incidents in which explosive weapons damaged or destroyed health facilities or killed health workers in 2023. These attacks occurred in 20 countries and territories. The number of attacks increased by 12 percent from 2022, in which 682 attacks were recorded.

• Attacks on healthcare involving explosive weapons in 2023 included 514 attacks on healthcare facilities, 57 attacks on ambulances and 154 incidents involving healthcare workers.

1. The use of explosive weapons in attacks on education increased by 80 percent in 2023.

• Insecurity Insight recorded at least 296 incidents in which explosive weapons damaged or destroyed educational facilities or killed teachers or students in 21 countries and territories in 2023. The number of attacks increased by 80 percent from 2022, when 164 were recorded attacks.

• Attacks on education involving explosive weapons in 2023 included 278 incidents affecting schools and 25 incidents affecting teachers.

1. The use of explosive weapons in attacks on humanitarian aid occurred almost five times more frequently in 2023.

• Insecurity Insight recorded at least 470 incidents of explosive weapons use affecting humanitarian aid operations in 11 countries and territories in 2023. The number of incidents affecting aid operations was almost five times higher than in 2022, in which 99 incidents occurred.

• Attacks on humanitarian aid involving explosive weapons included 23 incidents affecting humanitarian workers and 46 incidents affecting aid programmes.

1. The use of explosive weapons by the armed forces of 29 states caused harm to civilians in 30 countries and territories in 2023.

• The armed forces of 29 states were reported to have used explosive weapons that caused civilian casualties or affected access to healthcare, education or humanitarian aid in 30 countries and territories in 2023.

• The armed forces of at least three states – Israel, Russia and Myanmar – used explosive weapons that reportedly caused harm to civilians in 1,000 or more incidents.

• The use of explosive weapons by the armed forces of seven states that have endorsed the Political Declaration (Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, Somalia, Togo, Turkey and the United States) reportedly caused harm to civilians in five countries and territories: Burkina Faso , Iraq. , Kenya, Morocco, Somalia and Syria.

1. Non-state actors used explosive weapons causing harm to civilians in 63 countries and territories in 2023.

• Non-state actors used explosive weapons that caused civilian casualties or affected access to healthcare, education or humanitarian aid in 63 countries and territories in 2023.

• Three countries – Myanmar, Sudan and Syria – were affected by the use of explosive weapons by non-state armed actors, reportedly causing harm to civilians in more than 200 incidents.

1. The Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas has been endorsed by 86 states.

• The Political Declaration was endorsed by 83 states in Dublin, Ireland, in November 2022. Since then, three states (Jordan, Montenegro and North Macedonia) have endorsed the Declaration.

• The supporting states have joined the Political Declaration of all regions of the world. Some regions and subregions, such as Europe, Latin America and North America, have moderate to high levels of support, while others, such as Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, the Middle East and the Pacific, have low levels of supporting states and Therefore, they remain a priority for outreach participation.

1. Seventeen states responded to a state support survey conducted by the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW), reporting on steps taken at the national level towards the implementation of the Political Declaration.

• States reported on the actions taken for the implementation of the Political Declaration in the context of the initiation of the review and development of policies to operationalize the commitments of the Declaration.

• Sixteen states reported that they had designated a focal point responsible for the implementation of the Declaration, and 13 states reported that they had disseminated the Declaration at the national level.

• Twelve states indicated that they had reviewed, or were in the process of reviewing existing laws, policies and practices relevant to the protection of civilians to identify areas where further policy development would be necessary to meet commitments under the Declaration. The responses indicate various stages and approaches to this review process.