Ukrainian Red Cross at First International Conference on Protecting Civilians from Humanitarian Consequences of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA)

The first international follow-up conference to the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA) took place in Oslo on April 22-23. The Ukrainian Red Cross was represented by Svitlana Avramenko, Head of War-Related Threat Awareness Department of the Ukrainian Red Cross.

The conference convened government officials and experts from the Ministries of Defence and Ministries of Foreign Affairs of various countries, along with representatives from the Armed Forces, international and regional organisations, as well as members of civil society and academia. Its purpose was to review and discuss progress, opportunities, and challenges related to the implementation of the Declaration, as well as to outline the subsequent steps forward.

“The explosive devices have a significant impact on the safety of civilians, the stable operation of critical infrastructure facilities, and the socio-economic development of the state as a whole. This is particularly evident when explosive weapons are employed in urban areas and other peaceful settlements. The Ukrainian Red Cross provides measures to overcome humanitarian problems in the communities and carries out mine action activities. We assist communities in marking hazardous areas, raise awareness among the public about the risks of explosive ordnance, and provide support to the agricultural sector, which is frequently impacted by mine contamination of fields,” stated Svitlana Avramenko.

It is worth noting that the Declaration on EWIPA underscores the crucial significance of efforts aimed at enhancing compliance with international humanitarian law and providing protection for civilians during armed conflicts.