The Regional Conference on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas organized by HI, in Santiago, Chile, ended on 6 December. 23 States adopted the Santiago Communiqué expressing concern over the devastating impact on civilians of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. Well done HI Advocacy team!
© HI
On Thursday, 23 Latin and Central American States adopted the Santiago Communiqué to express "concern that explosive weapons used in populated areas cause deaths, injuries and traumas to civilians, damage and destroy essential infrastructure and critical services, drive involuntary displacement, leave explosive remnants of war that pose a threat in the long term, disrupt social coexistence, economic activities and compromise human security."
They also affirm the need to "alleviate humanitarian harm resulting from the effects of explosive weapons in populated areas."
The communiqué was published in the wake of a two-day conference aimed at raising awareness among Latin and Central American States on the bombing of civilians. The conference deepened their knowledge on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, allowed HI to raise awareness on the humanitarian impacts for civilians, to inform on different types of explosive weapons and their impact, and to advocate the need for stronger standards to protect civilians.
38 delegates took part in the meeting on behalf of 26 States: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Republica Dominicana, St Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Uruguay, and also Ireland, Mozambique and Norway.
3 representatives of UN Agencies and ICRC, survivors from Colombia, El-Salvador and Chile, as well as civil society campaigners, also participated. It was 75 participants in total.
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