Goto main content

Latin America says Stop Bombing Civilians

Explosive weapons Rights
International

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!

Conference in Santiago, Chile, on 5-6 December 2018, organised by HI to raise awareness in Latin American States on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the impact on civilians

© HI

The Santiago Communiqué

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 conference

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.

The participants

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.

Date published: 10/12/18

COUNTRIES

Where we work

Read more

Raqqa: HI demines a river to enable the reconstruction of a vital bridge
© HI
Explosive weapons

Raqqa: HI demines a river to enable the reconstruction of a vital bridge

HI underwater mine-clearance experts have cleared part of the Euphrates river and to allow a bridge that is important for the economy of Raqqa city to be rebuilt.

INGOs Joint Statement
© Xavier Bourgois / HI
Emergency Rights

INGOs Joint Statement

Urgent plea to avert unprecedented humanitarian crisis amid looming Israeli land incursion into Gaza.

“Civilians will bear the brunt of cluster munitions for decades to come”
© R.Crews
Explosive weapons Rights

“Civilians will bear the brunt of cluster munitions for decades to come”

Following its decision in July to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions, the Biden Administration is this month sending a second consignment of these weapons, which are banned by the Oslo Convention.

FOLLOW US