The Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs and International Development, Maria Tripodi, has attended a conference in Dublin which adopted a political declaration strengthening the protection of civilians from the humanitarian consequences arising from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA). Over 60 States attended the event, as well as the United Nations Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and representatives of civil society, including EWIPA victims and survivors. The declaration adopted is a significant diplomatic success and strong political commitment for the protection of civilians through measures, policies and practices to reduce the suffering of the civilian population by limiting the use of explosive weapons in urban areas.
In her speech, the Undersecretary underscored that the Italian Government places a profound value on this process, which follows in the path of our country’s long-standing commitment to supporting human rights and protecting civilians, and of its implementation of international humanitarian law, as pre-conditions for a diplomacy for peace.
“The commitment we are making here in Dublin today resonates as a warning of the first order in the complex international situation the world is living through. A situation characterised by the convergence of challenges that are cross-cutting in their nature and implications and which is worsened by the shameful war of aggression unleashed by the Russian Federation against Ukraine. A conflict that once again imposes an extremely high price on civilians, today and in the years to come, and which adds to the atrocious human suffering endured the extensive destruction of assets and infrastructure that are needed for the survival and development of entire communities”, said Tripodi.
“All of this means that we must embrace without reserve the ethical and humanitarian imperative, upon which the legal imperative is based, to prevent or mitigate the effects on civilians of the indiscriminate use of explosive devices in populous areas, and to respect the cardinal principles of international law”.
