The Red Cross raises its voice in favor of the civilian population affected by explosive weapons

November 20, 2025. Over the past two days, the Costa Rican Red Cross participated in the International Conference on the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA).

This event is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship, through the General Directorate of Foreign Policy, together with the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs.

The EWIPA Declaration is the result of a diplomatic process of more than three years, led by Ireland and with the participation of States, international organizations such as the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), as well as various civil society organizations. It was adopted by 83 States in Dublin in November 2022 and constitutes an international instrument specifically designed to address this humanitarian problem.

The use of explosive weapons in populated areas has become one of the main factors of catastrophic humanitarian damage in contemporary armed conflicts. Their indiscriminate and wide-area effects disproportionately affect the civilian population, causing deaths, serious injuries, long-lasting psychological harm, and the destruction of critical infrastructure essential for life.

The Red Cross emphasized the impact generated by heavy explosive weapons in cities, where alarming figures of injured people and fatalities among the civilian population are evident. Entire neighborhoods are reduced to rubble, and vital infrastructure for the survival of communities is lost.

The ICRC reiterated an urgent call to refrain from the use of explosive weapons with wide-area effects, as they generate greater damage and severe humanitarian consequences. Likewise, it urged States to focus on how to comply, both in letter and in spirit, with the commitments made under the Declaration.

This conference also represented a crucial opportunity to renew the commitment to strengthening the protection of the civilian population in urban warfare contexts.

In addition, the Benemérita moderated a discussion focused on how to protect and assist civilian populations affected by armed conflicts, including facilitating humanitarian access to people in need, providing assistance to victims and affected communities, and efforts aimed at post-conflict recovery and the search for lasting solutions.

The San José Conference constitutes a new international follow-up meeting since the adoption of the Declaration in 2022. Its implementation is a fundamental step to move from words to action and to maintain the political momentum of the process.

Link of interest: https://ewipa.org/calendar/SanJose-Conference-2025