Statement on Reviewing the Political Declaration to the Consultations on the Elements of a Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas

The success of the Political Declaration will of course depend on the strength of the text. But, at least equally important will be effective implementation and universalization of the Declaration. What happens after Dublin may be more important than what happens in Dublin. In looking to the future, paragraph 4.7 of the draft elements document simply commits states to review implementation. This is fine as far as it goes, it will help the long-term effectiveness of the Political Declaration, but more substance and detail are needed. In particular, states should agree to create a mechanism for…

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