
Arms
Many urgent arms-related challenges should be addressed to protect civilians affected by conflict and its deadly legacy. Antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions have been prohibited outright, but the ban treaties need to be universalized and complied with fully. Militaries use a wide-range of explosive weapons—artillery, rockets, mortars, air-delivered bombs and more—in populated areas, frequently causing indiscriminate harm to civilians. Incendiary weapons cause painful and cruel injuries, yet they continue to be used. The development of fully autonomous weapons—“killer robots”—that could select and engage targets without human intervention need to be stopped to prevent a future of warfare and policing outside of human control and responsibility. The Arms Division of Human Rights Watch works to advance humanitarian disarmament and enhance protections for civilians from various weapons that inflict unnecessary harm. We document the negative impact of weapons and promote the establishment and implementation of international treaties and legal norms.
Videos
Videos-
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Libya: Landmines, Other War Hazards, Killing Civilians
Increase Support for Clearance, Recovery Assistance around Tripoli
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Yemen: Latest Round of Saudi-UAE-Led Attacks Targets Civilians
Killings Apparently Unlawful, Any Future Peace Talks Should Prioritize Justice
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Ethiopia: Airstrike on Camp for Displaced Likely War Crime
Dozens of Civilians Killed, Injured in Northernwestern Tigray
News
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Libya: Landmines, Other War Hazards, Killing Civilians
Increase Support for Clearance, Recovery Assistance around Tripoli
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Sri Lanka: Police Fire on Protesters
Use of Lethal Force Results in at Least 1 Dead, More Than a Dozen Wounded
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Yemen: Latest Round of Saudi-UAE-Led Attacks Targets Civilians
Killings Apparently Unlawful, Any Future Peace Talks Should Prioritize Justice
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Statement on Section Three to the Consultations on Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas
Delivered by Steve Goose, Executive Director
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Statement on Section Four to the Consultations on Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas
Delivered by Bonnie Docherty, Senior Researcher
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Statement on Section Two to the Consultations on Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas
Delivered by Bonnie Docherty, Senior Researcher
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Statement on Section One to the Consultations on Political Declaration on the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas
Delivered by Bonnie Docherty, Senior Researcher
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Ukraine: Russia Uses Banned Antipersonnel Landmines
Landmines Threaten Civilian Lives, Prolong Recovery