Setting a Global Standard Against the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Our call to the next UK government

The use of explosive weapons in populated areas has dire consequences for children. In addition to killing and injuring children, it causes severe psychological damage, and results in children being denied access to healthcare and the opportunity to go to school. This is Save the Children UK’s call to the next UK government. 

States need to set a strong standard against using explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas, in order to save civilian lives both during attacks and in the longer term. No new law is needed – just a strong political commitment by as many states as possible in order to establish a new global norm. The UK has a distinct opportunity to join the UN Secretary-General, more than 40 states, the EU and the International Committee of the Red Cross in speaking out against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and to lead global progress on this issue.