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Standing Firm against Incendiary Weapons

Memorandum to Delegates of the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Conventional Weapons

  Ten years ago, images of white phosphorus munitions raining fire on populated areas of Gaza generated international outrage and sparked discussions of incendiary weapons at the United Nations. The Israel Defense Forces’ use of white…
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Myths and Realities About Incendiary Weapons

Memorandum to Delegates of the 2018 Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Conventional Weapons

Incendiary weapons are among the cruelest weapons used in contemporary armed conflict. These weapons, which produce heat and fire through the chemical reaction of a flammable substance, cause excruciating burns and destroy…
Des habitants tentent d'éteindre des incendies provoqués par une attaque à l'arme incendiaire dans l'ouest d'Idlib, Syrie, 30 juillet 2018.
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An Overdue Review: Addressing Incendiary Weapons in the Contemporary Context

Memorandum to Delegates at the Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Conventional Weapons

    Introduction In November 2017, for the first time in 37 years, a UN disarmament body will have a dedicated opportunity to address the humanitarian problems caused by incendiary weapons, one of modern warfare’s cruelest class of…
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Time to Act against Incendiary Weapons

Memorandum to Delegates at the Fifth Review Conference of the Convention on Conventional Weapons

Introduction In mid-December 2016, countries party to a major disarmament treaty have an opportunity to take concrete steps toward reducing and ending the human suffering caused by incendiary weapons. They will convene at the United Nations in…
Photo of a ZAB-2.5 incendiary submunition from a December 5, 2016 attack on Maarat al-Numan south of Idlib.
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From Condemnation to Concrete Action: A Five-Year Review of Incendiary Weapons

Memorandum to Convention on Conventional Weapons Delegates

Incendiary weapons rank among the cruelest means of armed conflict. The fire and heat they produce cause excruciatingly painful burns that are difficult to treat and can lead to long-term psychological harm and severe disfigurement. They also start fires…
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Incendiary Weapons: Recent Use and Growing Opposition

Memorandum to Convention on Conventional Weapons Delegates

As states party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) convene for their annual meeting in November 2014, the matter of incendiary weapons is reaching a crossroads. Ongoing use of these exceptionally cruel weapons highlights the urgent need to…
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Technical Briefing Note: Use of Cluster Munitions in Syria

The Syrian government’s extensive use of cluster munitions has caused numerous casualties, damaged infrastructure, and is resulting in a deadly legacy of explosive remnants of war that will pose dangers to civilians for years to come. Human Rights Watch…
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Syria: Criminal Justice for Serious Crimes under International Law

Introduction I. The International Criminal Court A. The ICC’s Value-Added in Syria B. The Need for Increased Support for the ICC C. The Imperative of an “ICC referral” D. The Drawbacks of an Ad Hoc Tribunal for Syria II. National Prosecutions in Syria A…
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Syria’s Use of Incendiary Weapons

Memorandum to Convention on Conventional Weapons Delegates

Incendiary weapons produce heat and fire through the chemical reaction of a flammable substance. These weapons cause extremely painful burns that are difficult to treat, and also start fires that can destroy objects and infrastructure. Field…