“They Burn Through Everything”
The Human Cost of Incendiary Weapons and the Limits of International Law
Incendiary Weapons
Incendiary weapons cause extremely painful and cruel burn injuries that are difficult to treat. They also start fires that can destroy civilian objects and infrastructure. Incendiary weapons have been used at great civilian cost in conflicts such as the one raging in Syria, where incendiary weapons are used in populated areas. More than 110 nations are party to the 1980 Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) Protocol III on Incendiary Weapons. Human Rights Watch urges that the incendiary weapons protocol be reviewed and strengthened by banning the use of all incendiary weapons in civilian areas and by broadening the definition in the protocol to cover white phosphorus.
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GlobalThe Sixth Review Conference of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) illustrated both the dangers of consensus diplomacy and the strength of humanitarian disarmament.
Videos
Videos
News
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General Statement to the Convention on Conventional Weapons Sixth Review Conference
Delivered by Gerry Simpson, Associate Director, Crisis and Conflict Division
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Joint Civil Society Statement on Protocol III to the Convention on Conventional Weapons Sixth Review Conference
Written by Bonnie Docherty, Senior Researcher. Delivered by Lode Dewaegheneire, Mines Action Canada
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Incendiary Weapons: Heed Calls to Strengthen Law
Healthcare Professionals, Burn Survivor Organizations Seek Stronger Rules
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Countries Should Bolster Law on Incendiary Weapons
Healthcare Professionals, Burn Survivors Urge Action at Disarmament Conference
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Statement on Incendiary Weapons, UN General Assembly First Committee
Delivered by Bonnie Docherty, Senior Researcher
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Incendiary Weapons: Human Cost Demands Stronger Law
Close Legal Loopholes to Prevent Further Civilian Suffering
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Statement on Incendiary Weapons, UN General Assembly First Committee
Delivered by Bonnie Docherty, Senior Researcher
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Incendiary Weapons Draw Widespread Condemnation
Russia, US Block Opening Up Discussions on Restrictions
