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Japan

HAS ENDORSED THE POLITICAL DECLARATION

Japan was actively involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and was among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. During the consultations Japan expressed its concern with the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in densely populated areas and said the reverberating effects of use of explosive weapons in populated areas are detrimental from a humanitarian perspective.1 Japan also repeatedly referenced the importance of International Humanitarian Law (IHL); arguing that what was needed is full implementation of existing IHL and the compliance of non-state actors.2 Japan also argued that explosive weapons can be used in full compliance with international and national laws and regulations, and that care must be taken to avoid stigmatising explosive weapons, so long as they are used in compliance with international norms.3

During the final consultation in June 2022, Japan reaffirmed the need for compliance with IHL in order to strengthen the protection of civilians in armed conflict. It said that the final draft was well balanced by pointing out that use of explosive weapons is not itself subject to prohibition, while confirming the obligation under IHL and stating the importance of compliance with such obligations.4 At the signing ceremony of the Declaration in November 2022 in Dublin, Japan said that the Declaration will promote practical and realistic measures to protect civilians. Japan also said that together with other states, international organisations, and civil society, it will continue to contribute to international efforts to mitigate harm to civilians.5

Statements and positions

Japan has several times spoken on explosive weapons in populated areas in multilateral forums. In 2014, Japan condemned the use of explosive weapons in populated areas during the UN Security Council open debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, calling on the Security Council to address the use of explosive weapons in populated areas by seriously taking into account testimony from affected areas.6 Japan delivered a similar statement during the June 2012 Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict, expressing its concern at the grave humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.7

Alongside its individual statements, Japan has repeatedly aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. In recent years, as a member of the Group of Friends on Protection of Civilians, Japan has supported statements at the UN Security Council stressing the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians 8. At the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Protection of Civilians on 25 May 2022, the Group of Friends of the Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict (of which Japan is a member) stressed the importance of respecting IHL and the need to enhance the protection of civilians, including from the humanitarian impacts that could arise when explosive weapons are used in populated areas. It also took note of the ongoing consultations led by Ireland.9 The Group has also positively noted the adoption of the Political Declaration.10  At the 2022 UN Security Council Open Debate on war in cities, the Group of Friends called on states to enhance the protection of civilians, including from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas, and took note of the ongoing consultations to develop a Political Declaration on this subject.11 

  1. Acheson, R. 2020. ‘Impacts, not intentionality: the imperative of focusing on the effects of explosive weapons in a Political Declaration’. Reaching Critical Will. 14 February 2020. https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/14658-impacts-not-intentionality-the-imperative-of-focusing-on-the-effects-of-explosive-weapons-in-a-political-declaration.

  2. Ibid.

  3. Rafferty, J., Geyer, K., Acheson, R., 2021. ‘Report on the March 2021 consultations on a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas’. Reaching Critical Will. 21 March 2021. https://reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/15213-report-on-the-march-2021-consultations-on-a-political-declaration-on-the-use-of-explosive-weapons-in-populated-areas; Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas – Political Declaration Consultations, Day 1 Afternoon’. Available from:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPllKWRMlNg

  4. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. ‘Watch Back: Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas: Consultations – Morning’. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l6kJVfHdXSc.

  5. ‘Statement of Yoshikawa Yuumi, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan’. Irish Department of Foreign Affairs. 18 November 2022. https://www.dfa.ie/media/dfa/ourrolepolicies/peaceandsecurity/ewipa/Japan.pdf.

  6. United Nations Security Council. S/PV.7109. 12 February 2014. Available from: https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.7109.

  7. United Nations Security Council. S/PV.6790. 25 June 2012. Available from: https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.6790(Resumption1).

  8. United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9042. 25 May 2022. Available from: https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9042(Resumption1).

  9. Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians.

  10. United Nations Security Council. S/PV.9327. 23 May 2023. Available from: https://undocs.org/en/S/PV.9327(Resumption1).

  11. Acheson, R. 2022. ‘UN Security Council Debates War in Cities and the Protection of Civilians.’ Reaching Critical Will, 28 January 2022. https://www.reachingcriticalwill.org/news/latest-news/16009-un-security-council-debates-war-in-cities-and-the-protection-of-civilians.

Other State Positions