Morocco was not directly involved in the process to develop a Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It was, however, among the first group of states to endorse the Political Declaration in Dublin in November 2022. At the signing ceremony in Dublin in November 2022, Morocco recognised the harm caused by explosive weapons in populated areas, particularly to women and children, and expressed concern about the lack of accountability by non-state actors. Morocco also underlined the danger caused by the inaccuracy of the weapons, and said its armed forces are trained in compliance with IHL.1
Statements and positions
During the June 2012 UN Security Council Open Debate on the protection of civilians in armed conflict Morocco noted that “the use of artillery against urban zones, and the shelling of buildings and social edifices such as hospitals, schools and places of worship, are not only contrary to international humanitarian and human rights law but are, above all, unjustified and unjustifiable. It is our collective duty to put an end to it.”2 In 2018, Morocco issued a statement regarding the use of explosive weapons in populated areas during the Annual Meeting of High Contracting Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, recognising the humanitarian harm from explosive weapons in populated areas, and noting the process for a Political Declaration on the topic.3
Alongside its individual statements, Morocco has also aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. Though Morocco did not participate in the 2017 Maputo Regional Meeting on Protecting Civilians from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, it nevertheless expressed its support for the resulting Matupo Communiqué.4 Morocco is also a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which is aligned with the World Humanitarian Summit Core Commitments to “Uphold the Norms that Safeguard Humanity”, in May 2016, including the commitment: “to promote and enhance the protection of civilians and civilian objects, especially in the conduct of hostilities, for instance by working to prevent civilian harm resulting from the use of wide-area explosive weapons in populated areas, and by sparing civilian infrastructure from military use in the conduct of military operations.”5