Moldova 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.
Statements and positions
Moldova issued a statement on explosive weapons in populated areas during the Review Conference of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons in December 2016, expressing concern regarding the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It also expressed support for a political commitment to prevent the humanitarian harm from the use of explosive weapons with wide area effects in populated areas. 1
Moldova has also aligned with other states to deliver statements on explosive weapons in populated areas. In October 2018, Moldova was one of 50 states to endorse the joint statement on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas at the UN General Assembly First Committee, calling attention to the devastating and long-lasting humanitarian impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and urging states to reverse the trend of high levels of civilian harm. 2 Moldova also endorsed the Ireland-led joint statement during the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly’s First Committee in 2019. 3 The statement encouraged states to participate in international efforts to address the impacts of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas on civilians, including by working towards the creation of an international Political Declaration on this issue. 4
As a Candidate Country to the European Union (EU), the Republic of Moldova has also aligned with EU statements condemning the use of explosive weapons in populated areas and the harms it causes to civilians and civilian objects, as well as calling for greater IHL compliance and welcoming the Political Declaration. This includes at several UN Security Council open debates on the protection of civilians in armed conflict, including in 2024 when it expressed deep concern about the use and humanitarian consequences of explosive weapons in populated areas “which has significant civilian impact and should thus be restricted and avoided”5 as well as at the 2022 UN Security Council open debate on war in cities where the EU expressed concern over the indiscriminate use of explosive weapons in populated areas, including near hospitals, schools, and universities 6 At the UN General Assembly in 2025 Moldova aligned with the EU statement, which recalled the Political Declaration and its “aim to reduce harm and strengthen the protection of civilians” and noted the Costa Rica conference offered an opportunity to “translate the Declaration into concrete measures on the ground”. 7 At First Committee in 2023 the EU welcomed the Political Declaration and highlighted the importance of its adoption as well as the work ahead for implementing the Declaration’s commitments, including at the 2024 Oslo Conference. 8