Saudi Arabia has not yet endorsed the Political Declaration on the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. It did, however, participate in the negotiations towards a Political Declaration, where it supported a suggestion to include mention of states that fight “terrorism” in section 2 of the draft.1 Saudi Arabia aligned with the Arab Group’s statement to the 2021 round of consultations in which the Group noted that the aim of the Declaration should be to strengthen protection of civilians through enhancing existing IHL, not by establishing new rules, concepts, or mechanisms and emphasised that existing IHL rules and principles must be applied fully and effectively to protect civilians. The Group also expressed concern that the Declaration overlooked use of human shields, and may stigmatise explosive weapons use in general.2
Statements and positions
As a member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Saudi Arabia 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.”3