AIMS
- The session on protection of civilians in urban settings will sensitize participants on the impact of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas by State and non-State actors, including terrorist groups. Through a storytelling approach showcasing the immediate and long-term impact of war, the session will amplify the voices of survivors and highlight the impact of explosive weapons on civilians, including on the around 80 million forcibly displaced persons living in urban settings today.
- The session will call for: curtailing the use of explosive weapons by all parties to armed conflict in accordance with international humanitarian law; addressing the rights of persons affected by explosive weapons and armed conflict generally; and clearing mines and explosive remnants of war to reduce the multi-generational threat these weapons pose to humanity.
- The event will call on Member States to implement commitments in the Pact for the Future relevant to the protection of civilians caught in and affected by armed conflict, including the implementation of, and adherence to humanitarian, disarmament and human rights treaties.
SPEAKERS
Opening Statement: USG Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Department of Peace Operations and one of the co-coordinators for the Action Day
Moderator: USG for the Department of Global Communications, Ms. Melissa Fleming,
Presenter: Mr. Giles Duley (UN Global Advocate for Persons with Disabilities in Conflict and Peacebuilding Situations)
Mr. Giles Duley was designated the first United Nations Global Advocate for Persons with Disabilities in Conflict and Peacebuilding Situations on 3 December 2022, the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. Mr. Duley is a documentary photographer, writer, storyteller and the CEO of the charity Legacy of War Foundation. In 2011, while working in Afghanistan, Mr. Duley was severely injured by an improvised explosive device. He underwent dozens of operations and returned to Afghanistan the next year to continue his work as a photographer. His work focuses on the long-term humanitarian impact of conflict and seeks to drive change for people with disabilities through sustainable, localized projects.
Stories of five witnesses/survivors (Via photos, a video, and storytelling by Mr. Duley)
Statement (emphasizing the Calls to Action): H.E. Ms. Maritza Chan Valverde, Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Costa Rica to the United Nations (informal confirmation and pending final confirmation)