Guest post by Emily Nimmo who is an Undergraduate Student at the University of Ottawa and completed an extracurricular volunteer placement as a Research Assistant at Mines Action Canada.

There is a popular sentiment in Canada that warfare in foreign countries is a faraway issue that does not affect Canadians. While it is true that there are no active wars in Canada, this does not mean that global warfare should be ignored by Canadians, especially when we preach diversity and inclusion as well as putting humanity first. This blog brings attention to how explosive weapons in populated areas (EWIPA) and the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas is a Canadian issue, but it must not be ignored that this issue affects all demographics. This blog was written in conjunction with a post on how EWIPA and the Political Declaration are a major child rights issue. This is an intersectional issue, and it is important for individuals to educate themselves on the full scope of the topic.

When explosive weapons are used in populated areas, they have detrimental effects on civilians and the environment. Catastrophically, the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW) reports that 90% of the victims of explosive weapons are civilians. This is deeply upsetting, because there are rules of war also known as International Humanitarian Law (IHL), and one of those rules is that civilians can never be targeted, and the targeting of civilians is a war crime. Explosive weapons decimate the areas that they explode in and were designed for usage in vast battlefields, not populated areas. When urban areas are destroyed by explosive weapons, critical infrastructure such as hospitals, schools, and humanitarian aid sites are also destroyed. This is a major setback for affected communities because the infrastructure they need to support themselves are no longer in 100% working condition after being bombed.

The use of explosive weapons in populated areas is a very real issue; Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) reported that in 2024 there were 67,026 deaths and injuries caused by explosive weapons worldwide, and 59,524 of these victims were civilians. This was the highest level of death and injuries from explosive weapons since 2010, and the numbers in 2025 are not seeming to get any better.

Canada is one of 88 endorsing states of the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences Arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas. This automatically makes the issue of explosive weapons in populated areas something that all Canadians should care about. Countries that have endorsed the EWIPA Political Declaration have an obligation to address all consequences that explosive weapons have on civilians such as death and injury, psychological trauma, environmental degradation, and displacement. This also means all countries who have endorsed the Political Declaration must follow IHL, and hold countries who breach IHL responsible. Abiding to the Political Declaration also looks like reviewing and, when necessary, improving national policy keeping civilians in mind. Endorsing states also have the responsibility to help facilitate aid to civilians harmed by explosive weapons, and actively promote the Political Declaration in order to ensure it is adhered to.

What has Canada done as an endorsing state?

Canada has spoken up about the harm inflicted on civilians in populated areas according to INEW, which is a great first step as a state that has endorsed the Political Declaration. Canada is, however, more focused on the implementation of IHL instead of the commitment to the elimination of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas as per the Political Declaration. Canada has made efforts to speak out against EWIPA in 2014 and 2017 at diplomatic meetings, and made efforts to acknowledge the destruction of populated areas and the negative effects this has on civilians.

Canada was also involved in the drafting of the Political Declaration, where it provided statements on the need to focus on IHL to effectively regulate the use of the Political Declaration. Since Canada has played a role in the creation of the EWIPA Political Declaration, the use of the Political Declaration is something that Canadians must take seriously.

For decades many new Canadians arrived in Canada after fleeing the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. For example, from January to March 2025, Canada accepted 1,208 refugees from Turkey, 130 refugees from Sudan, 497 refugees from Afghanistan, and 317 refugees from Nigeria. All of these countries are experiencing EWIPA, which is another reason why EWIPA and the Political Declaration is a Canadian issue.

There are other Canadian NGOs that mobilize civil society to speak out and take action against EWIPA, such as Project Ploughshares and Humanity and Inclusion. This shows that Canadians are continuously advocating against the use of explosive weapons in populated areas. The Canadian government has also supplied funding for humanitarian aid in countries such as Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo: Canada has supplied over $116 million in humanitarian development and peace and security assistance in these countries. Canada has also committed $358.2 million in humanitarian assistance as a response to Russia’s invasion in Ukraine. These are some examples that show how Canada is adhering to some responsibilities from the Political Declaration, specifically in providing aid to countries where citizens are affected indiscriminately by explosive weapons.

Where has Canada fallen short- and what can we do?

Canada is, however, not perfect when it comes to EWIPA; this is something that all Canadians must recognize and take action on. For example, Gastops is a company located in Ottawa that produces engine sensors that are used in US-made F-35 compound jets. These planes are bought by Israel and are among the ones that are dropping 2000 pound bombs on Gaza. Lockheed Martin is an American company with units located in Canada, which produces the F-16 and F-35 warplanes that are used by Israel to bomb Gaza. UN experts report that as of May 4 2025, there were over 52, 535 deaths in Gaza and 118, 491 injuries due to constant bombardments and the restriction of humanitarian aid in the region. Explosive weapons play a large role in this, and Canada does have a hand in Israel’s warfare due to the production and supply of engine sensors and warplanes. While the Canadian Government voted in favour for a ceasefire on December 6th at the UN General Assembly, Canadian companies are continuing to facilitate the use of explosive weapons in Gaza.

Canada should stop exporting these tools that allow explosive weapons to be used in populated areas. In order to do this, civil society must continue to call out the Canadian government to take urgent action to stop the exportation of these goods to the US and Israel. Check out Project Ploughshares for work on stopping the arms trade to Israel. Any Canadian citizen can do this by contacting their Parliamentarian, and insisting for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, for full humanitarian aid to Gaza, to publicly supporting international courts in holding violators of IHL accountable, and to pursue all domestic measures such as a halt in exporting engine sensors and warplane components which are necessary to the use of EWIPA especially in civilian-populated areas.