By Mohamed Sheriff, Information Attaché, Geneva, Switzerland
Sierra Leone is participating in the Second International Conference of States on the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians from the Humanitarian Consequences of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas (EWIPA), taking place from 18 to 20 November in San José, Costa Rica.
Sierra Leone is engaging throughout the three-day programme, beginning with the Protection Forum on 18 November and continuing with the official opening of the Conference on 19 November.
The Protection Forum, organised by the International Network on Explosive Weapons (INEW) in collaboration with regional partners, convened governments, international organisations, humanitarian actors, and civil society to examine the humanitarian impacts of explosive weapons in populated areas and global civilian-harm trends. Discussions focused on practical approaches to implementing the Political Declaration, including strengthening data collection, ensuring humanitarian access, improving military operational policies, and supporting victims and affected communities. The Forum provided Sierra Leone with an opportunity to engage in substantive exchanges with other States and partners and to reaffirm its commitment to global efforts aimed at preventing and reducing harm to civilians in armed conflict.
The Second International Conference officially opens on 19 November with keynote remarks by Costa Rica’s Vice Minister for Multilateral Affairs, Ambassador Alejandro Solano Ortiz. This will be followed by a joint UN statement delivered by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mr. Volker Türk, and the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu. The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mrs. Mirjana Spoljaric, will also address the opening session. An endorsing ceremony led by Costa Rica will formally welcome the States that have joined the Declaration since the first International Conference in Oslo. Over the two-day conference, States will review progress in universalisation and implementation, share national experiences, and discuss approaches to improving data systems, strengthening humanitarian access, and aligning military practices with the commitments of the Declaration. The meeting will also outline a roadmap toward the Third International Conference.
In recent years, Sierra Leone has strengthened its national frameworks governing arms and ammunition through the Sierra Leone Commission on Arms and Ammunition (SLeCAA). The Arms and Ammunition Act of 2023 introduced enhanced regulatory measures for the control, management, and oversight of firearms and ammunition, including tighter licensing procedures, closer monitoring of civilian possession, and reinforced mechanisms to prevent illicit circulation. These reforms represent a significant modernisation of Sierra Leone’s national arms-control regime and support broader national efforts to improve safety, accountability, and civilian protection.
Alongside these legislative measures, Sierra Leone has embedded coordination on EWIPA-related priorities within national institutions, maintains established procedures for the safe destruction of unserviceable munitions, and continues to promote the Declaration across African regional platforms and other international fora. These actions reflect Sierra Leone’s wider commitment to responsible arms governance, crime prevention, strengthened law-enforcement capacities, and national peace-building efforts.
Sierra Leone’s participation in the Second International EWIPA Conference reaffirms its commitment to the Political Declaration and to multilateral cooperation aimed at reducing civilian harm from explosive weapons. Throughout the conference, Sierra Leone will continue to highlight its efforts to strengthen arms-control governance, support collective implementation, and contribute to global efforts to enhance the protection of civilians in armed conflict.
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