House of Lords written question – answered at on 24 February 2014.
Lord Dubs
Labour
To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the recommendations of the United Nations Secretary-General and the International Committee of the Red Cross that explosive weapons with a wide impact area should be avoided in densely populated areas.
Baroness Warsi
Senior Minister of State (Foreign and Commonwealth Office) (Jointly with the Department for Communities and Local Government), Senior Minister of State (Department for Communities and Local Government) (Faith and Communities) (also in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office)
The British Government’s view is there is no utility in attempting to describe, beyond the current provisions given under International Humanitarian Law, a category of “explosive weapons with wide impact area”. We condemn the indiscriminate or disproportionate use of any weapon, including the deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian objects. The UK fully complies with and is a champion of International Humanitarian Law which makes provision for the use of lethal force only with adequate precautions, and is committed to upholding the Geneva Conventions and encouraging others to do the same.
Yes2 people think so
No1 person thinks not
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