Conventional Arms

The protection of civilians in armed conflicts and the strengthening of international humanitarian law are two of the thematic priorities of Austrian foreign policy. Efforts to ban the use of certain conventional types of weapons or to restrict their use in order to comply with legal, humanitarian and ethical principles are an important contribution to this overarching goal. Austria's long-standing commitment against anti-personnel mines and cluster munitions deserves special mention. It is an important humanitarian contribution as such weapons continue to pose an acute danger to the civilian population decades after hostilities have ended. They claim countless victims and hamper social and economic development in affected countries in the long term. Austria has traditionally been very active in the field of victim assistance to ensure that survivors and affected families and communities receive the support they deserve. Furthermore, Austria condemns any use of these outlawed weapons and is actively involved in strengthening international legal prohibition norms. With the steady shift of armed conflicts to urban areas, the devastating humanitarian consequences of the use of explosive weapons in populated areas gain increasing importance. Against the backdrop of rapidly advancing technological developments, Austria also actively advocates for international legal regulation of autonomous weapons systems.