Publication

This paper provides a brief overview of possible explosive threats in post-conflict environments and makes recommendations for the adoption of standards by the international community. It explains that explosive threats in post-conflict environments may be divided into the four major threat areas of mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) contamination in the ground, abandoned armored fighting vehicles (AFV), small arms and light weapons (SALW), including limited ammunition and explosives in the possession of civilians and non-states actors, as well as former warring factions (FWF) stockpiles of ammunition and explosives. The paper states that although the definition of explosive remnants of war (ERW) has still to reach maturity, it has the potential to cut across all of the four threat areas, and thereby create an international need for consistency of definition and an agreed upon level of threat analysis.