Armed conflicts are increasingly fought in populated areas, killing and injuring tens of thousands of civilians every year, destroying houses, schools, and hospitals, triggering mass displacement of people, and impacting the right to an adequate standard of living. The leading concern with the urbanization of warfare is the use of explosive weapons with widearea effects in populated areas. Since 2009, the United Nations Secretary-General has consistently highlighted the severe humanitarian impact of explosive weapons in populated areas calling on parties to conflict to avoid their use to prevent harm to civilians and civilian objects. In 2022, more than 83 States endorsed the Political Declaration on Strengthening the Protection of Civilians arising from the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas, marking a milestone achievement in our efforts to better protect civilians from the increasing urbanization of armed conflict.