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122% rise in global civilian fatalities from explosive weapons in 2023: a year of harm reviewed
The latest global explosive violence monitor report from AOAV reveals a disturbing surge in civilian fatalities and incidents of explosive weapon use globally in 2023, with a 122% rise in global civilian fatalities compared to the previous year.
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The British army trains cadets from at least eight countries that have had recent military coups
Since 2012, cadets from Mali, Niger, Egypt, Thailand, Burundi, Sudan, Chad and Gabon attended the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. All countries have witnessed military coups since 2012.
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Numbers of civilian deaths per airstrike in 2023 Gaza at least four times higher than previous Israeli bombings, AOAV finds
The "Operation Swords of Iron" in Gaza, October 2023, has seen a significant surge in civilian deaths from airstrikes, with fatalities per strike exceeding past operations and raising questions about adherence to international humanitarian law.
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Media coverage of individual Gaza strikes only capturing one third of all deaths, AOAV finds
An analysis of English language reporting of the explosive violence in Gaza and Israel by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) has revealed that media coverage may only capture a third of the actual civilian deaths from specific explosive incidents in Gaza.
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Assessing the effectiveness of the Arms Trade Treaty on reducing civilian harm from conventional explosive weapons in populated areas
AOAV assessed the ATT's influence on civilian harm from explosive weapons.
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Killing in the Shadows: AOAV details allegations British SAS killed Afghan civilians
SAS operatives in Afghanistan repeatedly killed detainees and unarmed men in suspicious circumstances: an investigation by AOAV in collaboration with BBC Panorama.
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Ukraine: AOAV explosive violence data on harm to civilians
In the Ukrainian conflict, AOAV has recorded up to the 16 Feb, 23, 167 casualties from explosive weapon use across 4, 888 incidents; this includes some 19, 790 civilian casualties.
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‘For me to return to Afghanistan… It’s Death’: The Reality of Demonised Asylum Seekers
What are the forces driving refugees across the Channel? What are they fleeing? What are they hoping for? Dr Iain Overton travelled to Calais to find out.
Latest on Armed Violence
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Gaza
16 FebOccupied Palestinian Territories: AOAV explosive violence data on harm to civilians
As of 16 February 2024, AOAV has recorded 17, 601 civilian casualties (12, 314 killed, 5, 287 injured) of explosive weapons use in the OPT in the course of Operation Swords of Iron.
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Ukraine
16 FebUkraine: AOAV explosive violence data on harm to civilians
In the Ukrainian conflict, AOAV has recorded up to the 16 Feb, 23, 167 casualties from explosive weapon use across 4, 888 incidents; this includes some 19, 790 civilian casualties.
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Gaza
1 NovIs the Hamas-run Ministry of Health data on fatalities in Gaza to be trusted?
Two conflict experts compare numbers over the last three Gaza wars and conclude: the current numbers are credible and show increasingly more civilians getting killed
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Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas
31 JanExplosive weapons in populated areas – key questions and answers
The use of explosive weapons in populated areas causes significant civilian casualties and infrastructure damage, highlighting the urgent need for stronger international standards and political commitment to reduce their use
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The invasion of Ukraine
20 AugPenetrating the Fog of War: the lives of Ukraine’s reporters covering the Russian invasion
Iain Overton looks at the impact of the Russian invasion on Ukraine’s journalists, recording their experiences of a war that has impacted all of their lives.
AOAV: all our reports
AOAV records, investigates and disseminates evidence of armed violence against civilians worldwide, to ensure the respect and protection of their rights and to end armed violence against civilians in conflict. This is a list of all reports published by Action on Armed Violence
Militarism examined
This category looks into militaries and militarism, with a focus on Great Britain. From how the UK became one of the world’s leading arms exporters, to why we continue to export to nations with serious human rights concerns, to investigations into the UK’s armed forces, it seeks to challenge the contradictions and failures of British militarism, and the failure of other nations militaries, today.
Manufactured explosive weapons explained
A brief summary of some of the major weapons types and their impact
More on Manufactured explosive weapons explained
Improvised Explosive Devices research
Here we list all of AOAV’s key reports that tackle the growing issue of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) around the world.
More on Improvised Explosive Devices research
Environment and explosive violence
AOAV examines the reverberating environmental impacts from the use of explosive weapons.
More on Environment and explosive violence
Gender and violence
We know that when explosive weapons are used in populated areas over 90% of those killed or injured will be civilians. What is less known is the impact on men and women from such violence. AOAV here examines explosive violence in its different forms, looking especially at its gendered impact on communities
Health and explosive violence
AOAV examines the reverberating impacts from the use of explosive weapons.
More on Health and explosive violence
Explosive Violence Monthly Reports
Since 2011, AOAV has been recording the global harm wrought by explosive weapons on civilians. Through monitoring English language media reports, we demonstrate consistent patterns of harm arising from the use of explosive violence, in particular their effects on civilian populations. These reports are issued annually with monthly updates.
