Wide-Area Impact Report
18 May 2022Civil Society Statement on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Conflict (2022)
AOAV is proud to be one of the endorsing NGOs for the Civil Society Statement on the Protection of Civilians in Urban Conflicts, ahead of the UN's annual open debate on the protection of civilians (POC) in armed conflict. Over the past year, the devastating impact of urban warfare on civilians has been made increasingly clear, especially the parallel direct and indirect, short-term and long-term nature of urban warfare's effects on civilians and civilian infrastructure.
4 Jun 2021What is a mortar?
An in-depth look at the history, use, and harm of mortars in modern warfare. AOAV data indicates that 40% of all incidents of mortar harm in the last decade have been perpetrated by non-state actors. State actors account for 20% of mortar attacks and the perpetrator status is unknown for 38% of incidents.
10 Jul 2019The duty to investigate civilian deaths in armed conflict
This article challenges the notion that ‘restoring the primacy of the law of armed conflict’ would remove scrutiny over the actions of military personnel on the battlefield.
8 Mar 2016Wide-Area Impact – Investigating the wide-area effect of explosive weapons
This report analyses the impact of air-dropped bombs in Yemen, mortar attacks on the Syrian-Jordanian border and multiple-rocket attacks in Ukraine.
8 Mar 2016Wide-Area Impact Report: Introduction
The rationale, methodology and case studies of AOAV's Wide-Area Impact Report explained.
8 Mar 2016Wide-Area Impact Report: Conclusions and Recommendations
AOAV calls on states and other actors to stop using explosive weapons with wide-area effects in populated areas.
8 Mar 2016Multi-launch rocket systems (MLRS) in Ukraine
Globally, more deaths and injuries were recorded from multiple-rocket launched systems in Ukraine than in anywhere else in the world (39 per cent of worldwide harm from MLRS was in Ukraine).
8 Mar 2016Case study: Grads strike Mariupol
At least 30 people were killed in Eastern Ukrainian attacks on 24 January 2015, including two children aged five and 15. One military serviceman was also killed.
8 Mar 2016Multiple munitions: Rocket Launchers – Grad Rockets
Grad means ‘Hail’ in Russian: a name that reflects the power and reach of the weapon system. Each individual Grad rocket stands almost 3m tall, and weighs approximately 66kg.
2 Mar 2016Mortar fire on the Syrian-Jordanian border: an overview
In 2014, AOAV recorded 1,910 civilian deaths and injuries from 115 mortar attacks in Syria. AOAV’s investigations in September 2015 charted 15 explosive weapon strikes that crossed the Syrian border.
2 Mar 2016Explosive weapons with lack of accuracy: mortars (M-1943/M43)
Nearly 50 countries have manufactured one or more types of mortars – with 30 continuing to do so as of 2008 – making it the most widely produced light weapon.
2 Mar 2016Air-dropped bombs in Yemen – an overview
Between 1 January 2011 and 31 July 2015, AOAV found that no manufactured explosive weapon type killed more civilians per incident on average than aerial bombs.