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Human Rights Watch has called on countries to reach a political commitment to curb the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

The call was included in a from the NGO, titled Making a Commitment: Paths to Curbing the Use of Explosive Weapons in Populated Areas.

"The suffering caused by the use of explosive weapons in populated areas is a serious problem requiring an immediate response," the report said.

Using explosive weapons with these characteristics in cities and towns inevitably causes immense harm to civilians.

Published jointly with Harvard Law School's International Human Rights Clinic, the 35-page report documents the loss of life in Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Ukraine, and Yemen from the use of explosive weapons.

"Using explosive weapons with these characteristics in cities and towns inevitably causes immense harm to civilians," the report said.

Tens of thousands of civilians are being killed by the use of explosive weapons, such as mortars, rockets, and bombs, in populated areas.

International momentum is growing, however, to find ways to protect civilians from the use of explosive weapons in populated areas.

In 2014 Norway hosted a meeting on the topic, and Austria is to host one in September 2015.

HRW's report looks at the advantages and disadvantages of implementing four types of political commitments: declarations, regulations, guidelines, and manuals.

A political commitment is a written document that is not legally binding.

"With political will, creative vision, and recognition of the urgency of the problem, a commitment to limit the harm caused by explosive weapons to civilians could be produced in a timely fashion," it said.