During the class discussion, the question about cluster munitions interested me. Cluster bombs seem to be an indiscriminate weapon whose unexploded bomblets function like landmines and pose significant lethal threat to civilians. There is global movement banning AP-mines. What did the international community do concerning cluster munitions? Is there any actor who advocate for banning cluster bombs?
The treaty negotiation process has been supported by a group of countries, including Norway, Austria, Ireland, Mexico and Peru, since February 2007 and it’s known as the “Oslo Process.” There have been 4 conferences so far, and the next one is scheduled in May 2008 in Dublin. Civil society also formed a network, Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), which aims at calling for a conclusion of an international treaty banning cluster munitions. The concern on cluster munitions was brought up in the latest session of DISEC (UNGA 1st Committee on Disarmament and International Security) and Conference on Disarmament. According to the CMC, the participants of the Oslo Process “cover the five world regions and include 19 producer states, 7 states that have used cluster munitions and 34 stockpilers." [1]
The major content of the draft Cluster Munitions Convention is similar to the existing disarmament provisions. The treaty would prohibit states from using, producing, stockpiling and transferring cluster bombs, and make states responsible for cleaning the remnants and helping the cluster munitions victims. [2]
The treaty negotiation process has been supported by a group of countries, including Norway, Austria, Ireland, Mexico and Peru, since February 2007 and it’s known as the “Oslo Process.” There have been 4 conferences so far, and the next one is scheduled in May 2008 in Dublin. Civil society also formed a network, Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), which aims at calling for a conclusion of an international treaty banning cluster munitions. The concern on cluster munitions was brought up in the latest session of DISEC (UNGA 1st Committee on Disarmament and International Security) and Conference on Disarmament. According to the CMC, the participants of the Oslo Process “cover the five world regions and include 19 producer states, 7 states that have used cluster munitions and 34 stockpilers." [1]
The major content of the draft Cluster Munitions Convention is similar to the existing disarmament provisions. The treaty would prohibit states from using, producing, stockpiling and transferring cluster bombs, and make states responsible for cleaning the remnants and helping the cluster munitions victims. [2]
[1] The Oslo Process, CMC http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/dokumenti/dokument.asp?id=125
[2] Draft of the Cluster Munitions Convention, Wellington Conference, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom http://www.wilpf.int.ch/disarmament/clustermunitions/
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