The international ban on cluster munitions

An international treaty banning the production,transfer, stockpiling and use of cluster munitions was signed in Oslo, Norway in December,2008.  This treaty, known as the Convention on Cluster Munitions, entered into force on August 1, 2010 after 30 of the more than 100 signatories had ratified the treaty. 

The full text of the treaty can be found on the Convention on Cluster Munitions website. The treaty includes clear expectations for stockpile destruction, clearance of unexploded ordnance, victim assistance, and international cooperation.

The Cluster Munition Coalition, a group of about 350 non-governmental organizations in 100 countries was a strong participant in the effort to ban cluster munitions. Campaigners conducted research, lobbied their government delegates, helped to facilitate the voices of survivors in the process, conducted workshops and public media campaigns to urge governments to adopt a strong treaty. Mennonite Central Committee was a founding member of the Coalition which was formed in a gathering at The Hague in 2003.

The 1st Meeting of States Parties to the Convention, following its entry into force was held in Vientiane, Lao PDR, November 9-12, 2010.  Laos bears the unhappy distinction of being the most heavily "cluster bombed" country in the world. Laos' participation in the treaty process was marked by a strong and passionate voice on behalf of its people and its land, so it was a particularly appropriate that the 1st review conference was held in the most affected country. The Vientiane Declaration outlined a plan of action to implement the provisions of the treaty and ensure that its legal obligations are met.

Sadly, during the Vientiane meeting, a young Lao girl named Piou was killed, and her sister Paeng was injured when they encountered an unexploded cluter bomb on the way home from school. The story was headlined in the Vientiane Times, Laos' English-language newspaper, on the second day of the conference.

The 2nd Meeting of States Parties to the Convention will be held in Beirut, Lebanon, September 12-16, 2011.

A photo of 10-year old Piou (right) and her 15 year old sister Paeng (left) is held by their mother.  Photo Credit:  Giovanni Diffidenti