Convention on cluster munitions the issues monitor. Convention on cluster munitions, international treaty, adopted by more than 100 countries on may 30, 2008, that prohibited the manufacture, transfer, and use of cluster munitions. Convention on cluster munitions how is convention on. The convention on cluster munitions ccm, which prohibits the use, transfer, or stockpile of cluster bombs, is observed by 111 countries. Should not join the convention on cluster munitions. Government policy and practice, which was researched and written by human rights watch and landmine action now action on armed violence, and published by. The process aimed at creating an international treaty to prohibit cluster munitions that cause unacceptable suffering to civilians. The secretarygeneral of the united nations shall trans mit all such reports received to the states parties. The convention also sets legal precedent in three ways. Convention on cluster munitions e united nations office. Such a report shall be prepared for each year during. How dumb cluster bombs are becoming heinously smart. The convention on cluster munitions the ccm is the international treaty of more than 100 states that addresses the humanitarian consequences and unacceptable harm caused to civilians by cluster munitions, through a categorical prohibition and a framework for action. Cluster bombs are banned under the convention on cluster munitions ccm, an international treaty that addresses the humanitarian consequences and unacceptable harm caused to civilians by cluster munitions through a categorical prohibition and a framework for action.
Convention on cluster munitions and mine ban treaty respectively. Implementation of the convention on cluster munitions. The convention on cluster munitions seeks to end the significant humanitarian harm cluster munitions pose to civilians. Convention on cluster munitions the states parties to this convention, deeply concerned that civilian populations and individual civilians continue to bear the brunt of armed conflict, determined to put an end for all time to the suffering and casualties caused by cluster munitions at the time of their use, when they fail to function as intended or when they. Cluster munitions have had a severe impact on civilians, killing and injuring large numbers and causing long lasting socioeconomic problems. Cluster munitions do not distinguish between civilians and combatants and can leave behind unexploded ordnance which can harm civilians and be detrimental to economic and social development for decades after use.
Convention on conventional weapons and consistent with past. The convention on cluster munitions is the latest in a series of modern weapons. The convention on cluster munitions is a historic achievement. Many submunitions are unreliable and fail to explode, thus creating a potential humanitarian impact on. The convention on cluster munitions separate articles in the convention concern assistance to victims, clearance of contaminated areas and destruction of stockpiles. Convention sur les armes a sousmunitions kohbehuidi no kaccethbim 60enphnacam convenci6n sobre municiones en racimo. Yet, the cluster bomb concept has evolved from the dumbest of dumb bombs into a more targeted and discriminating weapon. The convention on cluster munitions is a humanitarian imperativedriven legal instrument which prohibits all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. Convention on certain conventional weapons convention ccw at a.
How they work and the function they serve cluster munitions target an area rather than a single point. Cluster munitions international committee of the red cross. The convention on cluster munitions is a misbegotten treaty that neither advances the laws of war nor enhances security. Dublin, 30 may 2008 the convention was ratified by the united kingdom on the 4 may 2010 and entered into force for the united kingdom on the 1 november 2010 presented to parliament by the secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs by command of her majesty august 2011. In addition, it establishes a framework for cooperation and assistance to ensure adequate assistance to survivors and their communities, clearance of contaminated areas.
The 2008 convention on cluster munitions was adopted by 107 states on 30 may 2008 at a specially convened diplomatic conference. The purpose of the convention is to provide a comprehensive international response to the suffering caused by the use of cluster munitions and. The convention on cluster munitions bans all use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. When dod implements the final phase of this policy, it will deprive itself of a critical capability without any plans to fill the giant gap they will leave in. Treaties, states parties, and commentaries convention on.
The convention on cluster munitions was adopted by 107 countries on 30 may 2008 in dublin, ireland. Cluster munitions are characterized as bombs or shells that consist of an outer casing that houses dozens, or even hundreds, of smaller submunitions. A cluster bomb can contain anywhere from nine to several hundred bomblets. When dropped, the bomb is designed to open midair and distribute the bomblets so that they, on impact, will explode and affect an area that can be as. An act to implement the convention on cluster munitions in insert country name. Separate articles in the convention concern destruction of stockpiles, clearance of contaminated areas, assistance to victims, submission of transparency reports, and adoption of domestic legislation. The role of ngo activism in the implementation of the. It opened for signature on 3 december 2008, and entered into force on 1 august 2010.
The end of american cluster munitions is arriving and the department of defense dod has no plans to replace them. Convention, of cluster munitions, including explosive submunitions, with details of the methods that will be used in destruction, the location of all destruction sites and the applicable safety and environmental standards to be observed. Model law convention on cluster munitions the convention on. Adopted on 30 may 2008 during a diplomatic conference held in dublin, it was the culmination of a process begun in oslo in february 2007, following the failure of the convention. The 2008 convention on cluster munitions prohibits use, development, production, stockpiling, and transfer of cluster munitions, as defined. Convention on cluster munitions ccm the ccm was adopted in may 2008 and entered into force in august 2010. Fact sheet convention on cluster munitions the convention on cluster munitions ccm was opened for signature in oslo on 3 december 2008 and entered into force on 1 august 2010. Cluster munitions, which by design deliver submunitions over a wide area, are a speci. The convention was adopted on 30 may 2008 in dublin, and was opened for signature on 3 december 2008 in oslo. Egyptian cluster bombs allegedly used in syria there are 111 signatories among them only 71 countries ratified the convention on cluster munitions of may 2008.
Convention on cluster munitions tke states parties to this convention, deeply concerned that civilian populations and individual civilians continue to bear the brunt of armed conflict, determined to put an end for all time to the suffering and casualties caused by cluster munitions at the time of their use, when they fail to function. The scope of the convention on cluster munitions a cluster munition is a weapon consisting of a container or dispenser from which many submunitions or bomblets are scattered over wide areas. This type of ordnance, which can be delivered by several means,18 consists of a container that releases submunitions, or bomblets, while. Convention on cluster munitions reporting formats for article 7 of the convention on cluster munitions state party. Moreover, unexploded duds lying around form a lifethreatening hazard for civilians long after. Convention on cluster munitions, 30 may 2008 state parties 108 state signatories after decades of seeing civilians suffer with each new use of cluster munitions, and in the face of an inadequate response in other fora, norway launched the oslo process on cluster munitions in february 2007 by inviting governments supporting the. Convention on cluster munitions international treaty. The act prohibits the use, development, production, acquisition, possession, import, export, as well as foreign movement for the purpose of transferring ownership and control of cluster munitions. This guide to cluster munitions provides practical information to those engaged in addressing the impact of unexploded cluster munitions on civilians. Cluster munitions have been highly criticized internationally for causing a significant number of civilian deaths, and efforts have been undertaken to ban and regulate their use. This important international humanitarian law treaty prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions and requires states to. Convention text the convention on cluster munitions. The convention was adopted in dublin by 107 states on 30 may 2008 and signed on 3 december the same year. Implementation of the convention on cluster munitions unog.
This article provides a basic introduction to cluster munitions and their humanitarian effects. It prohibits the use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of cluster munitions, as well as assistance with any of these activities. Status of the 2008 convention on cluster munitions. Cluster munitions or cluster bombs are weapons that consist of one carrier container filled with separate bomblets. First is the fact that whatever legitimate role cluster munitions may be applied to, their nature and characteristics lend themselves so easily to. The humanitarian objection to cluster munitions therefore arises mainly from two properties of this class of weapons. The united states shares in the international concern about the humanitarian impact of all munitions, including cluster munitions. The convention on cluster munitions and the evolution of. Will keep older cluster munitions, a weapon banned by. Convention on cluster munitions convention on cluster munitions.
Convention on cluster munitions the states parties to this convention, deeply concerned that civilian populations and individual civilians continue to bear the brunt of armed conflict, determined to put an end for all time to the suffering and casualties caused by cluster munitions at the time of their use, when they fail to function as intended or when they are abandoned. Selected preparatory documents in chronological order. Statesparties include former producers and users of cluster munitions such as france, germany, the. It entered into force on 1 august 2010, six months after it was. Cluster munitions are legitimate weapons with clear military utility, as they.
Cluster munitions at a glance arms control association. The convention on cluster munitions the ccm is the. The convention on cluster munitions ccm prohibits the use, possession, production and transfer of cluster munitions and requires the destruction of existing stocks. The strength of the treaty is largely due to the prohibition on cluster munitions as an entire category of weapons. Cluster munition monitor, now in its tenth edition, was first released in 2010 and builds upon the 2009 report banning cluster munitions. Cluster munitions have a widearea effect, which makes them inherently inaccurate when used. Convention on cluster munitions the convention on cluster munitions provides a comprehensive framework for addressing the longstanding humanitarian issuesassociated with these weapons.
Transfer involves, in addition to the physical movement of cluster munitions into or from national territory, the transfer of title to and control over cluster munitions, but does not involve the. Convention on cluster munitions at wikisource the convention on cluster munitions ccm is an international treaty that prohibits the use, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster bombs, a type of explosive weapon which scatters submunitions bomblets over an area. The convention will enter into force on 1 august 2010, and the first meeting of states parties will be held in lao pdr in november. The convention on cluster munitions entered into force on 1 august 2010, the first day of the sixth month after the deposit of the thirtieth instrument of ratification in accordance with article 17 of the convention. The treaty the 2008 convention on cluster munitions provides the only international framework for eradicating these weapons. It creates perverse incentives for insurgents to use civilian populations as human shields.
The convention on cluster munitions and the evolution of international humanitarian law bonnie docherty abstract the 2008 convention on cluster munitions comprehensively bans a weapon that causes civilian casualties both during and after attacks. Why cluster munitions must be replaced war on the rocks. It is an unverifiable, unenforceable, allornothing exercise in moral suasion, not a serious diplomatic instrument. The convention on cluster munitions ccm prohibits all use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions. It is also based on international humanitarian law. Cluster munitions, cluster bombs human rights watch. Cluster munition remnants means failed cluster munitions, abandoned cluster munitions, unexploded submunitions and unexploded bomblets. The negotiators rejected proposals for broad exceptions from the ban and for a transition period during which cluster munitions could still be. Its disarmament provisions comprehensively prohibit the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions, as well as assistance with any of these banned activities, and require that stockpiled cluster. The last known use of cluster munitions by the united states military was a december 2009 strike in yemen, when navy warships fired multiple tomahawk cruise missiles carrying bomblets. This act entered into force on 16 march 2015 and canada ratified the convention on cluster munitions that same day. The department of defense dod continues to view cluster munitions as a military necessity but in 2008instituted a policy to reduce the failure rate of cluster. The convention on cluster munitions ccm is an international treaty that prohibits the use, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster bombs, a type of explosive weapon which scatters submunitions bomblets over an area. The convention entered into force on 1 august 2010.
1024 430 712 1376 712 733 974 427 1114 1504 683 1386 375 1164 281 1183 1241 1440 134 1217 1341 1276 475 248 1347 821 66 445 1136 216 223 650 1237 481 1189 321 1342 1213 647 598 1420 1104 345 1275 941 901