To date, states that have joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions have destroyed a total of 1.16 million cluster bombs, representing more than three-quarters of the weapons declared stockpiled under convention. This was revealed by the 2014 Cluster Munition Monitor, the annual study into the implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). PAX contributes to the study.
Last year, Chile, Denmark, FYR Macedonia and the United Kingdom completed the destruction of their cluster munitions stockpiles. What’s more, ten countries, including France, Germany, Italy and Japan destroyed a total of 130,380 cluster munitions and 24 million submunitions. Submunitions are the smaller bombs that are released when cluster munition is used.
To date, countries party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions have destroyed 1.16 million stockpiled cluster munitions and almost 140 million submunitions. In countries including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Iraq, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Vietnam and other regions, at least thirty square kilometres of land has been cleared of more than 54,000 unexploded cluster munition remnants. These areas can now be safely accessed by local people.
Total ban
The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) includes a total ban on the use, production, stockpiling and transport of cluster munitions. Furthermore the treaty prescribes that countries must destroy their stockpiles of cluster munitions within eight years and clear affected areas of unexploded cluster munitions remnants within ten years. States Parties must also offer adequate assistance for victims.
International condemnation
According to the Cluster Munition Monitor the continued use of cluster munitions in Syria has already claimed hundreds of victims in the first half of 2014. In 2012 and 2013, cluster munition attacks and unexploded submunitions resulted in 1,584 victims. The vast majority of those killed-97 percent-were civilians.
In 2014, there were also reports of new cases of cluster munition use in South Sudan and Ukraine. It is currently unclear which parties are responsible for their use.
In May 2014, the UN Security Council passed a resolution that expressed concern at the use of cluster munition in South Sudan. In 2013, the UN General Assembly passed two resolutions that condemned the use of cluster munitions in Syria. More than 140 countries have condemned Syria’s use of cluster munitions in statements and resolutions, including 51 states that have not joined the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
PAX to attend Convention on Cluster Munitions conference
The Cluster Munition Monitor presents its study in the run up to the fifth Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which will be held from 2 through 5 September in Costa Rica. PAX will be present to encourage countries to strictly implement the treaty and to comply with its obligations. PAX is also there to place banning investments in cluster munition producers on the agenda.
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See also: Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor
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