Cluster munitions kill and injure civilians at the time of use because they indiscriminately scatter explosives over such a wide area and many of the bomblets or submunitions fail to explode on impact killing and injuring civilians long after conflict. The CMC is supporting a new international process to conclude a new treaty that will prohibit these unacceptable weapons and assist individuals and communities in need. This page contains information and resources to help you get involved in the process, including the CMC's principles that set out the basic standards for the treaty. CMC Treaty Principles:EnglishArabicChineseFrenchRussianSpanish CMC Definition:EnglishSpanishFrenchRussian
Three weeks before major negotiations start in Dublin for an international treaty to ban cluster munitions, Southeast Asian countries have met under the auspices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Bangkok 24-25 April to share views on the draft treaty and the weapon that has affected their region so severely.
The Mexico Regional Conference on cluster munitions for Latin America and Caribbean states took place from 16-17 April 2008 in Mexico D.F.
Please see a report on the main topics discussed during the conference as well as the name of the new states that have expressed their will to endorse the Wellington Declaration.
Press release: Cluster Munition Coalition: Latin America and Caribbean push for global cluster bomb ban as Brazil stays away (Mexico City, 17 April 2008)
More than 20 Latin American and Caribbean governments have reaffirmed their commitment to a global ban on cluster bombs at a regional meeting in Mexico City one month ahead of the international negotiations in Dublin that will finalise an international treaty, with only Brazil and Cuba shunning the gathering.
Campaigners in over 50 countries across the world are taking action and calling on their governments to take part in the Dublin Conference from 19 - 30 May to negotiate a treaty to ban cluster bombs, assist survivors and affected communities and clear areas contaminated by cluster bombs.
Number of countries joining the Oslo process to date: 84
CAMPAIGN
The CMC is an international civil society movement committed to achieving a new international treaty banning cluster bombs, a weapon type that kills indiscriminately and that is stockpiled in the billions by over 70 countries.