Lao PDR will host the First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions from 9-12 November, 2010.
Nations meet in Geneva to plan implementation of ban treaty
(Geneva, 6 September 2010) – States should act urgently to meet their obligations under a new international treaty banning cluster bombs, the Cluster Munition Coalition said today, as nations gathered in Geneva to plan the Convention’s upcoming First Meeting of States Parties.
Drummers in Japan join global actions to mark the entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
1. INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Campaigners celebrate entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions
Campaigners in 83 countries and territories organised actions to celebrate the entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM), the highest level of participation ever for a CMC global day of action. The CMC launched an entry into force website, www.august1.org, which includes reports and photos of the campaign actions.
Around the world, political actors and civil society members engaged in a wide range of activities in order to promote and discuss the Convention as it came into force. Many of these activities strengthened the platform for the universalisation of the CCM. Several governments released press statements welcoming its entry into force. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Pope Benedict XVI both issued public statements declaring their support for the CCM.
The Broken Chair sculpture stands outside the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva as a symbol against landmines and cluster munitions. Photo credit: Handicap International
(Geneva, 1 September 2010) - Following the introduction of a draft protocol on cluster munitions to the Convention on Conventional Weapons’ Group of Governmental Experts on 31 August, the Cluster Munition Coalition intervened to express concerns about the draft’s significant failures to provide an urgent response to the issue of cluster munitions, be compatible with the Convention on Cluster Munitions, or contain meaningful provisions.
1. INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Comoros ratifies and Djibouti signs cluster bomb ban treaty
Two African states took action on the Convention on Cluster Munitions in the days before 1 August 2010, when the Convention entered into force and became binding international law. Comoros ratified the Convention on 28 July at the United Nations, becoming the 38th country fully on board the treaty, and Djibouti signed the Convention on 30 July.
Comoros signs the Convention on Cluster Munitions at the Oslo signing ceremony in December 2008. Credit: Gunnar Mjaugedal/catchlight.no
Convention became binding international law on 1 August 2010
(London, 4 August 2010) – Two African states took action on the Convention on Cluster Munitions in the days before 1 August 2010, when the Convention entered into force and became binding international law. Comoros ratified the Convention on 28 July at the United Nations, becoming the 38th country fully on board the treaty, and Djibouti signed the Convention on 30 July.