International Meeting Condemns Use of Cluster Bombs

5-7 September 2016, Geneva, Switzerland

The Sixth Meeting of States Parties (6MSP) to the Convention on Cluster Munitions took place in Geneva, Switzerland from 5 to 7 September 2016. The Netherlands presided over the meeting.

Sister Denise Coghlan, founding member of the Cambodia Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munitions, delivers an  opening statement at the 6MSP, on 5 September 2016. ©CMC

Highlights from the meeting

• The CMC delegation comprised over 60 coalition members from 28 countries in all regions, They conducted bilateral discussions with governments' representatives at the meeting, encouraging them to join the convention and to deliver on its promises urgently. They hosted side events where they shared their experience and expertise in dealing with cluster munition-related issues.
• States adopted a Political Declaration that condemns any use of cluster munitions by any actor. The Declaration calls on states not party to the convention to join it without delay.
• Through the Political Declaration, states announced their intention to complete the implementation of their convention obligations by 2030 at the latest. The CMC reminded all delegations that the first deadlines for stockpile destruction are 2018 and the first deadlines for clearance are 2020. All States Parties, except two with very heavy contamination, should be able to meet their deadlines -- allowing completion of the work for existing States Parties long before 2030.
• Madagascar recieved warm applause when it announced it would ratify the convention at the upcoming UN Treaty Event.
• During the meeting, the CMC shared the sad news that two members of the Syria Civil Defense (White Helmets) were killed on 6 September 2016 during a cluster munition attack on Idlib, Syria. The President of the meeting said that this sad event called us all to urgent action.
• Simultaneously to the meeting, U.S. President Barack Obama visited Lao PDR and CMC member COPE Laos, and announced US$90 million over three years to support clearance of cluster munition remnants and assistance to victims of these weapons.

Statements delivered by the CMC at the meeting

• Opening Statement, delivered by Sr Denise Coghlan, Director of Jesuit Refugee Service Cambodia
• Universalization, delivered by Vidya Abhayagunawardena, Sri Lankan Campaign to Ban Landmines and Cluster Munition Coordinator
• International Cooperation & Assistance, delivered by Anna Jones, West Africa Network for Peacebuilding - The Gambia
• Clearance, delivered by Lucy Pinches, Norwegian People's Aid
• National Implementation Measures, delivered by Bonnie Docherty, Human Rights Watch
• Stockpile Destruction, delivered by Maria Pia Devoto, Asociacion para Politicas Publicas
• Transparency, delivered by Robert Mtonga, Zambian Campaign To Ban Landmines
• Victim Assistance, delivered by Mamady Gassama, Association Sénégalaise des Victimes de Mines
• Compliance, delivered by Ayman Sorour, Protection (Egypt)
• Remarks after the adoption of the Political Declaration, delivered by Steve Goose, Human Rights Watch, Head of Delegation

Cluster Munition Monitor 2016

• Cluster Munition Monitor 2016 was launched on 1 September 2016 in Geneva. Key findings of the report were presented at 6MSP. The report has been published on the Monitor's website.

Side Events by CMC and its member organizations during the 6MSP

• Cluster Munition Monitor 2016: Delegates Briefing, by the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor

• Syria - Cluster Munition Attacks & Clearance Efforts, by Human Rights Watch and Syria Civil Defense

• Worldwide Investments in Cluster Munitions; a shared responsibility, by PAX

• Launch of Clearing Cluster Munition Remnants 2016, by Norwegian People’s Aid

Media Contact

• For more information about the 6MSP or to schedule an interview, contact: Firoz Alizada, ICBL-CMC Campaigns and Communications Manager, Email firoz@icblcmc.org, Mobile: +41-78-657-7331.

 Social Media

• CMC Twitter: https://twitter.com/banclusterbombs (for live tweets throughout the 6MSP, also search #6MSP)
• CMC Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/banclusterbombs
• CMC Flickr: http://bit.ly/ImagesForMedia
• CMC YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/user/CMCInternationa

Government Memo

To prepare and register for the 6MSP, this memo was made available: CMC Government memo – Convention on Cluster Munitions 6MSP

Meeting in the run up to the 6MSP

• Africa Regional Workhop on Universalization of the Convention on Cluster Munitions was held in the lead up to the 6MSP on 4-5 August 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to help signatories and non-signatories in Africa to advance ratification/accession process. The 17 states present at the workshop adopted a Commitment Paper for a region free of cluster munitions.

Participants of the Addis Ababa workshop, 5 August 2016 ©ISUCCM.

Other Tools and Resources

• The Convention on Cluster Munitions universalization brochure
• 'We Can Stop Cluster Bombs' logo
• Convention on Cluster Munitions status
• Dubrovnik Action Plan (DAP) and Dubrovnik Declaration
• How states can take action
• Stop Explosive Investments: On 16 June 2016, CMC member organisation PAX (Netherlands) published the seventh update of the report 'Worldwide Investments in Cluster Munitions: A shared responsibility'.The report is available on the Stop Explosive Investments website. Key findings of the report will be presented to delegates at the 6MSP.
• All CMC materials can be found in the resources section of the CMC website.
• TED Talk: The deadly legacy of cluster bombs by Ms. Laura Boushnak.
  Photographer, Ms. Boushnak by sharing the story of Mohammad, a cluster munition survivor, depicts the scourge of cluster bombs and the urgency to get rid of them.

TED Talk: the deadly legacy of cluster bombs.