22 May 2008

Press Releases

Nov. 11 2008 CAMPAIGN CALLS ON MIDDLE EAST NATIONS TO BAN CLUSTER BOMBS NOW Regional Conference Opens in Beirut, Lebanon(Beirut, Lebanon: 11 November 2008) Governments of the Middle East and North Africa region should signthe new international treaty banning cluster munitions when it opens for signature in Oslo on 3 December2008, the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) said today. The campaign issued its call at the opening of atwo-day regional meeting on cluster munitions in Beirut, Lebanon.Read the press release here:cmc-press-release-beirut-conference.pdfNov. 7 2008Latin American and Caribbean confirms leadership role in cluster bomb banRegional conference in Ecuador closes with strong commitments to sign treaty in Oslo(Quito, Ecuador, 7 November 2008) The regional conference hosted by Ecuador closed today with Latin American and Caribbean countries confirming their strong support for the Convention on Cluster Munitions to be signed in Oslo on December 3 2008.Read the press release here:cmc-press-release-quito-english.pdf (English)cmc-press-release-quito-espanol.pdf (Espanol)28 October 2008ALL NATIONS URGED TO SIGN CLUSTER BOMB BANWorld-wide demonstration begins in biggest global week of action on cluster bombsFive weeks before a groundbreaking new treaty banning cluster bombs opens for signature in Oslo, campaigners across 71 countries are calling on all governments to put pen to paper and start saving lives, by joining the most significant disarmament and humanitarian treaty of the decade. Begun on October 27 and ending on November 2 campaigners from Afghanistan to Zambia are mobilizing in the world’s biggest call to action on cluster bombs.Read the Press Release here:globalweekofaction.pdf20 October 2008WORLD’S MOST CLUSTER-BOMBED COUNTRY LEADS REGION IN FINAL STEPS TO WEAPON BANSouth East Asian talks open in Lao PDR(Lao PDR, October 20th) South East Asian governments met today in Lao PDR, the most cluster bombed country in the world, to discuss how the new treaty to ban cluster bombs will make a difference on the ground and to rally support for the treaty signing in Oslo on 3 December. “We strongly congratulate the Lao government for the leadership it is showing on this international issue”, says Thomas Nash, Coordinator of the CMC. “Lao helped ensure that assistance to victims was at the heart of the treaty when it was negotiated in Dublin in May.  This will make a real difference to the thousands of people whose lives have been blighted by cluster bombs”.Read the press release here:south-east-asian-talks-open-in-lao-pdr.pdf  15 October 2008 MOST CLUSTER- BOMBED COUNTRY IN WORLD TO HOST PIVOTAL MEETING OF SOUTH EAST ASIAN STATES(Laos, 15 October 2008)South East Asia Regional Conference on the Convention on Cluster Munitions:  For the first time the Government of Lao PDR is hosting a regional meeting of South East Asian states to discuss the new international treaty banning cluster bombs.Governments from the most cluster-bombed region in the world will discuss how the treaty will make a difference on the ground and who is likely to sign it. The Convention on Cluster Munitions will be signed by over 100 governments in Oslo, Norway on 3 December 2008.  If signed by cluster bomb affected Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, aid for victim assistance and cluster bomb clearance in these countries should be considerably boosted.Read the media advisory here:mediaadvisorylaos.pdf  2 October 2008EPIC TRIP TO END SUFFERING(Serbia, 2 October 2008) An epic trip designed to help end the suffering of millions around the world begins this afternoon.Setting out from Belgrade The Ban Bus will travel 10 thousand kilometres through Europe and arrive in Oslo to coincide with the signing of the world’s most significant disarmament and humanitarian treaty in more than a decade, in December.Read the press release here:ban-bus-media-release.pdf 30 September 2008Momentum Builds as Cluster Bomb Ban Signing Approaches(Kampala, Uganda: 30 September 2008) With two months remaining until the international treaty banning cluster bombs is opened for signature in Norway, civil society representatives are calling on all states to announce their intent to sign.  All of the 42 African states gathered in Kampala for a regional conference today agreed to an action plan that calls for the earliest possible signature and ratification and 28 made firm commitments to sign on December 3 2008. Most if not all the 107 states that adopted the treaty in Dublin last May are expected to sign in Oslo and worldwide a total of 43 governments have already committed do so.   Read the press release here:CMC Press Release Kampala 30 September 2008 (English)CMC Press Release Kampala 30 September 2008 (French)28 September 2008 AFRICA CONTINUES TO LEAD THE WAY ON CLUSTER BOMB BAN(Kampala, Uganda: 28 September 2008) – Forty African governments gathered in Uganda today at a meeting to promote signature of a groundbreaking treaty banning cluster bombs.  The Cluster Munition Coalition, an international network of campaigners and cluster bomb survivors, called on all African governments to unite in signing the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo on 3 December 2008.Read the press release here:cmc-press-release-kampala.pdf September 24, 2008Forty African States Gather to Tackle Cluster Bombs(Kampala, September 24, 2008) Forty African governments will attend the Kampala Conference on Cluster Munitions, a regional meeting to encourage all African states to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo, Norway on 3 December 2008, the international day for persons with disabilities.CMC Media Advisory Kampala (English)CMC Media Advisory Kampala (French)September 18, 2008CAMPAIGN CHALLENGES SOUTHEAST EUROPE TO BAN CLUSTER BOMBS NOWRegional conference opens in Sofia, Bulgaria(Sofia, September 18, 2008) - Today the Cluster Munition Coalition challenged governments of southeast Europe to sign the new international treaty banning cluster bombs when it is opened for signature this December. The campaign issued its call at the opening of a regional meeting on cluster munitions in Sofia, Bulgaria.Read the press release here:Campaign Challenges Southeast Europe to Ban Cluster Bombs NowSeptember 17, 2008Cluster Bomb Ban Meeting to be held in Sofia, Bulgaria from 18 - 19 September(Sofia, September 17, 2008) The Government of Bulgaria is convening the Sofia Conference on the Convention on Cluster Munitions, a regional meeting of governments and civil society experts to discuss the new international treaty banning cluster bombs and requiring their clearance and assistance to survivors. This historic agreement will be opened for signature in Oslo, Norway on 3 December 2008.CMC Media Advisory SofiaSeptember 5, 2008USA, Backed by Denmark, Works to Legalise Cluster Bombs after Ban Agreed(Geneva, September 5, 2008) After 107 countries earlier this year adopted a break-through ban on cluster bombs, the USA is now working to have a parallel legal instrument adopted which would effectively legalise continued use of cluster bombs. The United States refused to join the Oslo Process that led to the conclusion of the ban on cluster bombs in Dublin in May and which will be signed in Oslo 3 December, but is now pushing within the framework of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) in Geneva for countries to agree on a second international legal instrument.Read the press release here:USA, backed by Denmark, works to legalise cluster bombs after ban agreed (pdf)September 2nd 2008Cluster Munition Coalition Condemns Georgian Use Of Cluster BombsAfter admitting use, Georgia must sign global treaty banning weapon (Geneva, September 2, 2008) – A network of 250 non-governmental organisations across 70 countries has condemned Georgia’s use of cluster munitions, just three months after 107 nations agreed to ban the weapon. In a letter to Human Rights Watch, the Georgian Defense Ministry stated that cluster bombs were "used against Russian military equipment and armament marching from Roki tunnel to Dzara road [sic],"but that they "were never used against civilians, civilian targets and civilian populated or nearby areas."The majority of the world's nations that have banned the weapon have declared any use of any cluster munition in any location unacceptable, because of the harm they cause to civilians during and after conflict.Read the press release here:Cluster Munition Coalition condemns Georgian use of cluster bombs (pdf)August 15th 2008Cluster Munition Coalition condemns Russian use of cluster bombs in GeorgiaInternational community should protest use of weapon banned by 107 countries(London 15 August 2008) The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) condemns Russia’s use of cluster bombs in Georgia just three months after 107 nations agreed to ban the weapon and urges all countries and organisations to speak out against this action and call for an immediate end to their use.Read the press release here:Cluster Munition Coalition condemns Russian use of cluster bombs in Georgia (pdf)August 13th 2008NEVER AGAIN: In memory of Lebanese victims campaigners worldwide urge governments to sign cluster bomb ban(August 13th 2008): Two years after the tragic 2006 war in Lebanon, with its massive use of cluster bombs, governments are being urged to honour the victims and prevent future casualties by signing an international treaty banning the weapons this December. In south Lebanon, where the UN estimated that approximately 4 million cluster bombs were dropped by Israel in 2006, over 5000 people, including parliamentarians, victims, religious leaders and campaigners will today hold a candle-lit vigil to remember the hundreds of innocent people killed and maimed and thousands affected by the weapons. Memorials and protests will also be held in North Lebanon, West Bekaa, Thailand, Nepal, India, New Zealand, Kosovo and Cambodia.Read the press release here:In memory of Lebanese victims campaigners worldwide urge governments to sign cluster bomb ban (English)Ubersetzung (Deutsch)July 8th 2008U.S. Out of Step With Allies With Hollow "New"Cluster Bomb Policy(Geneva, July 8, 2008) – A month after 111 nations including major US allies agreed to ban cluster bombs, the United States says it will continue to use its huge stockpile for another decade. According to the new policy memorandum signed by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, the US will also seek to ship cluster bombs to other countries, despite US law prohibiting transfers. After 2018, the US will still use cluster munitions with a claimed failure rate of less than 1 percent, despite wide recognition that a failure rate approach will not prevent unacceptable harm to civilians.Read the press release here:U.S. Out of Step with Allies with Hollow “New” Cluster Bomb Policy30 May 2008Over 100 Coutries Adopt Groundbreaking Treaty To ban Cluster Bombs(Dublin, May 30th, 2008) Cluster bomb survivors and campaigners today welcomed the formal adoption of the Cluster Munitions Convention by over 100 countries. This historic treaty bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of all existing and future cluster bombs. To keep pressure on governments and to ensure that the treaty enters into force, campaigners today launched the People’s Treaty.Read the press release here:Over 100 Countries Adopt Groundbreaking Treaty To Ban Cluster Bombs (PDF)28 May 2008Groundbreaking Treaty Banning Cluster Bombs Agreed(Dublin, May 28th, 2008) Cluster bomb suvivors and campaigners are tonight rejoicing over the groundbreaking and comprehensive new treaty to ban cluster bombs that has just been provisionally agreed in Dublin. After ten days of intense negotiation under Irish leadership, 110 countries negotiating at the conference and hundreds of campaigners and survivors within the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) welcomed the treaty.Read the press release here:Groundbreaking Treaty Banning Cluster Bombs Agree (PDF)28 May 2008Brown Commits To Banning All Cluster Bombs(Dublin, Ireland, May 28st, 2008) After ten days of intense negotiations campaigners welcome the UK's commitments to banning all cluster bombs immediately. A major sticking point throughout the Oslo process had been the UK's insistence on retaining two types of cluster bombs known to cause problems.Read the press release here:Brown Commits To Banning All Cluster Bombs (PDF)26 May 2008Progress On Cluster Bomb Treaty But Obstacles Remain(Dublin, Ireland, May 26th, 2008) Strong support for victim assistance but concerns on delays in the ban and joint military operations with the U.S.“Countries around the world have made exceptional progress toward a strong treaty to ban these deadly and indiscriminate weapons,"said Grethe Ostern of Norwegian People’s Aid, and Co-Chair of the CMC. “But some governments seem out of step with the widespread desire for the most comprehensive treaty possible, including the United Kingdom, Japan, Finland, Denmark, and Slovakia,” she added.Read the press release here:Progress On Cluster Bomb Treaty But Obstacles Remain (PDF)22 May 2008UK Comes In From The Cold On Cluster Bomb Ban(Dublin, Ireland, May 21st, 2008) Campaigners pushing for a ban on cluster bombs welcome this afternoons statement from Gordon Brown and call on the UK to now give up their remaining cluster bomb stocks and sign up to the treaty. In response to a Prime Ministers question this afternoon, a number 10 spokesperson said in a public statement that: “The PM has issued instructions that we should work intensively to ban cluster bombs that cause unacceptable harm to civilians. We have already banned two types of cluster bombs, neither of which had a self-destruct or deactivation mechanism. The prime minister has asked the MOD to assess the remaining munitions in use to ensure that there is no risk to civilians.”Read the press release here:UK Comes In From The Cold On Cluster Bomb Ban (PDF)19th May 2008Campaigners Call For A Comprehensive Ban On Cluster Bombs(Dublin, Ireland, May 19th, 2008) Civil society representatives and cluster bomb survivors from around the world today called on governments to support a comprehensive ban on cluster bombs, without exceptions. The call came as more than 100 governments began two weeks of final negotiations in Dublin, Ireland, on a new international treaty to ban cluster bombs. Certain states seek to weaken the treaty. Civil society representatives and survivors expect this to be the most significant humanitarian and disarmament treaty since the ban on antipersonnel landmines over a decade ago.Read the Press Release here:Campaigners Call For A Comprehensive Ban On Cluster Bombs (PDF)12th May 2008Media Advisory: Over 100 Governments Gather in Dublin To Seal Global Ban On ClusterBombsThe final negotiations of the Oslo Process to ban the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster bombs worldwide and ensure support for affected communities including clearance of contaminated land. The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), a network of over 250 non-governmental organisations from 70 countries will be participating directly in the negotiations and carrying out a range of public action activities, high impact photo and filming opportunities and public talks.Read the full Media Advisory:Media Advisory: Over 100 Governments Gather In Dublin To Secure Global Ban Of Cluster Bombs (PDF)25th April 2008World's most cluster bombed region prepares for ban negotiations in DublinThree weeks before the negotiations start in Dublin of a new international treaty to ban cluster munitions, Southeast Asian countries 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 contamination caused by the use of cluster munitions in South East Asia is the most severe and widespread of any region on earth. Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia have dealt with the human, social and economic impacts of cluster munitions for four decades.Read the Press Release here:Bangkok Press Release (PDF)17th April 2008Latin 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.Latin America and Caribbean push for global cluster bomb ban as Brazil stays away (PDF)América Latina y el Caribe impulsan una prohibición global de las municiones de racimo pero Brasil se queda atrás (PDF)15 April 2008Media Advisory: Over 20 Latin American countries meet to Ban Cluster Bombs, 16-17th April, Mexico CityGovernments from throughout Latin America and the Caribbean will meet to galvanise the regional determination to ban cluster bombs. The aim of the meeting is to allow Latin American countries to exchange views on the most controversial aspects of the forthcoming treaty and to promote the widest possible representation from the region at the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions from May 19-30 where a historic ban will be negotiated and concluded. The Mexico meeting is part of the so called Oslo Process launched in February 2007 and will take place from the 16th to the 17th of April in Mexico City.Media Advisory: Over 20 Latin American countries meet to Ban Cluster Bombs (PDF)Media Advisory: Más de 20 países de América Latina y el Caribe se reúnen para prohibir las bombas de racimo (PDF)18 January 2008Cluster Munition Coalition Responds To US Cluster Bomb AnnouncementThe Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), a network of over 250 non-government organisations in 70 countries, is today criticising the US government for not doing enough to help rid the world of cluster bombs. The CMC welcomes all efforts to clear unexploded bomblets, but stands firm in its belief that the US must join the international process to ban the weapons by 2008.Cluster Munition Coalition Responds To US Cluster Bomb Announcement (PDF)7 December 2007Cluster bomb ban treaty: 138 nations make progress in Vienna13:30 CET - Vienna, Austria, 7 December 2007 - The third major international conference on cluster munitions ended successfully today as consensus emerged on a number of important issues to be included in the new ban treaty to be signed in 2008, including victim assistance, clearance, stockpile destruction and international cooperation and assistance. Important work remains to ensure that exceptions do not weaken a comprehensive ban.Cluster bomb ban treaty: 138 nations make progress in Vienna (PDF)4 December 2007More than 120 countries gather in Vienna to discuss cluster bomb ban treaty(Vienna, Austria, 4 December 2007.) The third major international conference on cluster munitions opens tomorrow as more than 120 countries gather in Vienna to discuss a ban treaty to be signed in 2008. The conference is part of the so-called Oslo Process launched in February when states agreed to conclude a new treaty next year banning cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians.More than 120 countries gather in Vienna to discuss cluster bomb ban treaty (PDF)5 November 2007Global Public unites in day of action against cluster bombs(London, United Kingdom, 5 November 2007.) Public actions are taking place in more than 30 countries around the world today, from Austria to Zambia, as civil society calls on all governments to adopt immediate national moratoria on the use, trade and production of cluster munitions and participate in diplomatic discussions on a new international ban treaty in Vienna in one month’s time.Global Public unites in day of action against cluster bombs (PDF)