28 June 2010

Countdown to Entry into Force – Week 10: Papua New Guinea

As an active participant in the process leading up to the adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Papua New Guinea should follow through and join the treaty."It’s clear from Papua New Guinea’s participation that it wants to stop the civilian suffering caused by cluster bombs," said Thomas Nash, coordinator of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC). "By joining the Convention on Cluster Munitions before it becomes binding international law in August, countries like Papua New Guinea can be a part of the most significant disarmament treaty of the decade."Papua New Guinea took part in the "Oslo Process" meetings to negotiate the Convention and was among the countries that adopted the Convention in Dublin in May 2008. Although it attended the Oslo signing conference in December 2008, Papua New Guinea was unable to sign the treaty at that time. As Papua New Guinea is not known to stockpile cluster munitions or have any areas contaminated by the weapons, joining the Convention should be a straightforward procedure.Asian countries are among the most heavily contaminated by cluster bombs, but only 12 of the 40 countries in Asia and the Pacific region have signed the treaty so far and five have ratified (Fiji, Japan, Lao PDR, New Zealand and Samoa). The CMC urges all countries to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions without delay and to participate in the First Meeting of States Parties in November 2010 in Lao PDR, the most-affected country in the world.Download letters urging the government of Papua New Guinea to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions:

  • CMC letter urging the government of Papua New Guinea to sign the Convention
  • Template letter urging the government of Papua New Guinea to sign the Convention
Return to the CMC countdown page