All nations need to ban cluster bombs, but this Global Week of Action will target 5 key countries that have not yet signed the treaty: Brazil, Cambodia, Iraq, Nigeria and Serbia.
Enter your name, email address and country in the form below and send a letter to each of these countries urging them to sign the Cluster Bomb Ban Treaty:
-
BRAZIL
Brazil says that it hasn't yet signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions because the major users and producers haven't joined, but former users, producers and stockpilers of cluster munitions have joined the treaty. Even countries that haven't signed the treaty will find it hard to use weapons that most countries consider illegal without facing a huge public and political backlash.
“Brazil is one of the only Latin American countries not to have banned cluster bombs and the only remaining producer in the region. Worse still, the cluster bombs produced and stockpiled in my country will kill and harm innocent civilians if they are used. Brazil must join the majority of countries in the world by banning cluster bombs and signing the treaty”
– Cristian Wittmann, Campaigner in Brazil. (Picture © Mary Wareham.)
-
CAMBODIA
Despite Cambodia's extensive and positive leadership in the Oslo Process it did not sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The government has said it needs more time to study the impact of the treaty on its security capability and national defence. Cluster bombs dropped on Cambodia and neighbouring Laos and Vietnam 30 years ago are still causing new victims today; any military value of this weapon is far outweighed by the harm they cause innocent civilians.
“30 years after the war, these bombs still kill and maim. They took my eyes and my arms, and they continue to destroy the lives of so many other farmers just like me. I cannot see anymore, but I still have a voice and I want to say: Look at me and stop destroying lives. It’s time to sign the treaty!”
– Yoeun Sam En, Cambodian cluster bomb survivor and member of the Ban Advocates group of survivor advocates. (Picture © Mary Wareham.)
Read Sam Yoeun’s story here.
-
IRAQ
Iraq's Cabinet recently made a decision to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions. As a country affected by cluster bombs, Iraq’s signature would send a strong signal to the world that cluster bombs are unacceptable weapons and enable Iraq to receive assistance for clearance of cluster bomb remnants and to help Iraqi victims.
“The ban will put a stop to future use of these weapons, but true success will be the difference it makes to people in affected countries like Iraq. No one should go through what I went through and the Iraqi authorities now have a real opportunity to make that a reality by signing the treaty.”
– Ayat Syleiman Ali, Iraqi cluster bomb survivor and member of the Ban Advocates group of survivor advocates. (Photo © Magnus Fröderberg.)
Read Ayat’s story here.
-
NIGERIA
Despite indicating several times that it would sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Nigeria has not yet signed the treaty as it has lacked the necessary paperwork.
“My country committed several times to signing the treaty banning cluster bombs, but it has been delayed again and again by administrative issues. It has been six months since the treaty opened for signature, it is high time Nigeria lives up to its promises by signing and banning these indiscriminate killers. Let’s sign the treaty now!”
– Mimidoo Achakpa, CMC campaigner in Nigeria. (Photo © Mary Wareham.)
-
SERBIA
Despite Serbia's strong engagement in the Oslo Process, the government has not signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions. No official explanation has been given. As a country that has suffered from the use of cluster bombs, the Serbian government owes it to the victims to get behind the ban and make sure Serbian victims receive assistance and that donor funds are made available for clearance.
“Haven't cluster munitions caused enough suffering in my country? How many more dead, and injured, must there be, to make someone sign the treaty? How can it be possible that, my country is not part of the movement like the other 96 countries that have signed”
– Branislav Kapetanovic, CMC Spokesperson, former deminer and cluster bomb survivor from Serbia.
Read Branislav’s story here.