Campaigners celebrate as Convention becomes binding international law

(London, 29 July 2010) – The Convention on Cluster Munitions takes effect on Sunday, 1 August 2010, when it becomes binding international law in countries around the world. In dozens of countries, campaigners from the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) will join UN agencies, governments and international organisations in events celebrating the swift entry into force of the most significant disarmament and humanitarian treaty in over a decade.
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As a leader on the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, Thailand participated in the “Oslo Process” to negotiate the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions and has expressed concern about the humanitarian consequences of cluster bombs. Despite this support, Thailand has not yet signed the Convention. (more…)

The Kingdom of Morocco participated in the “Oslo Process” to develop and adopt the Convention on Cluster Munitions, but it has yet to sign the treaty.

“Morocco should set an example in the region by joining this landmark humanitarian and disarmament treaty that will ban cluster bombs” said Ayman Sorour, executive director of Protection, a CMC steering committee member that works to ban cluster munitions in the Middle East and North Africa. “Protecting civilians from these indiscriminate weapons must be at the heart of Morocco’s decision to join this treaty” he added.
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Slovakia should sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions, joining the majority of the world’s countries that support a comprehensive ban on cluster bombs.

“Cluster munitions have no place in modern military arsenals because the humanitarian harm they cause far outstrips their military utility, to the point where no state should want to hold onto these weapons anymore” said Branislav Tichy of Amnesty International Slovakia, a CMC member organisation.
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1.    INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Successful Chile conference paves the way for 1MSP

The Santiago International Conference on the Convention on Cluster Munitions took place from 7-9 June 2010 in Santiago, Chile. Some 99 governments – including 13 non-signatory states – and more than 120 CMC campaigners attended the conference, which was characterised by a high degree of enthusiasm and engagement.

Photo: Soraj Ghulam Habib and other cluster munition survivors talk to the Chilean foreign minister.
Photo credit: Mary Wareham

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Strong resolution calls for urgent action before 1 August

(London, 8 July 2010) - The European Parliament passed a resolution on 8 July calling on European Union member states to sign and ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions “as a matter of urgency,” the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) said today. The Convention enters into force and becomes binding international law on 1 August.

“We welcome this strong resolution that leaves no room for confusion - EU countries must take urgent action to sign and ratify this landmark humanitarian treaty before it takes effect next month,” said Judith Majlath, CMC representative in Austria who collaborated on the new resolution. “There will never be a better time to join this treaty and to put its life-saving provisions into action.”

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Sudan should follow through on its stated commitment to ban cluster bombs by joining the Convention on Cluster Munitions as soon as possible. (more…)

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.” (more…)

The CMC is a global network of around 350 civil society organisations working across 90 countries to end the harm caused by cluster munitions.

Position:    Campaign and Communications Intern

Employer:    Cluster Munition Coalition
Location:    Epworth House, 25 City Road, London EC1Y 1AA
Contract:    Temporary, 6 months, beginning 19 July, 2010
Hours:        Normal office hours, five days a week
Salary:    Unpaid, but TFL travel card and £5 daily food allowance will be covered

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