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News South Africa: Focus on cluster munitions at law seminar 9-6-2008 News release 29-5-2008 News release Section Cluster munitions and international humanitarian law Cluster munitions have been a persistent humanitarian problem for decades. Although used in only a few dozen armed conflicts over the last forty years, these weapons have killed and injured large numbers of civilians in war-affected countries. Cluster munitions have unique characteristics that make them a grave danger to civilian men, women and children. At the time they are used during conflict, cluster munitions can disperse explosive submunitions (bomblets) over very wide areas, potentially causing very high civilian casualties when they are used in populated areas. In addition, large numbers of submunitions fail to explode as intended, leaving a long-term legacy of explosive contamination. Many thousands of civilian men, women and children have been tragically killed and injured by coming into contact with unexploded submunitions. On May 30, 2008, 111 States adopted the Cluster Munition Convention at a Diplomatic Conference held in Dublin, Ireland. The ICRC warmly welcomes the adoption of this historic agreement which prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions. By adopting this Convention, States have taken a major step towards ending the death, injury and suffering caused by these weapons. States must now adhere to the Convention, and all governments, armed forces and armed groups – in particular those who possess and stockpile cluster munitions – must fully implement its provisions. Only then can the international community claim success against the dangers posed by these weapons.  Key document24-6-2008 Questions and answers on the Cluster Munitions ConventionThe ICRC has warmly welcomed the adoption of the Cluster Munitions Convention. This historic agreement prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions that have caused widespread civilian casualties. The following is an updated version of an interview with Peter Herby, head of the ICRC's arms unit (25.05.08) (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Cluster munitions) Interview 31-5-2008 Convention on Cluster MunitionsDiplomatic conference for the adoption of a convention on cluster munitions - link to the Convention text published on The Cluster Munitions Process 2007 - 2008 website (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Cluster munitions) Treaty Includes PDF 30-5-2008 Cluster munitions: ICRC hails convention as a major step forwardStatement by Peter Herby, head of the ICRC's arms unit, Dublin Conference on Cluster Munitions, Closing Ceremony, 30 May 2008 (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Cluster munitions) Official Statement 19-5-2008 Cluster munitions: ICRC calls for a strong treatyStatement by Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, at the opening ceremony of the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on cluster munitions, 19 May 2008 (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Cluster munitions) Official Statement 2-2-2008 Cluster munitions: why we need to limit themWhat are cluster munitions? Where are they? Who are the victims? Why should there be a new treaty? What is the Red Cross and Red Crescent doing about it? – five special factsheets provide the answers. (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Cluster munitions) Includes PDF ICRC film28-3-2008 Cluster munitions: Time to actCluster munitions can contain up to 650 explosive submunitions. These are scattered over a wide area and many of them fail to explode as intended. As a result, they have caused death, injury and suffering among civilians in nearly every conflict in which they have been used. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Films\Humanitarian law) ICRC film Includes Audio ICRC Publication10-4-2008 Cluster munitions: Decades of failure, decades of civilian sufferingCluster munitions can contain up to 650 explosive submunitions. These are scattered over a wide area and many of them fail to explode as intended. As a result, they have caused death, injury and suffering among civilians in nearly every conflict in which they have been used. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Humanitarian law) ICRC Publication 31-5-2007 Expert Meeting Report: "Humanitarian, Military, Technical and Legal Challenges of Cluster Munitions"This publication is a summary report of the ICRC Expert Meeting on the Humanitarian, Military, Technical and Legal Challenges of Cluster Munitions, held 18 to 20 April 2007 in Montreux, Switzerland. This event was organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to examine the cluster munitions problem and to consider all possible means of reducing their negative impact on civilian populations. (Info resources\ICRC publications and films\Publications\Humanitarian law) ICRC Publication Includes PDF Interview5-2-2008 Cluster munitions: ICRC calls for urgent actionThe head of the ICRC's arms unit, Peter Herby, explains why the ICRC is calling for national and international action to address the devastating consequences these weapons have on civilian populations. (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Cluster munitions) Interview Official Statement25-10-2007 The ICRC's position on cluster munitions and the need for urgent actionStatement to Geneva Diplomatic Missions by Dr Jakob Kellenberger, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), 25 October 2007 (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Conventional weapons) Official Statement 19-10-2007 Tenth anniversary of the mine ban Convention - from mines to cluster munitionsMobilising to stop weapons which keep on killing. Notes from the presentation by Peter Herby, Head of the ICRC Arms Unit, Oslo, 18 September 2007 (Focus\Landmines) Official Statement 6-11-2006 The need for urgent international action on cluster munitionsStatement by Philip Spoerri, Director of International Law and Cooperation within the Movement International Committee of the Red Cross (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Cluster munitions) Official Statement Photo Collection8-5-2008 Laos: the enduring threat from cluster munitions According to the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme (UXO Lao), some 270 million cluster submunitions (bomblets, also commonly called "bombies" in Laos) were dropped on Laos in the 1960s and 1970s; approximately one third of these submunitions failed to explode and go on killing today. Photo feature from Xieng Khouang province, near the Vietnam border, where a wide range of deadly explosive remnants of war threatens the population. (Info resources\Photos\Asia and the Pacific) Photo Collection 6-7-2007 Living with cluster munitions in Lebanon Cluster munitions continue to endanger civilians in Lebanon one year after the war's end. (Info resources\Photos\Middle East and North Africa) Photo Collection Includes Photo Press article9-5-2008 Cluster bombs of the Secret WarLink to an article published on the blog of Richard Lloyd Parry, Times online, 27 April 2008. (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Laos) Press article 29-4-2008 Beyond mine action: the Movement’s approach to weapon contaminationOne outcome of the 30th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent is a resolution that included a call on states to strengthen the protection of civilians against the indiscriminate use and effects of weapons and munitions, stressing the need to address the humanitarian impact of explosive remnants of war and cluster munitions. Apart from efforts on the legal front, the Movement is also striving to reduce the humanitarian impact of weapon contamination through its operations - Article published in the Red Cross Red Crescent Magazine, No 1, 2008. (ICRC Activities\Mine action) Press article 26-4-2008 A deadly harvest of cluster bombs in LaosViengkeo Kavongsone had lived in fear of such a catastrophe all his life - in the jungle, in the paddy fields, on the mountain - but never in his own back yard. Article published in the Times, 26 April 2008 (The ICRC worldwide\Asia and the Pacific\Laos) Press article 19-2-2008 States must act now to prevent cruel toll of cluster munitionsThis article, by Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, was first published on 18 February 2008 on the Reuters AlertNet website. (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Cluster munitions) Press article 2-1-2008 Putting a stop to cluster munitions After decades of failure and persistent civilian suffering caused by cluster munitions, global concern is gaining momentum to put an end to these terrible weapons. Article published in the Red Cross Red Crescent Magazine, No 3, 2007 (Focus\Landmines) Press article More in this section22-2-2008 Declaration of the Wellington Conference on Cluster MunitionsLink to the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Trade website. (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Cluster munitions) Includes PDF 18-2-2008 Comments of the International Committee of the Red Cross on the Wellington draft of a future cluster munitions conventionThis paper presents the main comments of the International Committee of the Red Cross on a number of important issues in the preamble and Articles 1, 2 and 5 of the draft cluster munitions convention. (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Cluster munitions) 22-6-2007 Observations on the legal issues related to the use of cluster munitionsGroup of governmental experts of the States Parties to the Convention on prohibitions or restrictions on the use of certain Conventional Weapons which may be deemed to be excessively injurious or to have indiscriminate effects, 2007 session, Geneva, 19-22 June 2007, Item 7 of the agenda. (Humanitarian law\Weapons\Cluster munitions) Other site15-2-2008 The Cluster Munitions Process 2007 - 2008The Oslo process on cluster munitions. This website is published by the states facilitating the Cluster Munitions process to promote transparency and participation in the process. (Info resources\Other sites\Intergovernmental organizations) Other site 5-2-2008 Cluster Munition CoalitionThe CMC is a network of around 200 civil society organisations, including NGOs, faith-based groups and professional organisations. (Info resources\Other sites\Institutes and universities) Other site 4-2-2008 Handicap InternationalHandicap International is one the six founding NGO’s of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines. Description of work. Countries where active (Info resources\Other sites\Non-governmental organizations) Other site 4-2-2008 Human Rights Watch Documents on Cluster Bombs (Info resources\Other sites\Non-governmental organizations) Other site 4-2-2008 United Nations Mine Action Co-ordination Centre in South Lebanon (UNMACC SL)The role of MACC SL is to provide a planning, coordination and quality assurance capability that ensures landmine and unexploded ordnance clearance undertaken within the mandated area is done in the most effective, safe and time efficient manner, and in accordance with National Technical Standards and Guidlines, developed from International Mine Action Standards. (Info resources\Other sites\United Nations) Other site 1-2-2008 International Campaign to Ban LandminesNews on mines, Mine Ban Convention , etc. List of publications and videos (on-line ordering). Landmine research resources (websites, books, audiovisual aids). Photos. Information on Ottawa Convention (text, recent ratifications, meetings of States Parties, etc.). Calendar of mine-related meetings. (Info resources\Other sites\Non-governmental organizations) Other site  |
