Cluster Munitions Banned
On 1 August the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions came into force, becoming binding law in New Zealand and around the world. States that have signed up to the new treaty have agreed to: declare and destroy stockpiled cluster munitions within eight years; identify and clear cluster-munition contaminated areas within ten years; and assist affected communities and cluster survivors so that they can be fully included in society and enjoy their fundamental rights.
Human Rights Watch arms division adviser Mary Wareham said on Sunday that the ban was “a victory for the campaign”, in which New Zealand was “involved from the get-go”. But there was still work to be done on ridding the world of the bombs which had a massive impact on civilians — especially children — with states like the USA and Israel yet to sign up to the convention, she said.
To find out more about cluster munitions see www.stopclusterbombs.org.nz and HRW
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