Archive for the ‘Cluster Munitions’ Category
(New York) – A pair of videos posted online by a user believed to be a Syrian activist on July 10, 2012, appear to show cluster munition remnants, Human Rights Watch said today.
(Washington, DC) – The Sudanese government should investigate the discovery of a cluster bomb in Southern Kordofan, a conflict zone hit by government bombing, Human Rights Watch said today.
(Geneva) – An attempt by the United States and others to weaken the comprehensive ban on cluster munitions has failed, Human Rights Watch said today.
(Geneva) – The United States and other countries that have not banned cluster munitions should stop trying to create a new international law explicitly permitting use of some of the weapons, Human Rights Watch said today. A two-week conference of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), at which the weaker law will be discussed, will open on November 14, 2011, in Geneva.
(Beirut) – The new international convention banning cluster bombs is already having a powerful impact despite the absence of the United States and other major powers, Human Rights Watch said on September 17, 2011, as a diplomatic meeting of the convention concluded in Beirut, Lebanon.
(Beirut) – Afghanistan should be commended for its ratification of the international convention banning cluster bombs in defiance of pressure from the United States, Human Rights Watch said today as a major diplomatic meeting of the convention opened in Beirut, Lebanon.
Thank you Chairman.
During the Oslo Process, the Dublin negotiations, and in States Parties’ statements, legislation, and other actions since then, it is apparent that there are differing views on a number of key issues related to implementation and interpretation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Thank you Chairman.
As would be expected, there are no serious issues of non-compliance to be raised at this time. But it is worth noting that 10 States Parties are late with their initial Article 7 transparency reports, and at least one country that may be contaminated with cluster munition remnants has not declared that to be the case.
Thank you chair. Transparency is key to building confidence and making needs for assistance known. States Parties are off to a strong start this year as initial reports are submitted. A 75 percent compliance rate to date is an impressive indication of the political will existing to implement the Convention. 29 States Parties have submitted initial reports.
According to a Cluster Munition Monitor fact sheet on Article 3 (available outside this room), a total of 14 States Parties have submitted transparency measures reports declaring the possession or former possession of cluster munition stockpiles.
Thank you for the floor, Madame Chair.
We appreciate the many positive and detailed updates we have just heard.
This fact sheet describes the use of MAT-120 cluster munitions by Libyan government forces during the current armed conflict in Libya between forces under Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and opposition rebels. This is the first documented use of this type of cluster munition in combat. The MAT-120 is fired by a 120mm mortar and each projectile contains 21 dual-purpose submunitions.