The global campaign to ban cluster munitions that cause
unacceptable harm to civilians is coordinated by the Cluster Munition
Coalition (CMC) and is similar to the movement launched in 1997 to address
the global landmine issue.
The
CMC is an international network of more than 250 civil society organizations
in 70 countries committed to stopping the use of cluster munitions and
protecting civilians from their effects.
Members of
the CMC network work together on an international campaign calling on
governments to stop using cluster munitions and create a new international
treaty to ban the use, sale and production of this weapon. More information
on the CMC is available at
http://www.stopclusterbombs.org.
The CMC set a strong and ambitious course to bring together governments and
establish a a new international instrument banning all cluster munitions
that cause unacceptable harm to civilians by the end of 2008. The first
conference held to discuss the creation of this treaty was held in Oslo,
Norway in February 2007. At that meeting, 46 countries committed themselves
to the process, now referred to as the Oslo Process.
Subsequent conferences have been held in Peru, Austria, New Zealand, and the
number of governments participating in the process has increased from the
original 46 to more than 130 countries participating in the discussion and
85 governments that have agreed to endorse the process. The next conference
will take place May 19-30 in Ireland, where the text of the treaty will be
drafted.
China,
Russia and the United States, the largest producers of cluster munitions,
currently oppose the ban and are not participating in the global talks.
However, several countries that manufacture cluster bombs are participating
in the Oslo Process, including Argentina, Canada, Chile, Italy and Spain.
Efforts are also underway in the United States to limit the use of cluster
munitions. New congressional legislation has been introduced in both the
Senate and the House of Representatives. For more information on these
efforts and what you can do, check out our
US action page.
To
support AAM’s clearance programs and work to help improve the lives of those
affected by cluster bombs
CLICK HERE.