Ban Advocates Blog

Serbia urged to sign the cluster bomb ban

New report highlights full extent of impact of unexploded munitions on population

(Belgrade - 10 March 2009) The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) called on Serbia to sign the international treaty banning cluster bombs today at an event to launch a new report by Norwegian People’s Aid that shows how unexploded cluster bomblets continue to threaten tens of thousands of civilians in the country 10 years after the NATO bombing.

“Serbia should sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions without delay, there is simply no reason not to and every reason to do so,” said Thomas Nash Coordinator of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC). “Serbia demonstrated leadership by supporting the ban early on in the movement to establish the treaty. Signature now would enable the government to follow through on its commitment to Serbian survivors of cluster bombs as well as with the international community.”

Serbia is not among the 95 governments that have joined the new treaty banning the use, transfer, production and stockpiling of cluster munitions and requiring states to assist victims and clear contaminated land. While Serbia was a strong proponent of the cluster bomb prohibition and hosted the first ever meeting of affected states in October 2007, it has failed to sign the Convention and has made no official statement to explain its stance.

"As a civilian victim from Serbia I am disgusted by the attitude of my government”, said Dejan Dikic who suffered severe injuries from a cluster bomb in 1999. I can't understand it. Serbia was a leader in the process especially on victim assistance. All the survivors in Serbia feel the same, we need support and the government is turning its back on us right when it has the perfect tool to give us the support we need."

Three members of Ban Advocates team to travel through Midwest promoting new treaty banning cluster bombs

Chicago and Brussels, 4 October 2008. Three individuals whose lives have been affected by cluster munitions will tour the Midwest in October to raise awareness and support for a U.S. ban on cluster bombs. Raed Mokaled from Lebanon, Soraj Ghulam Habib and Suliman Safdar from Afghanistan will be touring from October 6 to 15 as part of the Ban Advocates initiative, a project of Handicap International that seeks to involve members of affected communities in the international process to ban cluster munitions (known as the Oslo Process). Since the launch of the Oslo Process in February 2007, the United States lobbied more than 100 states to prevent the adoption of an international ban on cluster munitions. During the final negotiations in Dublin, some negotiators indicated that President Bush had been contacting some of his counterparts in order to weaken the treaty. Despite these efforts, 107 states adopted the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) in Dublin on 30 May 2008. The CCM is set to be signed into law on 3 December 2008 in Oslo. In a final attempt to undermine the CCM, the United States is likely to push for a new protocol legitimizing cluster munitions in November this year. Last year the U.S. Congress halted cluster munitions exports. While presidential nominee Barack Obama repeatedly expressed support for measures prohibiting the use and transfer of cluster munitions, the position of presidential nominee John McCain remains unclear. Several Midwestern Senators are key to the effort to ban U.S. cluster munitions.

To follow the U.S. tour and learn more about the involvement of cluster munition victims in the Oslo process on cluster munitions, see http://blog.banadvocates.org/

Press Release, Brussels/Wellington, 22 February 2008.

Brussels and Wellington, 22 February 2008 - After a week of tough talks in Wellington, New Zealand, attended by 122 states, the voices of survivors and committed nations have prevailed. A draft treaty to ban cluster munitions, assist victims, and ensure clearance of their land has been endorsed for formal negotiation. States calling for exceptions to the Cluster Munitions Treaty reviewed their positions, with 82 agreeing to negotiate what will be the most significant disarmament treaty of the decade. The 'Wellington Declaration' provides the draft treaty text to be negotiated and agreed in Dublin in May.

Vienna, 7th December 2007 - Seven survivors from communities affected by cluster munitions, known as the Ban Advocates, took part in discussions on a treaty banning cluster munitions at the Conference on Cluster Munitions in Vienna, contributing their life experience, their knowledge and wisdom. The survivors made sure the treaty on cluster munitions will be written including the important input of communities affected by cluster munitions.