WELLINGTON CONFERENCE TO BAN CLUSTER MUNITIONS

"Affected and Developing Countries lead the way to a Ban"

Wellington, 22 February 2008. In the final day of the conference attended by 122 States and civil society campaigners from 38 countries there was overwhelming support for the Wellington declaration and for an un-weakened treaty text to be negotiated in Dublin in May. The atmosphere in the Wellington Town Hall was electric as government delegations began to make final statements which would determine whether the proposed treaty would be weakened. It soon became clear that the States affected by cluster munitions and developing countries were making their strong presence felt - the hall rang to cheers and applause as one after another unreservedly endorsed the declaration.

The primarily western countries who had argued for exceptions for some cluster bomb types and long transition periods during which banned weapons could still be used, followed the poorer countries of the world in their endorsements - a reversal of the norm in diplomatic conferences. However, two governments, Canada and Germany, criticised the role played by NGOs while others, like France and UK made it clear they will negotiate strongly to weaken the treaty in Dublin.

But it was clear that the majority of States are committed to a total ban and understand the urgent humanitarian imperatives which underpin the proposed treaty.

Marion Libertucci, Chief Advocacy Officer at Handicap International, said: "Just like it happened during the anti-personnel landmine process, we are seeing that when southern countries, which are the most common victims of these weapons, are united they have the power to successfully challenge the domination of producer States who normally make the rules and protect the arms industry."

The text will now go forward to be negotiated in Dublin from 18 to 30 May resulting in a binding prohibition on cluster munitions which will be signed before the end of this year.

Rae McGrath, International Spokesperson for Handicap International Network commented: "It is good to see that countries like the UK, France and Germany endorsed the declaration although they still have some strong differences with the majority of non-user and affected States. It is now time for the members of the Cluster Munition Coalition to ensure that politicians and the general public in those countries are made aware of the dangers of a weakened treaty and ensure that their delegations are sent to Dublin with clear instructions to support a full ban without exceptions or transition periods".

Contacts Beatrice Cami, Press Officer (beatrice.cami@hi-uk.org; 0870 774 3737)

Notes for editors Handicap International, co-laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize, is an international development organisation focusing on issues around disability and inclusion.

What is the campaign to ban cluster munitions? The Cluster Munition Coalition is a global network of 200 civil society organisations, working in over 70 countries to end the harm caused by cluster munitions. Founding members include Handicap International and other leaders from the Nobel Peace Prize-winning International Campaign to Ban Landmines which secured the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty.

What are the main problems with cluster munitions? Cluster munitions pose dangers to civilians for two principal reasons. Their widespread deployment means they cannot distinguish between military targets and civilians so the humanitarian impact can be extreme. Secondly, many bomblets fail to detonate on impact and become de facto antipersonnel mines, killing and maiming people long after conflict has ended.

Who has used cluster munitions? At least 14 countries have used cluster munitions, including France, Israel, and the UK. Billions of submunitions are stockpiled by some 75 countries. 34 States are known to have produced over 210 different types cluster munitions. At least 24 countries have been affected by the use of cluster munitions including Afghanistan, Albania and Vietnam.

Why is a ban on cluster munitions necessary? Cluster munitions kill and injure too many civilians. The weapon caused more civilian casualties in Iraq in 2003 and Kosovo in 1999 than any other weapon system. Cluster munitions stand out as the weapon that poses the gravest dangers to civilians since antipersonnel mines, which were banned in 1997. Yet there is currently no provision in international law to specifically address problems caused by cluster munitions. Israel's massive use of the weapon in Lebanon in August 2006 resulted in more than 200 civilian casualties.

What is the Oslo Process? In February 2007, 46 governments met in Oslo to endorse a call by Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre to conclude a new legally binding instrument in 2008 that prohibits the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm and provides adequate resources to assist survivors and clear contaminated areas. Subsequent Oslo Process meetings in Peru (May 2007) and Austria (December2007) have increased the number of countries endorsing the Oslo Process treaty objective to more than 90 by the end of 2007.