Ban the cluster bomb!

Various cluster munitions - from left to right: M42/M46, MZD2, BLU-63 and M77 (c) DanChurchAid/Jawad Metni
Various cluster munitions - from left to right: M42/M46, MZD2, BLU-63 and M77 (c) DanChurchAid/Jawad Metni

New Zealand is hosting a crucial conference this month that aims to contribute to the banning of a weapon more lethal than landmines by the end of this year.

The Wellington Conference on Cluster Munitions runs from 18-22 February and is a stepping stone within what is called the Oslo Process. In February last year 46 governments met in Oslo to support a call to conclude a treaty this year that bans the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions.

New Zealand is one of six governments leading the Oslo Process to secure an international treaty banning cluster munitions. Other lead governments are Austria, Ireland, Mexico, Norway and Peru.

The Wellington conference is the last conference before the treaty’s formal negotiations start in Ireland on 19-30 May this year. Amnesty International, along with other members of the Cluster Munitions Coalition, is working to ensure that the treaty leads to cluster munitions being banned, as well as their manufacture, stockpiling, transfer and use worldwide.

Read more about : Cluster Bombs and the Human Cost

Take action:

Take action by signing the petition online by visiting http://www.stopclusterbombs.org.nz/take-action/petition/

Take action by participating in an action day planned for Wednesday, February 20th.

Photos: 
various cluster munitions.jpg