Cluster munitions

Denmark ratifies

Denmark ratifies landmark convention banning cluster munitions. Two more ratifications will trigger entry into force

NPA gets go-ahead for third Lao province

NPA Friday signed an agreement to clear explosives in a third province in Laos.

Montenegro joins nations leading cluster bomb ban treaty

(London, 4 February 2010) – Montenegro’s ratification of the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 25 January places it among the first 30 states that will trigger the Convention’s entry into force, the Cluster Munition Coalition said today. Thirty ratifications are needed for the Convention to enter into force and become binding international law six months later; currently, 104 countries have signed and Montenegro is the 27th to ratify.

NPA assists in Laos after Typhoon Ketsana

NPA is contributing in the efforts to assist thousands of Lao farmers to resettle after more than 9,600 households were displaced when Typhoon Ketsana hit the country in September.

Operations commence in Sekong

Today is another landmark day for the NPA Lao PDR programme: operations have commenced in the province of Sekong.

Start of operations in Lao PDR

Norwegian People's Aid has started clearing cluster munitions in Lao PDR.

Cluster bomb ban hits halfway mark

The international treaty banning cluster bombs has passed the half-way milestone to the 30 ratifications needed for it to become binding international law.

Japan ratifies cluster bomb ban

Japan this week became the 14th country to ratify the ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Go-ahead for cluster bomb destruction in Laos

A grant agreement was signed this month enabling the clearing and destruction of cluster munitions in Laos.

Millions of cluster bombs ready for destruction

(Berlin 24th June 2009) – The new international convention banning cluster bombs is already delivering results as signatories plan the destruction of these indiscriminate weapons even before it has entered into force said the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) today on the eve of a major international conference in Berlin. On 25 and 26 June delegations from more than 80 countries will meet in the German capital to discuss plans for stockpile destruction.

NPA at the Intersessionals

NPAs Intervention at the Meeting of the Resource Utilisation Contact Group at the Intersessional meeting in Geneva, May 27th

Destruction of Norwegian cluster ammunition

The destruction of Norway’s arsenal of cluster ammunition started last week. Thursday, April the 3rd, the first 1500 of a stock of about 300.000 cluster bombs were blown up to be destructed.

Destruction of Norwegian cluster ammunition

The destruction of Norway’s arsenal of cluster ammunition started last week. Thursday, April the 3rd, the first 1500 of a stock of about 300.000 cluster bombs were blown up to be destructed.

LAOS RATIFIES CLUSTER BOMB BAN TREATY

(New York, 18 March 2009) – The Lao People’s Democratic Republic, the country most affected by cluster bombs in the world today ratified the treaty banning the deadly munitions and requiring their clearance, said the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC). The ratification took place at a special event at the United Nations in New York on the Convention on Cluster Munitions attended by 75 countries.

CMC urges Sri Lanka to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions

In an open letter to president Mahinda Rajapaska the Cluster Munition Coalition urges Sri Lanka to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions

Historic treaty bans cluster bombs

Oslo, Dec 4thd, 2008 - Today in Oslo, governments from around the world celebrated the signature of an historic treaty banning the use, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions. The Convention on Cluster Munitions sets the highest standard to date in international law for assistance to victims and their communities. The convention also obliges nations to destroy all stockpiles within eight years and to clear contaminated land within ten. As with the treaty banning antipersonnel landmines, this treaty will make it difficult for countries who have not signed to ever use these weapons again.

Nominated for the Peer Gynt award

NPA through its advisor Grethe Østern has been nominated to the prestigious Peer Gynt award.

Vietnam takes one step closer to the Oslo Treaty

Between 27-28th October 2008 Vietnam took one more positive step towards the Oslo Treaty in Hanoi. In a very successful workshop hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and attended by various Vietnamese Ministries with a heavy presence from the Ministry of Defence, lively conversations were exchanged in discussions concerning the treaty and what it would mean for Vietnam to join.

All Norwegian clusters to be destroyed

Norwegian Minister of Defence Anne-Grete Strøm-Erichsen Tuesday October 28th marked the start of the process to destroy Norwegian cluster munitions.

South East Asian talks open in Lao PDR

(Lao PDR, October 20th) South East Asian governments met today in Lao PDR, the most cluster bombed country in the world, to discuss how the new treaty to ban cluster bombs will make a difference on the ground and to rally support for the treaty signing in Oslo on 3 December.

Welcome to the Signing Conference!

NPA and all our partners in the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) are looking forward to the Oslo Signing Conference in Norway, which will be held in Oslo from 2-4 December. The CCM signing will be one of the most important international events of 2008, an historic moment to celebrate and remember forever.

EPIC TRIP TO END SUFFERING

(Serbia, 2 October 2008): An epic trip designed to help end the suffering of millions around the world begins this afternoon.

MOMENTUM BUILDS AS CLUSTER BOMB BAN SIGNING APPROACHES

With two months remaining until the international treaty banning cluster bombs is opened for signature in Norway, civil society representatives are calling on all states to announce their intent to sign. All of the 42 African states gathered in Kampala for a regional conference today agreed to an action plan that calls for the earliest possible signature and ratification and 28 made firm commitments to sign on December 3 2008.

NPA condemns Russian and Georgian use of Cluster Bombs

While more than 100 nations have agreed to ban cluster munitions, Russia and Georgia have used them in the current fighting in blatant contempt of international society and indifferent to the human suffering they cause.

Cluster Munition Coalition condemns Russian use of cluster bombs in Georgia

The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) condemns Russia’s use of cluster bombs in Georgia just three months after 107 nations agreed to ban the weapon and urges all countries and organisations to speak out against this action and call for an immediate end to their use.

NEVER AGAIN

In memory of Lebanese victims campaigners worldwide urge governments to sign cluster bomb ban

SOUTH AFRICAN RUNS FROM PRETORIA TO CAPE TOWN

A South African campaigner will embark on a grueling 1400 kilometer run tomorrow, to urge his government to sign an historic cluster bomb ban treaty open to signature this December. Kennedy Mabasa will run from the Union Buildings in Pretoria to the Houses of Parliament in Cape Town. He will start the run at 5am tomorrow morning, reaching Johannesburg at 12.00 noon for interviews.

Clearing cluster bombs: Operations begin in Vietnam

The 30th May will be seen historically for the successful closure of the Dublin Conference where over 100 countries adopted the Cluster Munition Treaty. Three days later another equally historical day passed when the NPA/RENEW Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team went operational in Cam Lo District, Quang Tri Province, Vietnam.

Help Ban Cluster Bombs Now!

The Cluster Munition Coalition, in collaboration with Mines Action Canada, re-launched the People’s Treaty on 30 May – the final day of the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions after the 111 participating states unanimously adopted the new treaty. Following this, the campaign is now working to ensure that as many states as possible sign the new treaty in Oslo from 2-3 December 2008. It is only six months between Dublin and Oslo to ensure that countries – your country – will be ready to sign the treaty so that it can become binding international law.

Over 100 countries adopt groundbreaking treaty to ban cluster bombs

Cluster bomb survivors and campaigners today welcomed the formal adoption of the Cluster Munitions Convention by over 100 countries. This historic treaty bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of all existing and future cluster bombs. To keep pressure on governments and to ensure that the treaty enters into force, campaigners today launched the People's Treaty.

Hollow "new" U.S. policy on Cluster bombs

A month after 111 nations including major US allies agreed to ban cluster bombs, the United States says it will continue to use its huge stockpile for another decade.

Grethe Østerns closing statement in Dublin

NPAs Grethe Østern delivered the statement of the Cluster Munitions Coalitions during the closing ceremony of the Cluster Munitions Conference in Dublin friday.

Over 100 countries adopt groundbreaking treaty to ban cluster bombs

Cluster bomb survivors and campaigners today welcomed the formal adoption of the Cluster Munitions Convention by over 100 countries. This historic treaty bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of all existing and future cluster bombs. To keep pressure on governments and to ensure that the treaty enters into force, campaigners today launched the People's Treaty.

Cluster bomb survivors and campaigners rejoice

Cluster bomb suvivors and campaigners are tonight rejoicing over the groundbreaking and comprehensive new treaty to ban cluster bombs that has just been provisionally agreed in Dublin. After ten days of intense negotiation under Irish leadership, 110 countries negotiating at the conference and hundreds of campaigners and survivors within the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) welcomed the treaty.

2C, OR NOT 2C, THAT IS THE QUESTION…

After easing in on Sunday afternoon with a session on the “other definitions” – where the CMC helped clarify and clean up certain definitions and fought hard to ensure transit is covered by the definition of “transfer” – negotiations began again on Monday 26 May 2008, the second week of the Dublin Conference.

CAMPS EMERGE ON KEY ISSUES

On Wednesday, 21 May 2008, the third day of the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions, negotiations on critical issues shifted from mainly political discussions to the consideration of textual proposals. Four informal sessions were held on definitions, interoperability, storage and stockpile destruction, and victim assistance. Discussions were increasingly technical and tough at times, but work is progressing at a rapid pace.

Half Way There

On Friday, 23 May 2008, the final day of week one of the Dublin Conference, participants regrouped in the Committee of the Whole to take stock of work accomplished thus far in the week. President Ambassador O'Ceallaigh held an article by article review of the Treaty and the Friends of the Presidents presented their discussion papers for consideration by all delegations.

PROGRESS TOWARDS SOME TEXT SOLUTIONS

Thursday 22 May 2008, the fourth day of the Dublin Conference, states continued to clarify their positions on definitions and interoperability, and moved towards concluding the first round of negotiations on other issues such as victim assistance, stockpile destruction, and clearance. For definitions and interoperability, the contentious issues of the day, several states began to lay down “red lines” and it appears that the real negotiation is about to begin.

CAMPS EMERGE ON KEY ISSUES

On Wednesday, 21 May 2008, the third day of the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions, negotiations on critical issues shifted from mainly political discussions to the consideration of textual proposals. Four informal sessions were held on definitions, interoperability, storage and stockpile destruction, and victim assistance. Discussions were increasingly technical and tough at times, but work is progressing at a rapid pace.

The Nitty-Gritty

Off to a good start, on Tuesday 20 May 2008, the second day of the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions, work began in earnest on the substantive issues before the Conference.

A Strong Start

The Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions began Monday 19 May 2008 with a smooth procedural start, a very positive tone and mood, and a highly efficient and interactive approach to the deliberations.

Faith Leaders' Appeal for an International Treaty to Ban Cluster Munitions

As people of faith, we raise our voices for the protection of life and promotion of peace by calling on all governments to end the production, transfer, stockpiling, and use of cluster bombs.

Last inning of Oslo process to ban cluster munitions

The Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions will take place from 19-30 May 2008 in Dublin, Ireland. It is the crucial conference that will aim at negotiating a new instrument of international humanitarian law banning cluster munitions.

Strong landmark African declaration to ban cluster bombs

At the conclusion of the first ever meeting of African countries on cluster bombs, 38 out of 39 countries attending the meeting endorsed a strong political "Livingstone Declaration", committing them to negotiating a global ban on the weapons in Dublin next month. Only South Africa, one of the continent's two producer states, called for exceptions to the ban.

make it happen - the movie

Werner Anderson and Norwegian People’s Aid present ”make it happen”, a photographic portrait of the human suffering that triggered the Oslo process to ban cluster munitions

Historic step forward for treaty to ban cluster bombs

After a week of tough diplomatic talks, the voice of survivors and committed states has prevailed and a draft treaty to ban cluster munitions has been endorsed for formal negotiation.

M85 presentation

The main conclusions of the M85 report were presented in plenary at the Vienna Conference on Cluster Munitions 6 December.

Conference on Cluster Munitions

The Wellington Conference on Cluster Munitions: The last preparatory conference of the 'Oslo Process', an international initiative to ban cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians, assist survivors and affected communities and ensure clearance of their land.

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