New Zealand Red Cross Welcomes Signing Of Cluster Munitions Treaty

New Zealand Red Cross welcomes the New Zealand Government’s intention to be one of the first signatories of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which opens for signing on 3 December in Norway.

The Convention prohibits the use, development, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions. It also requires States in possession of such weapons to destroy their stockpiles and obliges contaminated States, with the assistance of the international community, to clear their territories of all cluster munition remnants within a maximum of 10 years. State parties to the Convention must also provide assistance to victims, their families and affected populations.

"The signing ceremony in Oslo marks a significant milestone for the protection of civilians in armed conflict" says Dr Roderic Alley, Convenor of the New Zealand International Humanitarian Law Committee. He added that this resulted "from the tenacity and skill of a few small States' diplomatic efforts, including New Zealand’s and a dedicated non-governmental campaign".

New Zealand Red Cross, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Red Cross Red Crescent Movement strongly supports the Conventions and believe it is an essential step towards ending the suffering caused by cluster munitions.

The Convention is a comprehensive response to the cluster munitions problem and when widely ratified and fully implemented, it will prevent tremendous civilian suffering, help countries currently affected by the weapons and bring victims the care and rehabilitation they require.

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