Cluster bombs

Treaty adopted but main players absent

Article published on the 2008-05-30 Latest update 2008-05-30 14:20 TU

400 million people live in areas contaminated by cluster bombs
© Handicap International

A total of 111 countries adopted an international treaty on cluster bombs in Dublin on Friday. There were applause and congratulations at the end of the conference but major powers and cluster bomb manufacturing countries such as United States, Israel, China and Russia did not attend. Manufacturers Pakistan and India were also absent. The signatories have pledged to outlaw the use, production, transfer and stockpiling deadly cluster munitions, including landmines. Stockpiled munitions should be destroyed within the next eight years, according to the treaty.

The treaty does leave a loophole - if cluster bombs which would do less harm to civilians are developed, they will not come under this legislation.

Cluster bombs are indiscriminate, often killing a large number of people if they are dropped from a plane. The bombs explode, killing and maiming people instantly on the ground. The bomblets that do not explode, however, remain active on the ground until they are activated by a person or an animal, and can explode years after it was launched.

During the Hezbollah-Israeli war in 2006, the Israeli Defence Forces dropped 1,800 cluster bombs over southern Lebanon during the last 72 hours of the war. These bombs released 1.2 million bomblets, and many remain active on the ground.

 At least 22 civilians, including many children, have been killed and over 100 have been injured by unexploded bomblets.

The convention will be officially signed in Oslo, Norway in December. Norway was a major force in pushing for the treaty.

The nations who sign the pact will then have to ratify it in their own countries.