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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