2009 marks ten years since the entry into force of the Mine Ban Treaty. Antipersonnel mines have now been so thoroughly stigmatized that it is time for the remaining 39 states not party to the treaty to join. Doing so will bring great humanitarian and political benefit, with little to no cost in giving up an outmoded and outcast weapon. It is not too late to get on the right side of humanity and history.

We are writing to urge the United States to participate in the Second Review Conference of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, which opens in Cartagena, Colombia on November 30, 2009. Human Rights Watch recommends that the United States initiate a review of US policy on joining the Mine Ban Treaty and reengage on this issue by participating in the Cartagena Summit. We urge the US to fulfill its long-held intention to join the Mine Ban Treaty.

The United States should participate in a milestone meeting of the international treaty banning antipersonnel landmines and make a commitment to the join the agreement.

The chart includes a timeline of cluster munition use and a summary of types of cluster munitions in global stockpiles. The document also outlines which states have stockpiled, produced, used, and been affected by cluster munitions and which states have signed and ratified the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM).

During Israel's recent Gaza offensive, Israeli soldiers unlawfully shot and killed 11 Palestinian civilians, including five women and four children, who were in groups waving white flags to convey their civilian status.

Hamas should repudiate unlawful rocket attacks against Israeli population centers and hold those responsible for them to account.

Back in 2006, Israel's profligate use of cluster munitions in Lebanon caught the public eye, nowhere more so than in the Arab world.