The Israel Defense Forces have reportedly decided to improve the warnings given to civilians before attacks, but still need to ensure that the warnings are effective and do not allow attacks otherwise prohibited under international law

With a new administration and Congress, the United States has an important opportunity to reposition itself as a global leader on human rights.  One means towards that goal is to sign and ratify core human rights treaties. Chief among these are international conventions relating to children, women, persons with disabilities, torture, enforced disappearance, and the use of anti-personnel landmines and cluster munitions.

Germany’s ratification of the new treaty banning cluster munitions is an important step.

For several years, Burma’s ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and Kim Jong Il’s government in North Korea have been slowly strengthening their diplomatic and military ties, largely beneath the international radar.

Israeli attacks with guided missiles fired from aerial drones killed civilians during the recent Gaza fighting in violation of the laws of war.

At least 32 signatories to the Convention on Cluster Munitions and at least 48 non-signatories possess stockpiles of cluster munitions. This presentation provides an overview of which states stockpile the weapon, focusing on the number and type of cluster munitions stockpiled by signatory states.

The Convention on Cluster Munitions clearly permits joint military operations, but countries that have joined the treaty should prohibit all assistance with using cluster munitions. They should remember the purpose behind the treaty they negotiated and make no exceptions.

To meet the object and purpose of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, states implementing and interpreting the convention should prohibit assisting anyone with the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions in any situation, including in joint military operations.