Background Briefing

Appendix III. Declaration on Cluster Munitions

THIRD REVIEW CONFERENCE OF THE STATES PARTIES TO THE CONVENTION ON PROHIBITIONS OR RESTRICTIONS ON THE USE OF CERTAIN CONVENTIONAL WEAPONS WHICH MAY BE DEEMED TO BE EXCESSIVELY INJURIOUS OR TO HAVE INDISCRIMINATE EFFECTS

CCW/CONF.III/WP.18
20 November 2006
Original:  ENGLISH

Geneva, 7-17 November 2006

DECLARATION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS

Presented by Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Holy See, Hungary, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden And Switzerland

We, the Governments of Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia,

Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Holy See, Hungary, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden and Switzerland,

Recognize that cluster munitions, due to their tendencies of having indiscriminate effects and/or a high risk of becoming explosive remnants of war, are of serious humanitarian concern during and after armed conflict;

Welcome the appeal made by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan to take urgent action to address the issue of cluster munitions;

Recognize the fundamental contribution by civil society towards this end;

Understand, for the purpose of this declaration, cluster munitions as air-carried or ground launched dispensers that contain sub-munitions, and where each such dispenser is designed to eject sub-munitions containing explosives designed to detonate on, prior to, or immediately after impact on the identified target;

Call for an agreement that should inter alia:

(a) prohibit the use of cluster munitions within concentrations of civilians;

(b) prohibit the development, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of cluster munitions that pose serious humanitarian hazards because they are for example unreliable and/or inaccurate;

(c) assure the destruction of stockpiles of cluster munitions that pose serious humanitarian hazards because they are for example unreliable and/or inaccurate, and in this context establish forms for cooperation and assistance.

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