Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW): Responses to the IHL and ERW Questionnaire and the McCormack Report

In March 2005, members of the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) Working Group on Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) issued a questionnaire to states parties regarding ERW and International Humanitarian Law (IHL). Based on the questionnaire responses and state practice to date, Human Rights Watch believes that a new legally binding instrument specific to cluster munitions is required in order to avoid a future humanitarian crisis. With respect to cluster munitions, clearer and broader law is needed because interpretation of relevant IHL is too inconsistent, effective implementation globally is unlikely, and enforcement would be strengthened with a new instrument.