Author(s):
Site Admin <webmaster2@icbl.org> .
Thursday 12 March 2009
President Obama signed a law on 11 March 2009 that permanently bans nearly all cluster bomb exports from the United States. This moves the United States one step closer to the position of the 95 states that have already signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions, renouncing the use, production and trade of this weapon forever.
A U.S.-made M77 cluster submunition found in Southern Lebanon. Photo: S. Conway
The legislation states that cluster munitions can only be exported if they leave behind less than one percent of their submunitions as duds, and if the receiving country agrees that "cluster munitions will not be used where civilans are known to be present."
The United States should now take the next step and review their position on the Convention on Cluster Munitions, in the view of joining it at the earliest opportunity. Given the complementary nature of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the Mine Ban Treaty in terms of humanitarian aims and practical implementation, joining both treaties would be a strong signal from the Obama administration to the international community.
The United States Campaign to Ban Landmines (USCBL) has launched an action alert to urge all senators to co-sponsor the Cluster Munitions Civilan Protection Act (S.416.), which would stop the military from using virtually all cluster bombs in its vast arsenal by applying the same one percent standard to U.S. use. Growing Senate support for S.416 will show President Obama that the U.S. public stands with the rest of the world in supporting a ban on cluster bombs! American citizens can get additional information on how to write to their senator on the USCBL website.
Additional information:
ICBL Factsheet - Getting U.S.A. on board the Mine Ban Treaty: Mission Possible
USCBL Breaking News - Congress Permanently Bans Cluster Bomb Exports
USCBL Action Alert - Support the Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act
Human Rights Watch Press Release - U.S.: Cluster Bomb Exports Banned
Cluster Munition Coalition News - CMC Welcomes US Cluster Bomb Export Ban
