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Thursday 24 January 2008
New Zealand hosts pivotal conference in global push for cluster bomb ban treaty (Wellington 18-22 February).
WHAT:The Wellington Conference on Cluster Munitions: The last preparatory conference of the 'Oslo Process', an international initiative to ban cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians, assist survivors and affected communities and ensure clearance of their land. Controversial issues on the agenda include calls for exemptions based on so-called technical fixes such as self-destruct mechanismsor a 1% dud rate.
The Wellington Conference is the most significant disarmament meeting the New Zealand government has ever hosted. The Cluster Munition Coalition, a network of over 250 non-government organisations in over 70 countries, will support the conference including through a range of public events hosted by the national coalition of New Zealand NGOs to promote the ban objective, including public talks and a stunt action outside the conference.
Campaigners from all continents will draw chalk silhouette outlines on the ground to draw attention to the human suffering caused by cluster bombs.
The conference will result in a draft treaty text that countries will agree to negotiate in Dublin, Ireland from 19-30 May 2008.
For More Info: Questions & Answers on the Wellington Conference [PDF, 49KB]
WHO: By 22 January 150 diplomatic representatives had registered from 50 countries, a number expected to rise, with 94 states already on board the process.
ยท Over 100 non-governmental participants from 42 countries including survivors of cluster bombsfrom Afghanistan, Iraq, Serbia and Tajikistan, clearance experts, campaigners and a Nobel Peace Laureate.
For More Info: Biographies of Civil Society Participants [PDF, 133 KB]
WHEN: The formal conference opens Monday 18 February with a Maori welcome and addresses by New Zealand's Minister of Arms Control and Disarmament Phil Goff and Deputy Director of UNICEF Hilde Johnson. The formal talks continue throughout the week until Friday, 22 February 2008.
18th: February: (TIME TBC): Opening press conference
20th February: (12:00 - 15:00): Stunt
22nd February: (TIME TBC): Closing press conference
Further public actions and events are scheduled throughout the week during the lunch hour and evenings. Listing of public events: http://www.stopclusterbombs.org.nz/2008/01/20/schedule-of-public-events/
WHERE: Wellington Town Hall, New Zealand. Media are invited to opening and closing ceremonies of the conference, press conferences and public events. Please register with the New Zealand government here: http://www.mfat.govt.nz/clustermunitionswellington/
For further information, interview requests and photography contact:
International media: Natalie Curtis, Cluster Munition Coalition, +44 (0) 20 7820 0222 or +44 (0) 751 557 5174 (Mobile), Natalie@stopclustermunitions.org
New Zealand media: Mary Wareham, Oxfam New Zealand, + 64 (4) 496 9628 or + 64 (21) 996-905 (Mobile), mary@oxfam.org.nz
*** Click here for translations of the media advisory in Arabic, German, Portuguese and Spanish.
