Discussions on Landmines and Cluster Bombs in Monaco and Paris

NEWS IN BRIEF: Five Days of Film Screenings and Public Discussions on Landmines and Cluster Bombs in Monaco and Paris

Cluster munitions survivor and explosives expert Branislav Kapetanovic (from the Cluster Munition Coalition) meet with Sharon Stone. Photo: NPA.

Antipersonnel landmines and cluster munitions were the focus of the first edition of the Cinéma Vérité - Rencontres Internationales du Cinéma Engagé film festival, held in Monaco and Paris (France) from 10 to 14 October. The festival paid tribute to Jody Williams and the ICBL, on the tenth anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize, and to other personalities such as Carla Del Ponte whose commitment and actions have contributed to making the world a better place. Actress Sharon Stone and film director Yamina Benguigui hosted the official ceremonies.

Through documentary and movie screenings as well as public discussions, Cinéma Vérité offered an opportunity for filmmakers, artists and leading figures to express their concerns and promote concrete action on social issues. A public debate on cluster munitions, organised by Handicap International France and the ICBL, brought together key actors from civil society and the diplomatic community engaged in the international effort to ban cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians.

While in Paris Jody Williams met with French Minister of Foreign Affairs Bernard Kouchner, and called on France to forcefully support the Oslo Process and to demonstrate its willingness to address the devastating consequences of the use of cluster munitions, by adopting a national moratorium on the use, production and export of these weapons and by starting stockpile destruction. She also pressed for stronger action on Iran, Burma and Darfur.

Amélie Chayer, ICBL