News

Landmine Monitor: 1997 Mine Ban Treaty Suffers First Serious Violations

Three countries have failed to meet deadlines to destroy landmine stockpiles putting them in violation of the Mine Ban Treaty and 15 others have requested more time in order meet their mine clearance obligations under the Mine Ban Treaty, according to Landmine Monitor Report 2008: Toward a Mine-Free World. This 1,155 page report is being released today at the United Nations.

ICBL Critiques of the Mine Clearance Deadline Extension Requests

At the 9th Meeting of the States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, States Parties will consider Article 5 deadline extension requests submitted by 15 countries that will not be able to meet their 2009 deadline for mine clearance. The ICBL has prepared critiques to help States Parties prepare their questions, comments, and final decision on the extension requests. Click here to access the ICBL critiques.

Philippines: Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and other groups sign pact with Philippines Campaign to Ban Landmines to adhere to international humanitarian law norms on landmines

The Philippine Campaign to Ban Landmines (PCBL) announced on 11 November 2008 the signing by the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) of an agreement developed by PCBL called "Rebel Group Declaration of Adherence to International Humanitarian Law on Landmines".

Briefing for Arabic Diplomatic Missions on the Convention on Cluster Munitions

In the lead up to the Oslo Signing Conference which will be held in Oslo, Norway on 3 December 2008, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, member of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), held on 30 October a lunchtime briefing for Arabic Missions in Geneva on the historic new Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). The CCM was negotiated in May and adopted in Dublin by 107 countries on 30 May 2008 and will be signed Oslo as a successful culmination of the “Oslo Process on Cluster Munitions”.

France: Cinéma Vérité 2008 supports the Convention on Cluster Munitions

During its 2nd International Rendez-Vous, held in Geneva, Paris and Abu Dhabi from 8 to 15 October, the French film festival Cinéma Vérité called on its prestigious guests to support the Convention on Cluster Munitions by signing the People’s Treaty.

9th Meeting of the States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, 24-28 November 2008

Government representatives, landmine survivors, international agencies, mine action operators and civil society activists from over 100 countries will gather in Geneva, Switzerland, for the Ninth Meeting of the States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty from 24-28 November 2008.

CMC Press Release - Momentum Builds as Cluster Bomb Ban Signing Approaches

More than two dozen African governments announce their intent to sign the treaty on 3 December 2008

(Kampala, Uganda, September 30, 2008) - With two months remaining until the international treaty banning cluster bombs is opened for signature in Norway, civil society representatives are calling on all states to announce their intent to sign. All of the 42 African states gathered in Kampala for a regional conference today agreed to an action plan that calls for the earliest possible signature and ratification and 28 made firm commitments to sign on December 3 2008. Most if not all the 107 states that adopted the treaty in Dublin last May are expected to sign in Oslo and worldwide a total of 43 governments have already committed do so.

CMC Press Release - Campaign Challenges Southeast Europe to Ban Cluster Bombs Now

(Sofia, September 18, 2008) – Today the Cluster Munition Coalition challenged governments of southeast Europe to sign the new international treaty banning cluster bombs when it is opened for signature this December.

The campaign issued its call at the opening of a regional meeting on cluster munitions in Sofia, Bulgaria.

CMC Media Statement - Africa Continues to Lead the Way on Cluster Bomb Ban

(Kampala, Uganda: 29 September 2008) – Forty African governments gathered in Uganda today at a meeting to promote signature of a groundbreaking treaty banning cluster bombs. The Cluster Munition Coalition, an international network of campaigners and cluster bomb survivors, called on all African governments to unite in signing the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo on 3 December 2008.

Briefing for African states on the new Convention on Cluster Munitions

Panel of speakers at the Briefing. Copyright ICBL.

 

In the lead up to the African Conference on Cluster Munitions, which will be held in Kampala, Uganda on 29-30 September 2008, the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, member of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), held a 16 September lunchtime briefing for African Missions in Geneva on the historic new Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM). The CCM was negotiated in May and adopted in Dublin by 107 countries on 30 May 2008 and will be signed in Oslo, Norway on 3 December 2008 in the successful culmination of the “Oslo Process on Cluster Munitions”.

ICBL News - September 2008

Welcome to the September 2008 issue of the ICBL newsletter.

Contents include an editorial on the urgency to protect civilians from indiscriminate weapons; articles on: the complementary nature of the Mine Ban Treaty and Convention on Cluster Munitions, lessons learned on victim assistance, non-compliance with the Mine Ban Treaty provisions, the People's Treaty, Landmine Monitor Report 2008, as well as news in brief and news from the campaigns.

Iran/Iraq: Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan destroys antipersonnel mines

The ICBL welcomed today the recent destruction of 392 antipersonnel landmines by the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), in Koya, northern Iraq. The news was announced by Swiss-based NGO Geneva Call in a press release on 1 September 2008.

CMC Press Release: CLUSTER MUNITION COALITION CONDEMNS GEORGIAN USE OF CLUSTER BOMBS

After admitting use, Georgia must sign global treaty banning weapon

(Geneva, September 2, 2008) – A network of 250 non-governmental organisations across 70 countries has condemned Georgia’s use of cluster munitions, just three months after 107 nations agreed to ban the weapon. In a letter to Human Rights Watch, the Georgian Defense Ministry stated that cluster bombs were “used against Russian military equipment and armament marching from Roki tunnel to Dzara road [sic],” but that they “were never used against civilians, civilian targets and civilian populated or nearby areas.” The majority of the world's nations that have banned the weapon have declared any use of any cluster munition in any location unacceptable, because of the harm they cause to civilians during and after conflict.

President of the 8th Meeting of the States Parties visits Poland to urge ratification

On 25-27 August, Prince Mired Raad Al-Hussein of Jordan, President of the 8th Meeting of the States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, visited Poland to urge Polish authorities to ratify the treaty without further delay.

Support the ICBL through the U.S. Combined Federal Campaign

In 2008, U.S. Federal employees can support the ICBL through the Combined Federal Campaign - the world's largest workplace fundraising drive.