CCW GOVERNMENTAL EXPERTS RECOMMEND ACTION ON CLUSTER MUNITIONS

The Group of Governmental Experts (GGE) of the States Parties to the Convention on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Certain Conventional Weapons Which May Be Deemed to Be Excessively Injurious or to Have Indiscriminate Effects (CCW) concluded its session on 22 June 2007 in Geneva and recommended to the 2007 Meeting of the High Contracting Parties to the Convention to decide how best to address the humanitarian impact of cluster munitions as a matter of urgency, including the possibility of a new instrument.

Ambassador Janis Karklins of Latvia presided over the session. He was assisted by Ms. Vera Bohle of the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining in her capacity as chair of the meetings of Military and Technical Experts.

The Group conducted an interactive dialogue and in-depth consideration on the different aspects of the cluster munitions problem. It considered the results of the meeting of experts on cluster munitions held by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Presentations and detailed statements were made by representatives of government, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations on the different topics under consideration, notably on the military use, the humanitarian impact, the technical aspects, the legal aspects, and definitions on cluster munitions.

In his closing remarks, the Chair stated that these presentations have provided the Group with “substantive material and considerable knowledge for the work ahead,” and he believed that the discussion had assisted the Group in “acquiring a comprehensive, impartial and balanced perception of the global cluster munitions problem.” He expected that delegates would bring back with them a much better understanding of the “peculiarities of cluster munitions as a weapon system.” The Chairperson expressed that the Meeting in November will have to take a decision, and that the negotiation of a legally-binding instrument on cluster munitions is the core of that decision. He also went on to say that the credibility of the CCW may be at stake, depending upon the action or inaction upon which the CCW States parties will take.

As decided by the CCW Third Review Conference (Geneva, 7-17 November 2006), the Group will report to the Meeting of the High Contracting Parties, which will be held from 7 to 13 November 2007 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. The Meeting will have to decide, inter alia, on the possibility to negotiate a new legally-binding instrument to address the humanitarian impact of cluster munitions.

The Convention was opened for signature at New York on 10 April 1981 and entered into force on 2 December 1983. It currently has 102 States Parties. The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the depositary of the Convention. For more information pertaining to the CCW, please consult the official website of the CCW as part of the website of the United Nations Office at Geneva (UNOG) at: http://www.unog.ch/disarmament/ .