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More than one year after entry into force of theConvention on Cluster Munitions we realize thatthis strong instrument of International Humanita-rian Law has inspired affected states and motiva-ted governments to adopt and start implementingthe Vientiane Action Plan for the benefit of the vic-tims. Unfortunately, it could NOT stop the use of

cluster munitions, notably by Thailand in Cambo-dia and by the Kadhafi regime in Libya.

Thanks to joint efforts of states and civil society,Thailand and Cambodia gave hopeful messages atthe Intersessional Standing Committee meetings ofthe Convention on Cluster Munitions in June 2011in Geneva. We encourage them to adhere to theConvention soon. In Libya, civil society is watchingany use of cluster munitions or mines and Handi-cap International is warning civilians in danger ofthese weapons during their daily life.

In this context, faced once again with the unaccep-table harm those weapons pose for the civilian po-pulation, and with a convention in place, it is unbe-lievable and most disturbing that not only states inopposition to the Convention on Cluster Munitionsbut even state parties to this convention promotean instrument that will allow the use of cluster mu-nitions for many years to come. Even the so-calledrevised chairs text for a Protocol VI laying on thetable during the negotiations on cluster munitionsin the framework of the Convention on CertainConventional Weapons allows cluster munitions,

while forbidding some older types of them. Thedraft text leads therefore to the undermining ofthe Convention on Cluster Munitions. It allows sta-tes to use them and mightstimulate them to postpone stockpile destruction

instead of immediately destroying them. In thiscase, one has to conclude that NOT anything isbetter than nothing; on the contrary no ProtocolVI on cluster munitions is better than a bad one.

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Push for acceding the Convention on Cluster Munitions more than ever

Newsletter by Handicap International on Mines and Cluster Munitions

Issue 30, 8 September 2011

A. Armand

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ICBL condemned Israels plantingof new antipersonnel mines alongthe Syrian border with the GolanHeights On 18 August 2011,ICBL announced on its websitethat Recent reports have indica-ted that the mines are being laidto prevent the movement ofprotestors from Syria into thed i s p u t e d t e r r i t o r y .

Read more on:www.handicapinternational.be/en/Policy

For more information

On the website of Handicap Inter-national Belgium, you will find:HI Updates on the Convention on

Cluster Munitions, the Mine Ban Trea-ty, the Convention on the Rights ofPersons with Disabilities, SurvivorInclusion, Victim Assistance and Vic-tim Assistance Funding. "For YourInformation" is an HI Update on re-ports, publications, articles, video's,films, blogs, websites etc. on theMine Ban Treaty, the Convention onCluster Munitions, the Convention onthe Rights of Persons with Disabili-ties, Armed Violence in general, Sur-vivors, Ban Advocates, Victim Assis-tance etc.

www.handicapinternational.be/en/

policy

Handicap International Update on the Mine Ban Treaty

Page 2

Contact and coordination: Hildegarde Vansintjan, Advocacy Officer, Handicap International vzw-asbl, Belgium.Phone: + 32 2 233 01 06 / Fax: + 32 2 230 60 30 / Spastraat 67 / 67, Rue de Spa / B - 1000 Brussels Belgium / hilde-garde.vansintjan@handicap.be

Handicap InternationalUpdate on the Conventionon Cluster Munitions

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National Measures urgently needed

Therefore, Handicap International is strongly opposed to any pro-tocol on cluster munitions that would give all those hesitating toadhere to the Convention on Cluster Munitions an easy way out.States should be realistic and lucid and prepare the end of thosenegotiations. This said we would like to make clear that we encou-rage any national measure taken by an individual state in the direc-tion of banning cluster munitions. Handicap International thereforecalls on States not Party to the Convention to take significant stepsforward in the direction of a ban on cluster munitions now and toaccede to the Convention on Cluster Munitions in the future.

The First Intersessional StandingCommittee meetings on theConvention on Cluster Munitionsfrom 27 to 30 June 2011, wasattended by 79 states, UN agen-cies, ICRC and CMC with campai-gners from 40 countries, inclu-ding 36 States Parties, 29 signa-tories and 14 non-signatories,namely Argentina, Bangladesh,Cambodia, China, Egypt, Finland,Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, Singa-pore, Sudan, Tajikistan, Thailandand Vietnam.

Read more on:www.handicapinternational.be/en/Policy

Handicap International is an international organization specialized in the field of disability. Non-governmental, non-religious, non-

political and non-profit making, it works alongside people with disabilities, whatever the context, offering them assistance and sup-

porting them in their efforts to become self-reliant. Since its creation, the organization has set up programmes in approximately 60

countries and intervened in many emergency situations. It has eight national associations (Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Lux-

embourg, Switzerland, United Kingdom and United States) which provide human and financial resources, manage projects and raise

awareness of Handicap International's actions and campaigns. More: www.handicapinternational.be

S. Montanvert / Handicap International

G. Turine