The debate over the use of cluster bombs has hit the boil in recent months, however it looks that the issue will not be cooling down anytime soon. More than 120 nations tried to resolve the issues related to the use of cluster bombs, this past week. As the talks ended on Friday no agreement was made and no resolution was signed. Those taking part in the negotiations in Wellington, New Zealand, included 76 states which stockpile cluster munitions and a majority of the cluster bomb producers. The US is not taking part in the negotiations, nor are other producers of the weapons, such as Russia, China, India, Pakistan and Israel.
U.S. Embassy spokeswoman Janine Burns said in a statement Thursday, that the US “shares in the humanitarian concerns that have been raised about cluster munitions but is opposed to any ban on them because of their demonstrated military utility.”
The Children and Armed Conflict Report, which was issued on December 27, 2007, stated;
"Member States are urged to address immediately the grave humanitarian, human rights and development consequences of cluster munitions. To that end, Member States are encouraged to conclude a binding instrument that prohibits the use, development, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians; requires the destruction of current stockpiles of those munitions; and provides for clearance, risk education and other risk-mitigation activities, victim support, assistance and cooperation, and compliance and transparency measures.."
Ban urged the Security Council to tackle the issue of cluster bombs, air-dropped or ground-launched munitions which launch a number of smaller submunitions ("bomblets"), which can cover large areas of land. The bomblets can be distributed either by aircraft, rocket, or by artillery projectiles.
Cluster bombs have been used by Eritrea, Ethiopia, France, Israel, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Sudan, the UK and USA. Those countries which are most affected are Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iraq, Laos, Kosovo and Vietnam. The use of cluster bombs have been used since Vietnam, and continue into the Iraq war, killing thousands of civilians, many of which are children.
Cluster bombs linger in Vietnam after decades continuing to kill, illustrating the long term dangers of the use of cluster bombs. How many children are affected by cluster bombs? The exact number is unknown, however it is estimated that children are some 40% of the casualties caused by cluster bombs. Many of the deaths caused by cluster bombs are children, much of the reason is due to their bright colors which children are drawn to. They are scattered across fields and city streets, just lying in wait for a child to pick them up. Cluster bombs not only kill, they violate children's rights to play, as once youth filled fields now lie empty for fear of unexploded bombs.
"They thought it was a kind of ball," said Hala's aunt, weeping. "They only wanted to play.” (Children the main victims of cluster bombs)
