Half Way There!
Rapid ratifications ensure speedy entry into force of C-Bomb treaty
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(August 17, 2009) The international treaty banning cluster bombs has now passed the half-way milestone to the 30 ratifications needed for it to become binding international law. Croatia today became the 15th country to deposit its ratification of the Convention on Cluster Munitions with the United Nations.
The Convention, signed by 98 nations since December 2008, prohibits cluster munitions, requires clearance of areas contaminated by unexploded cluster bomb duds, and establishes ground-breaking provisions for assistance to victims of the weapon. A total of 30 signatories must ratify the Convention in order to trigger its entry into force six months later.
The 15 signatories that have ratified the treaty to date are: Albania, Austria, Croatia, Germany, Holy See, Ireland, Japan, Lao PDR, Luxembourg, Mexico, Niger, Norway, San Marino, Sierra Leone, and Spain. Several others are expected to ratify the treaty in coming weeks, with the necessary 30 expected by the end of the year. This rapid pace means that the Convention will likely take effect by mid-2010, making it one of the speediest disarmament treaties ever implemented.
Many countries are not waiting for entry into force to get rid of their arsenals of cluster munitions. Governments of nearly 80 countries gathered in Berlin in June to discuss how best to destroy their stockpiles of these outlawed weapons.
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