An

Update

by

Handicap

International

on

Civilian

Harm

and

Armed

Violence

Issue 28, 25 May 2011

Stop investing in any cluster munitions production

On 25 May 2011, Netwerk Vlaanderen and IKV Pax Christi, both members of the Cluster Munitions Coalition, launched an update of the report "Worldwide Investments in Cluster Munitions; a shared responsibility". Worldwide 39 billion USD is still being invested in producers of cluster munitions, which like landmines, are banned under international law. Handicap International calls on European countries to legally ban investments in cluster munitions. Any investment in cluster munitions production undermines the international ban. As long as investments in mines and cluster munitions are ongoing the threat of those weapons remains. Although some EU countries like Belgium, Ireland and Luxembourg took the lead in legislation that bans investment in these weapons, too many EU countries and institutions are lagging behind. States should recognize that prohibition of investment is comprised under the prohibition to assist, encourage or induce anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party under this Convention. Several states declared that by adapting the Convention, they banned investments as well. Those States must ensure that no national financial actor should be able to invest or finance production of cluster munitions anymore. They need a binding legislation and full implementation of it. Hall of fame Belgium was the first country to prohibit investments in production of mines and cluster munitions. Ireland, Luxembourg and New Zealand followed. France and the United Kingdom issued ministerial statements banning investments in cluster munitions producers. The Norwegian government took steps not to invest its government managed pension funds money in cluster munitions producers. Parliamentary initiatives to prohibit investments in cluster munitions producers have taken place in Germany, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Italy. Several countries stated, they consider investment in cluster munitions producers to be prohibited under the Convention on Cluster Munitions, including Australia, Cameroon, Colombia, Croatia, Guatemala, the Holy See, Hungary, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Rwanda and Zambia. In the report, more than fourty-five financial institutions are listed as having taken steps to end investments in cluster munitions producers.
For the latest update on the report "Worldwide Investments in Cluster Munitions: A shared responsibility", news, legislation regarding investments in mines and cluster munitions: http:// www.stopexplosiveinvestments.org For the "Hall of Shame, Hall of Fame and more information see also http://www.netwerkvlaanderen.be and http://www.ikvpaxchristi.nl

Ban cluster munitions: now more than ever

In February 2011, Thailand used cluster munitions against Cambodia killing two and aiming seven people, a CMC mission stated. This was the first reported use after entry into force of the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 1 August 2010. At the First Meeting of States Parties, Ban Advocate Thoummy Silamphan expressed his hope that no cluster munitions should ever be used again. However, the unthinkable and unacceptable happened. Moreover, in April cluster munitions use in Libya was documented by Human Rights Watch. The world expressed his indignation. CMC, the UN and the EU High Representative condemned the use and even US Secretary of State called it worrying. Lynn Bradach, US Ban Advocate, reacted immediately: My son a US Marine was killed by one of our own cluster bombs in Iraq. Hillary, the use of this weapon is much more than worrying in any situation. This weapon needs to be banned. It is time the US stands up and bans the use of this worrisome weapon. The use of cluster munitions must stop immediately. Therefore, more then ever, states have to adhere to the Convention and show there is no other way to stop these weapons usage. Stockpiles must be destroyed, the civilians in risk protected and the victims supported. See www.banadvocates.org www.handicapinternational.be

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For more information

On the website of Handicap International Belgium, youll find: HIB Updates on the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Mine Ban Treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Survivor Inclusion, Victim Assistance and Victim Assistance Funding. "For Your Information" is an HIB Update on reports, publications, articles, video's, films, blogs, websites etc on the Mine Ban Treaty, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Armed Violence in general, Survivors, Ban Advocates, Victim Assistance etc. Handicap International (HI) is an international On the website of Handicap International Belgium, youll find: HIB Updates on the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Mine Ban Treaty, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Survivor Inclusion, Victim Assistance and Victim Assistance Funding. "For Your Information" is an HIB Update on reports, publications, articles, video's, films, blogs, websites etc on the Mine Ban Treaty, the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Armed Violence in general, Survivors, Ban Advocates, Victim Assistance etc.

This weapon needs to be banned. It is time the US stands up and bans the use of this worrisome weapon.

Lynn Bradach is a Ban Advocate. Her son was killed by a cluster munition in Iraq . M. WarehamCMC

Contact and coordination: Hildegarde Vansintjan, Advocacy Officer, Handicap International vzw-asbl, Belgium. Phone: + 32 2 233 01 06 / Mobile: + 32 485 111 460 / Fax: + 32 2 230 60 30 / Spastraat 67 / 67, Rue de Spa / B 1000 Brussels Belgium / hildegarde.vansintjan(at)handicap.be