Tunisia Ratifies International Treaty Banning Cluster Bombs
MILITARISM, 25 Oct 2010
Cluster Munition Coalition – TRANSCEND Media Service
The Republic of Tunisia ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 28 September 2010 during the United Nations General Assembly. Tunisia is the first country in the Middle East/North Africa region to formally ratify the treaty, which took effect as binding international law on 1 August.
“Tunisia’s ratification of this lifesaving treaty is welcome, and its neighbours should be encouraged to join in the work to eradicate cluster bombs,” said Ayman Sorour, director of Protection, which sits on the steering committee of the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) and promotes the ban treaty in the Middle East/North Africa region. “As a region scarred by the weapons, all Middle Eastern and North African countries should get on board the ban.”
The Convention comprehensively bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions, sets strict deadlines for clearance of contaminated land and destruction of stockpiles of the weapon, and includes groundbreaking provisions for victim assistance. To date, 108 countries have signed and 42 have ratified and are already or will soon become States Parties.
Tunisia is not believed to have used, produced, stockpiled, or transferred cluster munitions. It signed the Convention on 12 January 2009, the first signature since the Oslo signing conference in December 2008.
The CMC is urging all 66 remaining signatory countries to ratify and all other countries to accede to the Convention and to attend its First Meeting of States Parties, which will be held from 9-12 November in Lao PDR, the world’s most cluster-bombed country.
Go to Original – stopclustermunitions.org
DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Gabriella Turek, chachia_net_. chachia_net_ said: by @tetoroa: Tunisia Ratifies International Treaty Banning Cluster Bombs http://bit.ly/bXDwaI: Tunisia Ratifies International Treaty B… […]