One hundred and twenty-one countries attended the first Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions that ended today with the unanimous adoption of the Vientiane Declaration.
© J.Bobin / Handicap International |
States committed to translate treaty obligations into concrete actions, backed by clear deadlines and firm financial commitments. The agreed action plan obliges States Parties to accelerate efforts to destroy stockpiles, clear contaminated lands, and enhance assistance to victims.
Handicap International is pleased to see states firmly commit to assisting communities living under the constant threat of these weapons to return to normal life. Laos, the host of the conference and one of the most polluted countries in the world, serves as an undeniable reminder of the need for immediate action.
An action plan to change the lives of victims
The 40 States Parties in attendance today adopted a plan of action that outlines 66 obligations to be achieved over the next five years. States will meet next year in Lebanon, another heavily contaminated country, to verify compliance with the first steps of implementation. These steps include the identification of affected areas, the development of an action plan, and the launching of initial steps towards remediating the impact of cluster munitions. States must also develop focal points for victim assistance within the next six months.
Handicap International will remain vigilant regarding the implementation of these commitments, particularly victim assistance. “The Oslo Treaty has established strong obligations in terms of victim assistance. We now have an action plan which requires governments to turn their legal and financial obligations into reality. These actions are exactly what victims like me have long been waiting for in order to see improvements in our daily lives," explains Thoummy Silamphan, 22, a Lao submunition victim and member of the 'Ban Advocates' group supported by Handicap International.
UK on track to destroy its stockpiles by 2013
At the meeting in Vientiane, the UK reiterated its publicly stated commitment to work for a global ban on cluster munitions, and confirmed that it is on track to destroy its cluster munition stockpiles by 2013, five years ahead of its deadline. To date, 46%, or close to 18 million out of its total stockpile of 38 million submunitions have been destroyed. The UK declared that this represents a dedicated effort to meet its obligation to destroy its stockpile as quickly as possible. Furthermore, the UK stated that as there are no facilities for destruction in the UK, it has contracted the destruction overseas and despite the complications and expense involved, is determined to fulfill its obligations.
Having previously indicated that it considers transit and foreign stockpiling of cluster munitions to be prohibited under the convention, the UK also confirmed that there are now no foreign stockpiles of cluster munitions in the UK or on any of its territories.
A dramatic situation in Laos
Tragically, on Wednesday 10th November, a young girl was killed and her sister injured when a submunition exploded in a village just a few hours outside Vientiane. "Unfortunately, this is a regular occurrence in Laos. As we work to clear unexploded landmines and cluster munitions we are witnesses to these catastrophes all too often. Innocent civilians bear the brunt of past wars. We must transform the anger resulting from this senseless tragedy into energy to sustain our efforts until cluster munitions no longer pose a threat", said Luc Delneuville, Handicap International’s Programme Director in Laos.
Unfortunately this accident powerfully illustrates the plight of Laos, where more than one quarter of villages are contaminated. During the Vietnam War, the U.S. dropped more than 270 million submunitions on Laos, nearly one third of which did not explode on impact. Since 1964, more than 50,000 people have been killed or injured due to explosive remnants of war, according to the Lao government. Between 1979 and 2008, 60% of civilian victims were young boys.
Day-to-day assistance for survivors
Handicap International has been working to reduce the threat posed by explosive remnants of war through mine clearance and risk education activities in Laos since 1996. For instance, we work with families involved in scrap metal collection. Most metal collectors are young boys who recover metal from fields to sell it on the market in order to supplement their family’s income. This metal is mostly sourced from remnants of war and, unfortunately, many of these weapons are unexploded. Although the risks of explosion are high when handling such weapons, the metal is sold for a derisory sum. Handicap International offers alternatives to this trade and helps local populations develop other sources of income.
