Lithuanian withdrawal from the Cluster Munition Ban undermines humanitarian efforts
DRC urges global commitment to the Convention: DRC will attend the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) 11th Meeting of States Parties (MSP) due to take place in Geneva, Switzerland, this week, to call on states parties to uphold the norm of the Convention.
Posted on 10 Sep 2024
The Lithuanian parliament’s recent decision to withdraw from the Convention on Cluster Munitions is a troubling setback in the global effort to protect civilians from the horrors of war. This move undermines years of progress in banning cluster munitions - indiscriminate weapons that cause widespread and long-lasting harm. Lithuania's departure not only weakens global consensus but also represent a concerning setback from broad consensus on the centrality of IHL. In light of escalating global conflicts, DRC urges Lithuania to reconsider its position and uphold its commitment to protecting lives and adhering to humanitarian values.
The humanitarian toll is staggering, with children making up nearly half of the casualties in 2023. This data reinforces the need for global action to uphold the Convention and protect civilians. The upcoming Meeting of State Parties of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, scheduled for the 10th to 13th of September in Geneva, provides the forum to address these urgent challenges.
DRC will participate in the meeting, engaging with donors, civil society organizations, and international partners. DRC aims to reaffirm the importance of sustaining the global ban on cluster munitions while sharing the impactful outcomes of its disarmament work around the world, particularly in conflict-affected countries like Ukraine, Iraq, South Sudan and Afghanistan.
Drawing on years of field experience as well as its broad mandate, DRC will contribute to the discussions on policy and programmatic approaches to disarmament, focusing specifically on the value-add of integrated efforts, localization and conflict sensitivity.
The 2024 Cluster Munition Monitor report underscores the urgency of these discussions. Warring parties have used cluster munitions in the current conflict in Ukraine, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The report also recorded new incidents of cluster munition usage in Myanmar and Syria, reflecting a disturbing global trend. These developments highlight the need for a renewed commitment to the Convention and to hold firm against any regression.
Ongoing Impact of Cluster Munitions on Civilians
Cluster munitions continue to cause devastation globally, with Ukraine being the epicenter of this devastation. For the second consecutive year, Ukraine reported the highest number of annual casualties from cluster munitions worldwide. In total, since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, over 1,000 cluster munition related casualties have been recorded in Ukraine alone. This rapid increase in civilian harm calls for an urgent and sustained response from the international community.
Globally, 219 people were killed or injured by cluster munitions in 2023, a significant but deceptive reduction compared to 2022’s record spike in casualties. The actual number of victims is likely much higher due to underreporting, especially in conflict zones where access and monitoring are limited.
Casualties were reported across nine countries, with Iraq, being one of the affected states. Children are particularly vulnerable to the remnants of cluster munitions, accounting for almost half (47%) of all casualties in 2023.
This reality reinforces the importance of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and its goal to protect civilians from these deadly weapons. Since its adoption in 2008, State Parties have collectively destroyed 100% of the declared cluster munition stockpiles, eliminating 1.49 million cluster munitions and 179 million submunitions.
Furthermore, Bosnia and Herzegovina, completed clearance of all known cluster munition-contaminated area in 2023 and Angola was removed from the list of cluster munition remnant affected states this year. This year, South Sudan became the newest, 112th member state of the Convention. These achievements illustrate the tangible success of the Convention when international cooperation is upheld.
One of DRC’s impactful operations took place in Iraq, where the team has been actively clearing contaminated land.
/ DRC Danish Refugee Council
One of DRC’s impactful operations took place in Iraq, where the team has been actively clearing contaminated land. In October 2023, DRC-HDP completed clearance on a hazardous site in Jabel Sanam village in the Safwan sub-district of Basra. The area had been dangerous since 2003 due to cluster munitions and other remnants of war. Dhiaa Ahmed, a farmer, and his brothers had avoided using a large portion of their farm for years due to the contamination.
The farm had also been the site of an accident involving Dhiaa's livestock. DRC-HDP’s explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) team provided training to Dhiaa’s family ahead of the clearance operations. By the end of January 2024, the team had cleared 15,310 m² of land, safely removing five cluster munitions.
As a result of the clearance operation, 80 people from Dhiaa’s extended family have been directly impacted. The land is now being used again for farming, and Dhiaa's family has resumed growing tomatoes without fear for their safety.
The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) calls on Lithuania and all State Parties to reaffirm their commitment to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, prioritizing civilian protection. As global conflicts escalate and cluster munitions continue to harm vulnerable populations, the progress made in disarmament must not be undone. At the upcoming Meeting of State Parties in Geneva, DRC will advocate for a united front to uphold the Convention and protect lives. Now more than ever, we must ensure that humanitarian principles remain central in the global effort to eliminate these deadly weapons
