Convention on Cluster Munitions Came Into Effect

The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) came into effect from 1st August 2010 when it became a binding law on all the nations around the world that have signed the Convention. The Convention on Cluster Munitions (bombs) bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster bombs and calls for destruction of stockpiles within eight years.  
So far 108 countries have signed the Convention and 38 have ratified it. Among them are former users and producers of cluster bombs, as well as countries affected by the weapons. The number of nations signing the convention and ratifying it is likely to increase.
In December 2009, Albania became the first signatory country to complete the process of destroying the stockpiles of cluster bombs. Recently, Norway and Moldova also destroyed their cluster munitions joining Spain which eradicated its stockpiles of cluster munitions in 2009.
•    The Convention on Cluster Munitions was first adopted in Dublin on 30 May 2008 and was signed on 3 December 2008 in Oslo.
•    Cluster Munitions Council (CMC), founded in 2003, has worked as a global network of civil society organizations and cluster bomb survivors in collaboration with governments, UN agencies and international organizations to negotiate and promote universal adherence to the convention on Cluster munitions.
•    Lao PDR (Laos) is the world’s most cluster bombed country.
•    The last confirmed use of cluster is known when both Russia and Georgia used them in the conflict over South Ossetia in August 2008.
•    India, USA, China and Russia have not signed the convention.
Cluster bomb is a type of explosive weapon which scatters sub munitions over an area. Cluster munitions split open before impact and divide into smaller sub munitions. Many of them fail to explode immediately and can lay hidden killing and maiming civilians which also include children. The Convention is one of the most significant disarmament and humanitarian treaty ending the civilian suffering caused by cluster bombs and helping the survivors to enjoy their full human rights.