World Council of Churches welcomes ban on cluster bombs
(December 4, 2008) The Convention on Cluster Munitions has been welcomed as a "humane
and historic victory" by the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary Rev
Dr Samuel Kobia. Commenting on the signing of the convention in Oslo, Norway yesterday,
Kobia congratulated the more than 100 signatory countries and reiterated the need
for states that have not yet done so including the United States, Russia, China,
India, Pakistan, Israel and Zimbabwe to "sign and support this timely arms control
and humanitarian initiative". The statement at the end of the convention says that
it offers its congratulations to the more than 100 countries in Oslo to sign the Convention
on Cluster Munitions and the coalition of more than 300 civil society groups including
churches that have helped the international community move to resolve a long-standing
problem. The Convention on Cluster Munitions is a humane and historic victory. It
sets new standards for disarmament treaties and international humanitarian law by
banning a whole class of weapon and requiring specific assistance for the victims
of the weapon. When implemented, it will reduce new casualties as old unexploded
weapons are cleared and make civilians less vulnerable in future conflict zones where
this random killer is not used. To sign such a treaty on the International Day of
Persons with Disabilities is highly appropriate, the statement added. Every government
that implements this Oslo treaty puts constructive pressure on states that have not
signed the agreement and reiterate the need for those states to sign and support this
timely arms control and humanitarian initiative. The Convention commended the many
groups including church-related organizations that have supported the clearance of
millions of left-over explosives in the 30 countries and called on other countries
to do the same.