Call for Ratification of Cluster Bomb Treaty

(18 Aug 09 - RV) As the world this month marks the one-year anniversary of the 9-day war in South Ossetia, members of the Cluster Munition Coalition called on Georgia and Russia to ratify a convention to join the global ban on cluster bombs.

During the 2008 war, both Russia and Georgia used cluster munitions that resulted in the deaths of at least 16 civilians and injured at least 54 more.

30 ratifications are needed for the Convention to enter into force and become binding international law. So far, 14 countries have ratified the treaty, including Ireland and the Holy See.

We spoke to Thomas Nash, coordinator at the Cluster Munition Coalition, to ask why it is important for countries to ratify the treaty, even if they do not use Cluster munitions…