a hundred countries met Wednesday, December 3 at Oslo to sign a treaty banning cluster munitions. They called the largest producers, such as the United States and Russia to join the agreement, but they persist in refusing to sign the treaty.
Norway, causing the process to ban, was the first to sign the agreement which prohibits the production, use, storage and trade in these weapons and obliges signatories to provide assistance to victims of cluster munitions (cluster bombs).
To enter into force, the text must be ratified by at least 30 states. Norway hoped that the goal would be reached in early 2009.
Cluster munitions can contain hundreds of bomblets which scatter over a wide area but not all explode, turning itself into de facto anti-personnel mine. According to Handicap International, about 100,000 people, 98% of them civilians, were killed or maimed in the explosion of munitions worldwide since 1965. More than a quarter of children are intrigued by their shapes and colors.
Ashamed: The country's major producers and users of cluster bombs were away, like the United States, Russia, China, Israel , Pakistan and India. But the NGOs say the agreement should stigmatize these weapons, including among non-signatories. Moreover, the arrival of Barack Obama in the White House could also lead to a U.S. signature.
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