Cluster Munitions cause injuries like this Cluster bombs have been used in 23 conflicts and in all of them have caused a consistent and predictable pattern of human devastation both during, and in some cases,for decades after, the conflict.
Children are often the unwitting victims, having been attracted by the small size and bright colours of the deadly submunitions.
What Are Cluster Munitions?
A cluster munition is a bomb, artillery shell or rocket, which when launched or dropped, opens an outside canister, releasing a number of smaller bombs, submunitions, over a wide area.The submunitions are designed to explode before, on, or just after impact with the ground, although many fail to do so. The unexploded submunitions can then lie dormant until they are disturbed , which may be years or even decades after conflicts end. A number of other characteristics also render cluster munitions inherent violators of international humanitarian law. They are often inaccurate, have a large area of effect, and the vast majority of those injured or killed by cluster submunitions are civilians.
The Convention Against Cluster Munitions
To see the text of the treaty click here
The Australian Government has not yet ratified the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Your help is needed to politely encourage it to do so.
For inormation on the status of a particular country in relation to the Convention on Cluster munitions go to:http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/
