Abstract

On 30th May 2008, 109 States meeting in Dublin have agreed on a draft Convention on cluster munitions. The Convention, which will be opened for signature on 3rd December 2008, totally prohibits such weapons and organizes their removal and destruction. Furthermore, it provides that assistance will be given to victims and their entourage. Although some producing states, including the United States, did not participate in these negotiations, the new Convention represents an international condemnation of cluster munitions and reduces the possibility that, in the future, this type of weapons, which firstly harms the civilians, be used on battlefields.