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The landmine and cluster munitions treaties have made a significant difference in the lives of people living in current and former zones of conflict. These international agreements have had a demonstrable impact on limiting the use of such indiscriminate weapons, and have mobilized funding and effort to clear them and support survivors.
Even many countries, such as the U.S., that have not signed the treaties have constrained their use of landmines and cluster munitions and contributed to programs mitigating their impact through demining, awareness campaigns and medical rehabilitation.
The stigmatization of landmines and cluster munitions has become what scholars of international politics call a “norm’ – a widespread value that governments are expected to uphold to avoid international condemnation.
However, a series of unsettling events over the last six months have illustrated that the norms against landmines and cluster munitions have not yet been universalized.
Human rights groups confirm that the Libyan government has used both landmines and cluster munitions in its counterinsurgency against the ongoing uprising. In the last month, there have been several press reports of mine use in the recent unrest in Sudan. In February, the Thai military used cluster munitions in border skirmishes with Cambodia. This simmering conflict has also delayed demining of farmland.
Both landmines and cluster munitions are inherently indiscriminate weapons. They do not distinguish between combatants and civilians and continue to kill decades after their use.
The U.S. is in a unique position to reinvigorate the emerging international norms against weapons that indiscriminately affect civilians. While it has not yet signed either of the landmine and cluster munitions treaties, the U.S. has followed many of their provisions. The Obama administration has been reviewing U.S. landmine and cluster munitions policy since 2009.
“U.S. citizens and other campaigners from around the world have been calling on the U.S. to join the Mine Ban Treaty since it was negotiated in 1997,” said Zach Hudson of the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines.
“Since the policy review began this outcry has only intensified. The administration has received letters of support for the Mine Ban Treaty from 68 Senators, NGO leaders, key NATO allies, 16 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, victims of U.S. landmines, and countless concerned Americans. Enough is enough – it’s time to join.”
A strong stand from the U.S. in favor of both treaties would suggest to the world that it is serious about limiting civilian casualties and maintaining high ethical standards in armed conflict. It would also isolate the countries still holding out against the treaties – like Russia, China, Iran, Burma and North Korea. They would no longer be able to point to the U.S. as an excuse for not joining.
The landmine and cluster munitions treaties have made a significant difference in the lives of people living in current and former zones of conflict. These international agreements have had a demonstrable impact on limiting the use of such indiscriminate weapons, and have mobilized funding and effort to clear them and support survivors.
Even many countries, such as the U.S., that have not signed the treaties have constrained their use of landmines and cluster munitions and contributed to programs mitigating their impact through demining, awareness campaigns and medical rehabilitation.
The stigmatization of landmines and cluster munitions has become what scholars of international politics call a “norm’ – a widespread value that governments are expected to uphold to avoid international condemnation.
However, a series of unsettling events over the last six months have illustrated that the norms against landmines and cluster munitions have not yet been universalized.
Human rights groups confirm that the Libyan government has used both landmines and cluster munitions in its counterinsurgency against the ongoing uprising. In the last month, there have been several press reports of mine use in the recent unrest in Sudan. In February, the Thai military used cluster munitions in border skirmishes with Cambodia. This simmering conflict has also delayed demining of farmland.
Both landmines and cluster munitions are inherently indiscriminate weapons. They do not distinguish between combatants and civilians and continue to kill decades after their use.
The U.S. is in a unique position to reinvigorate the emerging international norms against weapons that indiscriminately affect civilians. While it has not yet signed either of the landmine and cluster munitions treaties, the U.S. has followed many of their provisions. The Obama administration has been reviewing U.S. landmine and cluster munitions policy since 2009.
“U.S. citizens and other campaigners from around the world have been calling on the U.S. to join the Mine Ban Treaty since it was negotiated in 1997,” said Zach Hudson of the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines.
“Since the policy review began this outcry has only intensified. The administration has received letters of support for the Mine Ban Treaty from 68 Senators, NGO leaders, key NATO allies, 16 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, victims of U.S. landmines, and countless concerned Americans. Enough is enough – it’s time to join.”
A strong stand from the U.S. in favor of both treaties would suggest to the world that it is serious about limiting civilian casualties and maintaining high ethical standards in armed conflict. It would also isolate the countries still holding out against the treaties – like Russia, China, Iran, Burma and North Korea. They would no longer be able to point to the U.S. as an excuse for not joining.
Back in March, Sen. Diane Feinstein introduced a bill – S.558: Cluster Munitions Civilian Protection Act of 2011 – that would bring U.S. policy somewhat closer to the cluster munitions treaty. It has been cosponsored by 21 other senators but is currently in committee.
“Our legislation… is a common sense measure that will help save civilian lives and bolster U.S. leadership on this issue,” says a letter Senator Feinstein and co-sponsor Sen. Patrick Leahy are circulating to their Senate colleagues.
To take action, call Sen. Roy Blunt and Sen. Claire McCaskill to urge them to cosponsor this important S.558. To learn more about how to get involved in the campaign against landmines and cluster munitions, visit the websites of the U.S. Campaign to Ban Landmines (http://www.uscbl.org/) and the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (http://www.icbl.org).
