|
Report on the Livingstone Conference on Cluster Munitions 31 March and 1 April 2008 Summary Thirty-nine African countries gathered in Livingstone, Zambia on 31 March and 1 April 2008 for an all-Africa Oslo Process conference on Cluster Munitions to discuss the key elements of the future Cluster Munitions Convention and determine coordinated African positions. A strong political declaration was agreed by all present except Egypt and strong positions emerged on the controversial negotiating issues. The two African producer states Egypt and South Africa proved problematic with Egypt disassociating itself from the Wellington and Livingstone Declaration and South Africa calling for exemptions for certain cluster munitions.
Participation The participating countries were: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Congo (Republic of), Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Eritrea, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Norway, Ireland, UNDP and ICRC also participated, the latter unveiling during the conference a new 15 minute film entitled "Time to act." Eritrea, Tunisia and Zimbabwe participated in the Oslo Process for the first time. Tunisia and Zimbabwe announced support for the Oslo Process and a ban on cluster munitions, the latter being an active and vocal supporter of positive positions on the key controversial issues for negotiation. Eritrea noted that it supported banning all weapons that kill and injure indiscriminately.
Forty-seven civil society members represented the CMC from 16 African countries including mine survivor advocates from Landmine Survivors Network. Throughout the week, campaigners worked within sub-regional and linguistic groups to put forward CMC's recommendations to the Oslo Conference: 1) to support a treaty with no exceptions, no delays and no loopholes; 2) to support a treaty based on strong humanitarian principles; 3) to prevent further proliferation of cluster munitions and 4) to conclude a strong common position.
Livingstone Declaration A key outcome of the conference was the adoption of a strong political statement, the Livingstone Declaration, committing African states to negotiate an international ban on cluster munitions at the Dublin Diplomatic Conference. The Livingstone Declaration affirmed support for the draft Cluster Munitions Convention and announced African countries' support for a prohibition on "all cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm" and that "such prohibition should be total and immediate." Adoption of the declaration proved challenging both procedurally and substantively, with South Africa expressing dissatisfaction with the chairing of the session and refusing to endorse on the basis of the substance of the final paragraph. This paragraph was originally drafted to say that African states called for "all cluster munitions" to be the subject to the negotiations of a convention prohibiting their use. As a compromise Sierra Leone suggested retaining "all cluster munitions" but adding "that cause unacceptable harm" which South Africa agreed would be sufficient to secure its support for the declaration. Crucially, by noting the need for the prohibition to be "immediate from the convention's entry into force" the declaration affirms a clear aspiration amongst African states that there should be no transition period for use in the new treaty. In addition the declaration notes that "all harm is unacceptable." Furthermore a very strong paragraph was added to the declaration on victim assistance. Only Egypt disassociated itself from the Livingstone Declaration.
Wellington Declaration In addition to the adoption of the Livingstone Declaration, nine states publicly announced their commitment to formally endorse the Wellington Declaration, after clear indications from Ireland and several other delegations that this would be necessary to participate in the Dublin Conference. These states were: Cameroon, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Lesotho, Liberia, Niger, the Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. A number of other African states noted privately that they had or were in the process of endorsing the Wellington Declaration.
African Coordination Delegates discussed the need to coordinate the work of African states in Dublin and also noted the possibility of engaging the African Union in the work on cluster munitions. Delegates broadly agreed that the priority was an informal coordination mechanism for the Dublin Conference and Zambia was appointed as coordinator of the African group for this purpose.
African champions Zambia was strong on all aspects of the treaty. Ghana and Zimbabwe emerged as strong advocates on the definition issue. Mauritania and Sierra Leone effectively promoted victim assistance. Guinea Bissau was very strong on stockpile destruction. DR Congo, Kenya, Mali and Uganda were very strong on responsibility for past users, both on clearance and international cooperation and assistance. Liberia was strong on several key issues, including interoperability.
Parliamentary and political engagement The Zambian Foreign Minister opened the meeting with a strong statement showing the country's commitment to the Oslo Process. The Minister of Disaster Preparedness and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda participated in the meeting and announced the Kampala meeting in September aimed at rallying African support for signature and ratification of the treaty. Parliamentarians from Sierra Leone and Tanzania also participated and there was clearly a will amongst delegates for more engagement with African parliamentarians in the process.
Substantive discussions African states discussed the key controversial treaty issues in the international process including the definition of cluster munitions, transition periods, as well as the responsibility of past users for clearance and international cooperation and assistance in general. There was very strong support for the humanitarian elements of victim assistance, clearance and international cooperation and assistance.
General Obligations and Scope CMC and ICRC presented the controversial issues of transition periods and interoperability. There was strong consensus that the treaty should not allow for transition periods for use and that the prohibition on providing assistance for anyone to use, produce, transfer or stockpile cluster munitions should be clear and unequivocal, including during joint military operations. Earlier confusion from certain states between transition periods for use and deadlines for stockpile destruction and clearance was clarified over the course of the conference, with delegations making it clear that any transition period allowing for use would be entirely unacceptable.
Definitions The Norwegian Defence Research Establishment presented on definitions, claiming that cluster munitions had limited military utility and that munitions with sensor-fuzing should not be considered cluster munitions and that these weapons represented an increasingly viable alternative to cluster munitions. The CMC critiqued the proposed technical exclusions highlighting the need to benchmark these proposals against their ability to actually mitigate the indiscriminate area effect and UXO effects of cluster munitions. The CMC emphasised the need for a categorical ban and that the burden of proof is on states to demonstrate the acceptability of any exclusions, stressing that the resolution of article 2(c) would be the critical negotiation for Dublin.
There was overwhelming support from the majority of among African states for a categorical ban on all cluster munitions arguing that only a clear and comprehensive prohibition would stigmatise the weapon and prevent all further use. In noting their conviction for a categorical ban, Ghana declared that "this is not an anti-military campaign but pro humanity" and the Deputy Minister of Uganda said that his intention is not to reduce the military capability of Uganda's army and that there are alternative weapon systems to cluster munitions. South Africa was a lone voice in Africa arguing that certain cluster munitions are legitimate weapons of war as long as they are targeted properly and have "a reliability rate of 98%". South Africa argued that such weapons should be excluded from the prohibition.
Victim Assistance Berihu Mesele Arefaine opened this session by giving his personal experience of a cluster munition strike in his town, Mekele, Ethiopia. Aimable Rukundo from Rwanda spoke on his experience as an African survivor. The CMC presented emphasising the historic steps forward reflected in the draft convention on survivor assistance and encouraged states to include strong and obligatory victim assistance provisions, which would be the first time victim assistance is made obligatory within a disarmament treaty.
States spoke strongly in favour of the broad definition of "victim" in the treaty and promoted comprehensive provisions on assistance, arguing that the current draft article on victim assistance should be retained or even strengthened. States broadly agreed with the CMC's conviction that the new convention should set a new standard on victim assistance and human rights.
Clearance and stockpile destruction African states found common agreement on retaining the strong text in the clearance article as well as ensuring that past user states take responsibility to clear cluster munitions where they have used them. Affected countries in particular voiced their commitment and need for the clearance process
One of the main issues of discussion was the responsibility of user states in assisting affected states. Several states affected by cluster munitions and landmines including the DRC stressed the importance of international assistance to ensure that their countries are cleared and that assistance is provided to victims.
International Cooperation and Assistance States agreed that past users should have a particular obligation to provide assistance to affected states. It was proposed that victim assistance should be highlighted within article 6 and that the social and economic inclusion and integration of survivors is paramount. It was generally agreed that assistance should be limited to states party to the treaty.
For further information, visit the Cluster Munition Coalition website at www.stopclustermunitions.org |
|
We are speaking out today on the Global Day of Action to Ban Cluster Bombs where people across all continents, cultures and faiths are taking action and calling for a ban on cluster bombs.
A comprehensive ban on cluster bombs can and must be negotiated one month from now in Dublin, Ireland, in May 2008. We urge governments to take up this heavy responsibility by seizing this opportunity to take concrete action for the protection of the vulnerable and for the promotion of peace. Sincerely, The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu, Anglican Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town Dr. Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, Cardinal Archbishop of Vienna, Catholic Church of Austria Archbishop Dermot Martin, Archbishop of Dublin, Catholic Church in Ireland Archbishop Gunnar Stålsett, Committee World Council Religions for Peace, Lutheran Church of Norway Sister Emmanuelle, Founder and Honorary President of ASMAE (Association Soeur Emmanuelle), France. Archbishop Antonio Ledesma, Vice President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines and Bishop-President of Pax Christi Pilipinas (Philippines) Archbishop John Dew, Archbishop of Wellington, Catholic Church of New Zealand Chief Rabbi David Rosen, Chairman of the International Jewish Committee for Interreligious Consultations, Israel Archbishop John Onaiyekan, Archbishop of the Abuja Diocese of the Catholic Church and President of the Christian Association of Nigeria Dr Muhammad Abdul Bari, Secretary General, Muslim Council of Britain Indarjit Singh, Director of the Network of Sikh Organisations, UK Rabbi Danni Rich, Chief Executive of Liberal Judaism Monsignor Samuel Gandi, Apostolic Administrator, Archdiocese of Freetown and Bo (Roman Catholic), Sierra Leone Reverend Osman J. Fornah, President, Inter-Religious Council of Sierra Leone Sheik Abu Bakarr Conteh, 1st Vice President, Inter Religious Council of Sierra Leone, Imam of Freetown Municipality Council and Masjid Hamdallah Monsignor Laurent Monsengwo, Archbishop of Kinshasa, DR Congo and Co-President Pax Christi International Bishop Kike Figaredo, Apostolic Prefect of Battambang, the Catholic Church in Cambodia Bishop Émile Destombes, Apostolic Vicar of Phnom Penh, the Catholic Church in Cambodia Bishop Anthony Sami, Catholic Church in Cambodia Bishop Yves Ramousse Gustave, The Catholic Church in Cambodia Bishop Eliezer M. Pascua, General Secretary of the United Church of Christ in the Philippines Bishop Jessie Suarez, South Luzon Jurisdictional Area, United Church of Christ in the Philippines Bishop Peter Cullinane, Bishop of Palmerston North, Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand Bishop Denis Browne, Bishop of Auckland, Catholic Church of New Zealand Bishop Barry Jones, Catholic Diocese of Christchurch, New Zealand Bishop David Stancliffe, Bishop of Salisbury, Church of England Bishop William Kenny, Auxiliary Bishop of Birmingham and Spokesman on European Affairs for the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales Reverend Jonathan Edwards, General Secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain Reverend Dr Martyn Atkins, President of the Methodist Conference, United Kingdom Reverend Gregor Henderson, President of the Uniting Church in Australia Reverend Dr. Setri Nyomi, Secretary General of World Alliance of Reformed Churches, the Presbyterian Church in Canada Rabbi Steven Jacobs, Temple Kol Tikvah, USA Right Reverend Francis S. Nabieu, Head of Methodist Church Sierra Leone Dr. Fauzy Khoury, Exarch of the Greek Catholic Melkite Church in the Galilee Muhammad Amir Kpakpo Addo , Ag. Executive Secretary, Ghana Conference of Religions for Peace, Ghana Pratap Bhogilal , Chairman Emeritus, World Jain Confederation, India M. L. Pindolia, President, Hindu Council of Africa, Africa Samdech Tep Vong, The Great Supreme Patriarch of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Cambodia Issa Kirarira, Chairman, Media for Peace and Religious Tolerance Organisation, Uganda Rev. Pat de Ramos-Bremond , Minister, Broadmeadows Uniting Care, Australia Fr. Tom Ryan , Paulist Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, USA Taoist Mission Secretarial Office, Taoist Mission Secretarial office, Singapore Ms Farida Ali , President Emeritus, Islamic Heritage Society, Pakistan Pal Khn Chon, Won Buddhism Overseas Missions, Korea Bishop Erik Norman Svendsen, Diocese Copenhagen, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Kresten Drejergaard, Diocese Fyen, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Elisabeth Dons Christensen, Diocese Ribe, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Steen Skovsgaard, Diocese Lolland-Falster, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Karsten Nissen, Diocese Viborg, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Kjeld Holm, Diocese Aarhus, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Søren Lodberg Hvas, Diocese Aalborg, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Bishop Niels Henrik Arendt, Diocese Haderslev, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Denmark Pastor Jørgen Bøytler, The Moravian Church in Denmark, member of the Provincial Board in the European Continental Province of the Moravian Church Reverend Dr Anthony Dancer, Social Justice Commissioner of the Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand Reverend Brian Turner, President, Methodist Church of New Zealand, Aotearoa-New Zealand Monsieur Gregory BAUM, théologien et écrivain, professeur émérite, Sciences religieuses, Université McGill, Montréal Madame Élisabeth GARANT, directrice du Centre justice et foi et de la revue Relations (Relations est une revue d’analyse sociale et religieuse, initiative des Jésuites à Montréal) Sister Donna GEERNAERT, Congregational Leader, Sisters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul, Présidente de la Conférence Religieuse Canadienne – CRC – Canadian Religious Conference (Association of Major Superiors of Women and Men Congregations in Canada) Madame Heather EATON, théologienne, professeur à la Faculté de théologie, Université Saint-Paul, membre du Canadian Forum on Religion and Ecology Pasteur David FINES, rédacteur en chef de la revue Aujourd’hui Credo, magazine de l’Église Unie au Canada – Director of Aujourd’hui Credo Monseigneur Pierre MORISSETTE, évêque de Baie-Comeau, Vice-président de la Conférence des Évêques Catholiques du Canada (CECC) – Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) Madame Carolyn SHARP, théologienne, professeur à la Faculté de théologie, Université Saint-Paul, Ottawa Bishop Raymond Field, Chairman Commission for Justice and Social Affairs, Catholic Church of Ireland Bishop John Kirby, Chairman Trocaire, Catholic Church of Ireland Mgr. A. H. van Luyn S. D. B, President Pax Christi Netherlands, Bishop of Rotterdam, Catholic Church in the Netherlands Msgr. Marc Stenger, Bishop of Troyes and Bishop President of Pax Christi France Bishop Sofie Petersen, Evangelical Lutheran Church and Bishop of Greenland Bishop John Bluck, Bishop of Waiapu, Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia Bishop James Moriarty, Roman Catholic Church, Ireland Bishop Raymond Field, Chairman Irish Commission for Justice and Social Affairs, Roman Catholic Church, Ireland Bishop John Kirby, Chairman Trocaire, Roman Catholic Church, Ireland V. Rev. Leonid Kishkovsky, Director of External Affairs, Orthodox Church in America & Moderator, Religions for Peace, USA Rev. Nichiko Niwano, President, Rissho Kosei-kai, Japan Dr. Khurshid Khan, Ameer/President of the Islamic Circle of North America, USA Khalid Rasheed, Secretary General, Islamic Centre of India, India Rev. Canon Charles P. Gibbs, Executive Director, United Religions Initiative, USA Mohammad Sammak , Secretary General, Christian-Muslim Committee for Dialogue, Lebanon Karen Hurley, President General, World Union of Catholic Women’s Organisations Dr William Vendley , Secretary General, Religions for Peace, USA Rev. Vebjørn L. Horsfjord, General Secretary, European Council of Religious Leaders, Religions for Peace, Norway Dr Sayyid M. Syeed , National Director, Islamic Society of North America, USA Rev. W. Douglas Mills, PhD , Associate General Secretary, The United Methodist Church, USA Mr Stein Villumstad, Deputy Secretary General, Religions for Peace – USA, Norway Daniel Barton , Ecumencial Youth Council in Europe, Belgium Dr Günther Gebhardt, Vice-Moderator, Religions for Peace – Europe, Germany Sr. Mary-Ellen Francoeur, Religions for Peace – Canada, Canada Christina Brown , Co-Founder, Center of Inter-Faith Relations, USA Jim Schrag, Executive Director, Mennonite Church, USA Rolando Santiago, Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee, USA Arli Klassen, Executive Director, Mennonite Central Committee, USA James E. Winkler, General Secretary, General Board of Church and Society, the United Methodist Church, USA Marie Dennis, Director, Maryknoll Global Concerns, Co-President, Pax Christi International Mary Ellen McNish, General Secretary, American Friends Service Committee, Philadelphia, USA Claudette Werleigh, Secretary General Pax Christi International Ella Storesletten , Norwegian Church Aid, Norway Roel Aalbersberg, Coordinator for Worldwide Program, ICCO, Netherlands Rev. Stig Utnem, Former general secretary of the Council on Ecumenical and International Relations of the Church of Norway, Advisor to ECRL Crescencia C. Gabijan , Board Member, Religions for Peace – Philippines, Philippines Elizabeth Young, SA Interfaith Network, Australia Ziad Moussa , Former IYC Coordinator, Lebanon Arne Sæveraas , Special Advisor, Norwegian Church Aid, Norway Gopika Dass, Regional Representative, Sudan-Kenya Ela Gandhi, Editor/Chair of Satyagraha, In Pursuit of Truth, South Africa Edy Korthals Altes , Former Ambassador, Netherlands, Netherlands Gabriele Cipriani, Conselho Nacional de Igrejas Cristвs, Brazil Luiz Alberto Barbosa, Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil The Most Reverend Dr. John R W Neill, Archbishop, Church of Ireland Rev. John Stephens, Methodist District Superintendent, Ireland Rev. Bishop Donal McKeown, Auxiliary Bishop Belfast Dr. Joachim Diestelkamp, Pastor of the Lutheran Church, Ireland Imam Yahya Al Hussein, Islamic Foundation of Ireland Mr. Abdujalol Aliev, Head of Tajik State Islamic University |
|
Faith Leaders’ Appeal for an International Treaty to Ban Cluster Munitions As people of faith, we raise our voices for the protection of life and promotion of peace by calling on all governments to end the production, transfer, stockpiling, and use of cluster bombs.
For more than 40 years, cluster bombs have killed and wounded innocent people, causing untold suffering, loss and hardship for thousands in more than 20 countries across the planet. These weapons cause death and injury to civilians during attacks and for years afterwards because of the lethal contamination that they cause. Cluster bombs hamper post-conflict rebuilding and rehabilitation and the dangerous work of cluster bomb clearance absorbs funds that could be spent on other urgent humanitarian needs. Without determined action, the civilian harm caused by these weapons both during and after conflict will continue to grow.
The voices of those whose lives have already been shattered by cluster munitions call us to take meaningful and courageous action. Our faith traditions call us to stand with those who have suffered, and to work for the well-being of the human family through relationships of respect, justice, and peace. |