Cluster Bomb Ban Continues the Work of the Princess
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund overjoyed
Dublin, 29th May 2007. Following agreement in Dublin of a treaty banning cluster bombs, Astrid Bonfield, Chief Executive of the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund said "this is a major breakthrough in securing a legacy for the Princess and her work in banning landmines." She added:
"Diana, Princess of Wales focussed the world's attention on the humanitarian crisis of landmines. The Fund, set up to carry on the Princess's humanitarian work, has sought to honour her memory by supporting the process to achieve a new treaty banning cluster bombs. The British government has shown great courage and compassion in deciding now to rid its arsenals of this scourge."
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund has supported the Cluster Munition Coalition since it was founded in 2003, and provides funds for campaigners in countries affected by cluster bombs who are working for a global ban.
The treaty is the culmination of these campaigners working alongside concerned governments to stop the production, use, transfer and stockpiling of cluster bombs that cause unacceptable harm to civilians.
Samantha Rennie, who has been at the Dublin negotiations representing The Fund said:
"Following years of hard work by campaigners, and months of intense negotiations by countries, we now see a treaty being agreed which will ban these hideous weapons forever. The treaty will set new humanitarian benchmarks and will undoubtedly save even more lives than the landmine ban."
For more information and to get copies of the video news release and photo materials, please contact in Dublin: Natalie Curtis: +44 (0) 7515 575174, natalie@stopclustermunitions.org Samantha Bolton: +353 (0) 86 662 9343, mailto:samanthabolton@gmail.com,%20or%20clustermunitioncoalition@gmail.com
For interviews with The Diana Princess of Wales Memorial Fund contact: Effie Blythe +44 (0) 20 7902 5509 +44 (0) 777 304 7316 effie.blythe@memfund.org.uk
Notes to editors:
The Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions: Over 100 countries will negotiate the cluster munition treaty in Dublin, Ireland from 19-30 May 2008. At the negotiations, they will agree to the final language of the treaty. The negotiations will be based on a draft treaty that sets out a comprehensive ban but certain countries are likely to seek exceptions or delays to allow continued use of their own cluster bombs. There will be tough negotiations on this and other issues in Dublin - see below. The cluster munition treaty will represent the most significant advance in the field of humanitarian and disarmament affairs since the achievement of the 1997 treaty prohibiting antipersonnel mines.
Cluster bombs have consistently killed and injured large numbers of civilians over 40 years of their use. They are fired from the ground or dropped from the air, dispersing hundreds of bomblets or submunitions over wide areas and littering the ground with explosives and shrapnel. Unexploded submunitions can explode when people hit them with a tool while farming, or by inquisitive children attracted by their bright colours, or simply from someone stepping on them. The presence of such unexploded submunitions threatens life and limb, hampers provision of relief and impedes development for years after a conflict. Unlike landmine and other indiscriminate weapons, there is currently no provision in international law that specifically addresses the problems of cluster munitions and their devastating effects on civilian populations.
‘Local Voices, Global Ban' is an initiative aimed at helping local groups educate people about cluster bombs and encourage their governments to support a ban, with small grants funded by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund and administered by Landmine Action. Full details can be found at http://www.localvoicesglobalban.org/
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund continues the Princess's humanitarian work in the UK and overseas. By giving grants to organisations, championing charitable causes, advocacy, campaigning and awareness raising, the Fund works to secure sustainable improvements in the lives of the most vulnerable people in the UK and around the world.
29/05/2008
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