Wellington and beyond in the battle to ban clusters

It probably comes as no surprise that negotiating the most significant disarmament treaty in a decade isn't an easy job, but as the Wellington talks have proved a lot can happen when committed people stand together.

About 120 governments and 170 humanitarian and mine clearance organisations travelled to New Zealand in late February, for the only round of the cluster munitions treaty talks that will be held in the southern hemisphere.

After a week of torrid negotiations Australia joined more than 80 countries and signed onto the "Wellington Declaration", a major achievement that deserves the congratulations of all. This ensures that the Australian Government will be involved in the negotiation of a treaty that will lead to a ban on cluster munitions that cause unacceptable harm to civilians.

Much of the work in Wellington focused on the development of a draft treaty text which is the cornerstone of the world's newest disarmament treaty.

For five days representatives from around the world bargained, discussed, argued and lobbied, both in the halls of power and on the streets.

Survivors like Branislav Kapetanovic, joined more than 1000 people at a protest outside the official talks, where they sketched chalk outlines of their bodies to represent the growing human cost of cluster munitions.

The former Serbian deminer hopes relating his experience helped convince reluctant governments to sign on, "I lost both of my arms, both of my legs, I became almost blind, I was blind for the next couple of months, both of my ear drums have been pierced and I have blast injuries to my lungs and my head."

Fellow survivor Soraj Ghulam Habib began his own direct lobbying.  From his wheel chair the 16 year old faced-down delegates at the doors of Wellington's Convention Centre with placards condemning those countries that are failing to act.

Soraj lost both legs and many of his fingers when an unexploded cluster bomblet he picked up exploded.  The yellow container he mistook for a food canister also killed his cousin and injured several other members of his family.  Doctors said the then ten year old was so badly injured he'd be better off dead and suggested a lethal injection.

And while a growing number of governments have signed-on to the Wellington Declaration the battle to ban cluster munitions is far from won.  In truth, some of the toughest fights are still to come.

When the negotiating teams head to Dublin in late May they still have to battle out issues such as whether a loop hole will be inserted into the laws that will allow countries like Australia to engage in military operations with states using cluster munitions in those operations.  So effectively we're sending a message that "we won't be using cluster munitions, but we think it's ok if you do!"

Australia's decision to buy the 'SMArt 155', a weapon that many experts believe is a cluster bomb, remains a major issue that has to be resolved. 

Austcare believes Australia needs to be a leader in this process and that most of us support the development of the strongest possible laws to save the lives of innocent men, women and children around the world.

Therefore, as Australians we need to do everything possible to keep the government on track. We need to lobby our political leaders, sign the petitions and spread the word to family, friends and colleagues.

More than 3000 New Zealanders signed a petition which was presented to their Parliament and we at Austcare believe we can do even better with the petition we're running on this side of the Tasman.

Read the Wellington Declaration

Read the Compedium to the Wellington Declaration