CLUSTER MUNITIONS

Publication by WILPF Sweden's Cluster Group: Cluster Munitions and Gender

Convention on Cluster Munitions

Sofia Conference, Bulgaria
18-19 September 2008

Dublin Conference
Daily Updates

Wellington Conference,
18-22 February 2008[PDF]

Vienna Conference,
5-7 December 2007 [PDF]

Lima Conference,
23-25 May 2007 [PDF]

Oslo Conference
23-25 February 2007[PDF]

Producer Countries
Stockpiler Countries
User Countries

Cluster bombs are weapons that consist of one carrier container filled with separate bomblets. A cluster bomb can contain anywhere from 9 to several hundred bomblets. When dropped, the bomb is designed to open mid-air and distribute the bomblets so that they, on impact, will explode and affect an area that can be as wide as several football fields.

Cluster bombs are neither accurate nor reliable. Bomblets often malfunction, and fail to explode on impact. Instead, they lay in wait - like a landmine, but even more volatile - until some unsuspecting person, frequently, a child, disturbs it.

Unexploded cluster munitions continue to kill for decades after conflicts are over.
98 percent of their victims are civilians.

Women and Cluster Munitions. Despite the recognition of the importance of gender in experiences with landmines, little attention has been given to gender in the process to ban cluster munitions.

In order to create a lasting peace and sustainable redevelopment of affected communities, the unique perspectives and needs of all individuals - of women, men, girls and boys - must be recognized and accounted for.

READ the WILPF publication on Women and Cluster Munitions. [PDF] [Word]

READ WILPF's Statement on the Situation in Georgia

Click here for Cluster Munition Archive

For more information visit:

Cluster Munitions Coalition [CMC]
Landmine Action
Convention on Cluster Munitions
Disarmament Insight