• A cluster bomb is a weapon that contains multiple explosive submunitions (or bomblets). The weapon can be fired from aircraft, the ground or sea and typically opens in mid-air saturating an area up to the size of several football fields. (1)
    • Since their design in the Second World War, anyone in the strike zone, be they military or civilian, is likely to be killed or seriously injured. (2)
    • Sometimes the bomblets do not detonate immediately, becoming de facto land mines. (3) The Pentagon’s last publicly available estimate assessed the ‘dud’ rate to be 6%, meaning that 4 of the 72 submunitions contained in any one shell will remain unexploded after use. (4)
    • Since World War II cluster munitions have killed an estimated 56,500 to 86,500 civilians and killed or wounded scores of American service men and women, including de-miners. (5)
    • Because of their indiscriminate effect, a 2008 international treaty known as the ‘Convention on Cluster Munitions’ prohibits the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of these weapons. 110 countries have ratified the Convention. 13 further countries are signatories to the agreement with ratification pending. (6) 
    • Since adoption of the Convention, 99% of global stockpiles of cluster munitions have been destroyed (7), but non signatories retain their arsenal.
    • Only eight members of the 31 members of NATO have NOT signed or ratified the Convention – The United States of America is one of these eight countries. (8)
    • On June 7 2023, amidst wide international criticism, President Biden determined the transfer of cluster bombs for use in Ukraine’s conflict against Russia was key for America’s security. (9) 

Do you want to protest and prevent further use of these controversial weapons? See below to find out what action you can take.

Take Action:  Stop the Use of Cluster Munitions

What can you do?

    1. Sign this petition demanding congress block the transfer of cluster bombs to the Ukraine.
    2. Download, sign and send a letter to your congressman urging the US Government to ratify the 2008 Convention banning cluster munitions. You can use this template letter.
    3. a) Raise the profile of  those organizations trying to eliminate cluster munitions by supporting and sharing their social media pages. For example, X (formerly Twitter): @banclusterbombs
    4. b) Place their logo on your own social media page. You can find examples for the Cluster Munitions Coalition in English, French and Spanish here.
    5. Make a monetary donation to organisations which work to outlaw cluster munitions such as Human Rights Watch or the United Nations Mines Action Service.
    6. Make a donation or undertake fundraising activities (for example, sponsored walks or runs) for humanitarian organizations who work to help the victims of cluster munitions.

References

1. “What is a Cluster Bomb?” retrieved from  http://www.stopclustermunitions.org/en-gb/cluster-bombs/what-is-a-cluster-bomb.aspx. (accessed 5 September 2023).

2. Ibid.

3. https://www.hrw.org/topic/arms/cluster-munitions. (accessed 5 September 2023).

4. Karen De Young, Alex Horton and Missy Ryan (2023, July 7), “Biden Approves Cluster Munition Supply to Ukraine” retrieved from https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/06/biden-cluster-bombs-ukraine. (accessed 5 September 2023).

5. Victoria Kim, Gaya Gupta and John Ismay (2023, July 7), “Here’s what cluster munitions do and why they are so controversial” retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/06/world/europe/ukraine-cluster-munitions.html#:~:text=Since%20World%20War%20II%2C%20cluster,scores%20of%20American%20service%20members. (accessed 5 September 2023).

  1. https://www.hrw.org/topic/arms/cluster-munitions. (accessed 5 September 2023).
  2. Victoria Kim, Gaya Gupta and John Ismay (2023, July 7), “Here’s what cluster munitions do and why they are so controversial” retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/06/world/europe/ukraine-cluster-munitions.html#:~:text=Since%20World%20War%20II%2C%20cluster,scores%20of%20American%20service%20members. (accessed 5 September 2023).

8. https://www.clusterconvention.org. (accessed 5 September 2023).

9. Karen De Young, Alex Horton and Missy Ryan (2023, July 7), “Biden Approves Cluster Munition Supply to Ukraine” retrieved from  https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/07/06/biden-cluster-bombs-ukraine/. (accessed 5 September 2023).