Laos proposed to host the 1st State Party Conference on this Convention

Dear Friends,

Here is an update on the preparation for the said purpose:

Action Plan
1. It was decided that Norway would redraft the Action Plan taking
into account views expressed by members of the Laos Support Group.
The Ambassador of the Lao PDR suggested the Action Plan could act as a
roadmap moving towards the First Meeting of States Parties.
2. There was general agreement that such a roadmap would set out key
dates and upcoming milestones which could guide the work of members of
the Laos Support Group and, possibly, other states signatories. This
would include the meetings outlined by Germany, Indonesia, Chile,
Belgium and, potentially, Austria.
3. A new draft roadmap will be presented to members of the Laos
Support Group ahead of the Berlin meeting of the Group and will be
discussed further at this meeting.
4. The Ambassador of the Lao PDR offered to put forward the roadmap to
a wider group of states.

In-country support
1. Members of the Laos Support Group welcomed the establishment by the
Lao PDR of a National Committee for the First Meeting of States
Parties, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister. Sub-committees will be
formed to deal with specific tasks.
2. UNDP advised that it is discussing with the Lao PDR the possibility
of an in-country Support Unit. Such a Unit would work with the
National Committee and its sub-committees. UNDP undertook to advise
the Laos Support Group of developments with this Unit.
3. Member of the Laos Support Group welcomed the possible
establishment of a UNDP Support Unit.

Task List
1. The Ambassador of the Lao PDR advised that the National Committee
would focus on logistics and organisational issues, possibly assisted
by a UNDP support unit.
2. As such, the Laos Support Group decided that it could add most
value by providing support on matters of substance, communication
strategy, universalisation and the running of the MSP. The Group
would continue to assist with logistics and organisational issues, as
necessary and requested.
3. Australia said is would redraft the task list accordingly. Such a
task list could be a rolling document for the Laos Support Group.
4. Members of the Laos Support Group offered, on a strictly
provisional basis, assistance along the following lines
a. Austria: victim assistance and universalisation
b. Belgium: universalisation
c. Canada: universalisation, drafting documents on substance
d. France: universalisation
e. Germany: stockpile destruction
f. Japan: universalisation, regional support network
g. New Zealand: drafting documents
h. Switzerland: contribution on issues of substance
i. United Kingdom: sponsorship program, universalisation
j. UNDP: support unit, sponsorship programme, contribution on issues
of substance
k. CMC: all aspects, but in particular universalisation,
communications/media work, contribution on issues of substance
l. ICRC: all aspects, but in particular communications, contribution
on issues of substance

Operation of Laos Support Group

1. To ensure transparency in the operation of the Laos Support Group,
it was agreed that am update on the work of the Group would be
provided in the final session of the Berlin Conference on Stockpile
Destruction.
2. There was general understanding that the Laos Support Group is open
to all who may be in a position to assist the Lao PDR or the momentum
towards the First Meeting of States Parties.
3. There was general understanding that the chair of the Laos Support
Group would rotate. Unless another venue was suitable due to a
related meeting, the Group would meet in Geneva.


Universalisation Campaign Update
31 July 2009
This is an update on the CMC‟s universalisation campaign for the 2008
Convention on Cluster Munitions (the “Convention”). Together we are
working to increase the number of treaty signatures and secure swift
ratification. We are aiming for 30 ratifications in 2009 to ensure
that the Convention enters into force as quickly as possible.
Currently there are 98 signatures, including 14 ratifications. The
countdown continues - only 16 more ratifications are needed to trigger
entry into force!
Signatures (98)
After the regional workshop on the Mine Ban Treaty in Dushanbe, CMC
campaigners from Tajikistan and Afghanistan met on 9 July with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan to discuss the Convention.
The Tajik officials said the government is not opposed to the
Convention and intends to organize a governmental workshop on the
issue. The Kyrgyz diplomat to the conference requested further
information on the Convention.
The CMC received a letter in July from Cambodia stating that the
Ministry of Defence is undertaking a review that will determine the
timeframe for Cambodia to join the Convention. According to the
letter, the delay in Cambodia‟s signature does not represent any “lack
of commitment to the purposes and merits of the Convention.”
Ratifications (14)
Several signatories are expected to deposit their ratification
instruments in the next couple of weeks including Croatia, Slovenia,
Uruguay, and Zambia. The CMC has circulated a draft “half-way there”
press release to be issued when the 15th ratification occurs.
* Ratification expected in the coming weeks
Burundi‟s National Assembly is reviewing ratification legislation,
which parliamentarians believe will be adopted without any problem.
Cape Verde‟s National Assembly is expected to approve ratification at
the beginning of August and then the President must give final
approval so ratification should be this completed by the end of
August. Croatia’s parliament approved ratification on 5 June and now
the ratification instrument needs to be deposited. Gambia‟s Cabinet
has approved ratification and the parliament is expected to approve
ratification at its next session. In France, the National Assembly
unanimously approved ratification on 20 July and now the bill must
pass through the Senate, probably in September, before the
ratification instrument can be deposited. Palau and Sao Tome and
Principe have indicated that they expect to ratify in August.
Slovenia’s parliament adopted its ratification law on 16 July and now
the government needs to deposit the ratification instrument. Uruguay’s
parliament approved ratification in both houses on July 20 and
ratification is expected to be deposited swiftly. At a 29 July meeting
of Zambia‟s National Committee Against Landmines and Cluster
Munitions, the chair announced that the Zambian Cabinet approved
ratification two weeks earlier and the ratification instrument should
be on its way shortly to be deposited.
* Sometime in 2009
Several signatories have confirmed that ratification has started and
should be completed by the end of this year: Belgium, Bulgaria,
Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Czech Republic, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau,
Liberia, Lithuania, Montenegro, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, and
Tunisia.
* Sometime in 2010
Several signatories are expected to ratify during 2010: Guatemala,
Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania and UK.
* Unknown Timeframe
A number of signatories have informed the CMC that ratification is
underway, but have not indicated how long it would take to complete:
Australia, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Costa
Rica, Denmark, DR Congo, Ecuador, Guinea, Iceland, Malawi, Mali,
Namibia, Nicaragua, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Togo
and Uganda. A few states said that they hadn‟t yet started including
Angola, Botswana, Congo (Republic of), Indonesia, Jamaica, Moldova and
Mozambique. Some indicated that they would start soon and others
required additional information or technical support for their
ratification process to begin.
 Action: Please issue a press release when the 15th ratification is
done to urge swift ratification. Urge signatories to work to be in the
first 30 ratifications that trigger the Convention‟s entry into force!
Domestic Legislation
Several signatories must pass legislation to implement the Convention
on Cluster Munitions before they can ratify. Australia has received
submissions and held a public hearing, but implementing legislation
has not yet been introduced. In Canada, ratification is proceeding
slower than hoped in part because implementing legislation has not yet
been introduced. Denmark is working on draft legislation that should
be introduced soon. In New Zealand, the Cluster Munitions Prohibition
Bill was introduced in the parliament on 21 July and debated for the
first time on 28 July, but is unlikely to be passed until October/
November. South Africa is preparing legislation to ratify the
Convention. In Sweden, various stakeholders including NGOs have been
asked to provide submissions in response to a draft memorandum on
ratification before a bill is introduced to parliament next year.
France‟s national implementing law should be passed in early 2010, but
the ratification law is separate and should be completed in the next
couple of months. In the UK, campaigners and parliamentarians met on
16 July to discuss ratification legislation that the Minister said
should be introduced as soon as possible after the Queen‟s Speech on
18 November. If the bill is uncontroversial and moves swiftly it could
be law by the end of 2009 or February 2010.
On 23 June, Human Rights Watch issued a new briefing paper that looks
at how states are interpreting the „prohibition on assist‟ and
provisions on interoperability (Article 21). A new CMC group of legal
experts has been established to provide swift, in-depth review of
draft domestic legislation.
 Action: Please share information on the status of legislation in
your country. See the new HRW briefing “Staying True to the Ban on
Cluster Munitions” - http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/06/22/staying-true-ban-cluster-munitions
Past Events – Dushanbe regional workshop, 7-8 July 2009
On 7-8 July Tajikistan hosted the Dushanbe Workshop on Achieving a
Mine-Free Central Asia. Throughout the workshop civil society
representatives engaged with governments to also promote signature and
ratification of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (Afghanistan is
the only country from the region that has signed the Convention). Both
Afghanistan and Tajikistan are affected by cluster munitions.
Upcoming Events – CCW, Chile, New York, Senegal, Albania, Indonesia
CCW, 17-21 August: Mr. Gustavo Ainchil of Argentina, the Chair of the
Group of Governmental Experts on cluster munitions is undertaking this
week of additional informal consultations to seek agreement on a new
Protocol. Little is known at this stage about the state of play of
these efforts and whether there are realistic prospects for agreement.
CMC is pushing to prevent the adoption of a protocol that would roll
back the very strict obligations and standards set by the Convention
on Cluster Munitions.
South Africa, 9-11 September: This regional workshop on the Mine Ban
Treaty will take place in Johannesburg and a regional meeting on
cluster munitions may take place on 8 September.
Chile, 14-15 September: The government is working with UNDP to set up
a sponsorship program for this meeting for all Latin American and
Caribbean states. The CMC has some sponsorship funds to bring
campaigners to the meeting.
Albania, 8-9 October: This regional Mine Ban Treaty workshop in Tirana
will also include the three Caucuses countries (Georgia, Armenia and
Azerbaijan). Campaigners are also discussing how best to promote the
Convention on Cluster Munitions at the time of this regional workshop.
New York, October (tentative): There have been preliminary discussions
between CMC and the UN about holding an event in New York at the
United Nations during the First (Disarmament) Committee‟s
deliberations in October 2009 to promote universalisation of the
Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Senegal, early November: This annual meeting for heads of the mine
action departments in francophone Africa is supported by GICHD, which
would like to incorporate discussion on the Convention on Cluster
Munitions.
Indonesia, November (tentative): In June 2009, Indonesia announced
that it would hold a regional conference on cluster munitions in Bali
to promote universalization of the Convention in the Asia Pacific
region, where few countries have signed. Precise dates and further
information on this conference is not available at this stage and we
will keep you posted.
Colombia, 30 November-4 December: The Second Review Conference of the
Mine Ban Treaty represents a very useful opportunity to engage with
governments on signature and ratification of the Convention on Cluster
Munitions.
 Action: Let us know if your government is holding an event on
Convention on Cluster Munitions and get in touch with CMC staff for
more info on these planned events.
Please let us know if you have any questions or any news to add for
the next universalisation campaign update…
Status of the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions
98 Signatories:
Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Benin,
Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso,
Burundi, Canada, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile,
Colombia, Comoros, DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Cook Islands, Costa
Rica, Côte d`Ivoire, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, El
Salvador, Fiji, France, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, Guinea,
Guinea Bissau, The Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia,
Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kenya, Lao PDR, Lebanon, Lesotho,
Liberia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Madagascar , Malawi,
Mali, Malta, Mexico, Republic of
Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Mozambique, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands,
New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Palau, Panama,
Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Rwanda, Samoa, San Marino, Sao
Tomé and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, Somalia, South
Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of
Macedonia, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland, United Republic of Tanzania, Uruguay, Zambia.
14 Ratifications:
Albania, Austria, Germany, Holy See, Ireland, Japan, Lao PDR,
Luxembourg, Mexico, Niger, Norway, San Marino, Sierra Leone, Spain
.

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