National Council of Women of NZ Press Release - Wednesday 31 October 2007

WOMEN WANT BOMBLETS BANNED - The National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ) is supporting the New Zealand Government’s campaign for an international treaty on the banning of cluster munitions in 2008.

The major problem for people who live in countries which are plagued by cluster munitions is that each cluster bomb contains hundreds of bomblets and inside each one of them is about 300 pieces of jagged steel, which becomes lethal shrapnel when the bomb explodes.

Figures produced by the United Nations show that in Afghanistan alone, 6,000 people including women and children will either lose their limbs or lives because of cluster bombs or cluster munitions.

“Afghanistan is a very good example of the damage cluster munitions causes. Afghanistan has approximately ten million unexploded bombs because up to 30% of bombs released do not explode on impact. This results in unexploded bombs indiscriminately killing and maiming innocent civilians,” said NCWNZ National President Christine Low.

NCWNZ is urging people to go to hear Australian photographer John Rodsted’s first hand account of the horrific impact that cluster munitions has on countries and the people of these countries.

John Rodsted will be speaking in Christchurch on Thursday 1 November at 5pm, Knox Church Hall, 28 Bealey Avenue. Dunedin Friday 2 November at 7.30pm, Quaker Meeting House, 15 Park Street. Wellington, Tuesday 6 November at 6pm, Capital E Mackenzie Theatre, Civic Square. Auckland Thursday 7 November at 6.30pm, University of Auckland School of Engineering Room 1.439, 20 Symonds Street.

ENDS

Further Information:
Christine Low, National President
Ph: 03 357 8887 or 021 065 5565
National Council of Women of New Zealand (NCWNZ)
PO Box 12 117
Wellington
Email: ncwnz@ihug.co.nz

“Women Influencing Policy”

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