(Wellington: 27 October 2008) New Zealand groups have marked the beginning of a global week of action against cluster munitions with the launch of an advertising campaign calling on all governments to ban the weapon and help prevent civilian casualties.

The Aotearoa New Zealand Cluster Munition Coalition (ANZCMC) is displaying 50 Adshel posters at locations in Auckland and Wellington for the next two weeks.  The posters urge all countries to sign the newly created treaty that prohibits cluster munitions and providing support to people affected by the weapon. In one month’s time, the treaty will be opened for signature.

Foreign ministers and heads of state from more than 100 governments are expected to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo, Norway on 3 December 2008, which is also the international day for persons with disabilities.  The signing ceremony will be one of the most important political events of 2008 witnessed by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, more than a dozen cluster bomb survivors, and 200 campaigners from 70 countries.  Earlier this month New Zealand announced it would sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions in December.  An official may have to sign on the country’s behalf as the next government may not be in place by then due to the 8 November 2008 general election.

As part of the week of action, the ANZCMC is also writing to Wellington-based diplomatic representatives of states that have not yet decided if they will sign the Convention this December, including Brazil, Malaysia, Poland, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The ANZCMC activities are part of a series of actions taking place in 71 countries around the world as part of a Global Week of Action to Ban Cluster Bombs, which begins on 27 October.  The Adshel advertising space has been obtained for free by Auckland-based agency DraftFCB, which has provided pro-bono support to the coalition since November 2007.  When the 1.1 meter x 1.7 meter sized posters are taken down they will be delivered to Oslo as gifts to campaigners to take home and use in their advocacy.

For more information:

• Download ANZCMC Press Release (PDF, 641KB)
• Download List of Adshel Locations (PDF, 615KB)
• Flickr Photos of the Adshel Posters (hi-res)
• Contact ANZCMC Coordinator Mary Wareham
• See actions taken in other countries

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