OsloCityHallGovernments gather in Norway to sign global treaty

(Oslo, Norway) Heads of State, Foreign Ministers and senior government representatives from around the world are this week gathering in Oslo, Norway to sign a new international treaty prohibiting cluster bombs.  The Convention on Cluster Munitions will be opened for signature on 3 December, the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and anniversary of the 1997 signing of treaty banning antipersonnel landmines.

New Zealand will sign this agreement, but has indicated that the new Minister for Disarmament and Arms Control Hon. Georgina te Heuheu will not be signing on New Zealand’s behalf.  Instead Geneva-based Ambassador Don MacKay will join Foreign Ministers from countries affected by cluster bombs (such as Laos) as well as treaty leaders Norway, Austria, Ireland, and Mexico, in being the first to ink the new treaty during the high-profile opening ceremony on 3 December at 10:00am in Oslo (10.00pm NZ time)

New Zealand disarmament expert Ms Mary Wareham, coordinator of the Aotearoa New Zealand Cluster Munition Coalition, will represent New Zealand civil society at this historic event.  The ANZCMC is a network of over 20 non-government organisations and member of the international campaign that spurred governments to embrace the ban on cluster bombs.  In February 2008, the ANZCMC played a key role in supporting the government to host a crucial international disarmament meeting in Wellington to secure support for the treaty.

Wareham has been in Oslo for the past month preparing the Signing Conference, which will be attended by 250 campaigners from 75 countries including cluster bomb victims and deminers from Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Laos, Lebanon, and Serbia.  The Signing Conference will take place in Oslo City Hall, location for the annual Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony.

  • For more information contact Mary Wareham, ANZCMC, +64-21-996-905 or +47-922-146-02, wareham@hrw.org
  • FTP packages - Raw material in IMX and DV PAL format including footage of country representatives signing the Convention, stock shots and background material is available from www.osloccm.no/media
  • Hi-res Photos from the Signing Conference
  • Download ANZCMC Press Advisory, 1 December 2008
  • Official website for Oslo Signing Conference: http://www.osloccm.no/

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