Disarmament, the UN way…
3rd Nov 2009 | Filed Under Coalition Actions, NZ Government
During October 2009, the basement of the United Nations in New York hummed with activity as diplomats tackle disarmament and international security issues during the annual session of the UN’s First Committee. The ANZCMC Coordinator Mary Wareham was there on behalf of Human Rights Watch to help promote the treaties banning landmines and cluster munitions. Her report follows, while a PDF version is available for download here. Read more
Explosive Investments Report
2nd Nov 2009 | Filed Under Coalition Actions, Divestment, NZ Government
On 29 October 2009, campaigners in Europe launched a call for governments to stem the flow of money to cluster munition producers operating in countries that have not joined the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) is calling on all governments unilaterally ban the funding of cluster munition production, calling the weapon “morally and commercially unviable.” Read more
Productive week at United Nations
27th Sep 2009 | Filed Under NZ Government
The Convention on Cluster Munitions reached its milestone 100 signatory this week at the opening of the 64th United Nations General Assembly in New York. World leaders signed, ratified, and promoted the Convention in their addresses the general debate of the sixty-fourth session, which is scheduled to conclude on 30 September 2009. Read more
Parliamentary Testimony: Ban ‘em Now!
24th Sep 2009 | Filed Under Coalition Actions, Legislation, NZ Government
On Thursday, 24 September 2009, the campaign appeared before a parliamentary committee to speak in support of draft legislation to govern New Zealand’s implementation of the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. Read more
Parliament debates cluster bomb ban
28th Jul 2009 | Filed Under Legislation, NZ Government
On the afternoon/evening of Tuesday 28 July 2009, the Cluster Munitions Prohibition Bill was debated by the New Zealand parliament for the first time. Minister of Disarmament and Arms Control, Hon. Georgina Te Heuheu, introduced the Bill and recommended the House follow the recommendation by the Foreign Affairs and Defence (FADT) Select Committee that the Bill be “expeditiously” passed. The proposed law to implement the Convention on Cluster Munitions must be passed before New Zealand can complete ratification of the Convention. Read more
Parliament starts to act on cluster bombs
2nd Jul 2009 | Filed Under Coalition Actions, Legislation, NZ Government
Parliament’s Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee met twice in May 2009 to consider the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. It issued a “treaty examination” report recommending that the Minister of Disarmament “expeditiously” progress a bill through the House to implement the treaty domestically. The annexed National Interest Analysis (NIA) prepared by MFAT provides some recommendations on content for the proposed “Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill,” which will be “broadly similar” to the Anti-Personnel Mines Prohibition Act 1998 that implemented the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. Read more