Mexico chairs 12th Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions

Mexico Chairs 12th Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions

• The meeting aims to assess CCM implementation, prevent the severe humanitarian consequences of these weapons, and continue their eradication

The 12th Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) opened today with Mexico as chair. Francisca Méndez Escobar, Mexico's representative to the United Nations (UN) Mission in Geneva, is leading the proceedings.

The meeting brings together 112 States Parties, observer States, regional organizations and civil society groups. Its aim is to evaluate CCM implementation, prevent the weapons' severe humanitarian consequences, and continue their eradication.

Mexico set forth four priority areas for the meeting: advancing global adoption of the convention, risk prevention education; identifying victim care and rehabilitation best practices, and showcasing the convention's achievements.

As chair, Mexico reaffirms its commitment to humanitarian disarmament and peace. The Mexican government was one of the main proponents of the CCM and advocates for the total elimination of these weapons, opposes their increased production and transfer, and calls for assistance for the victims of cluster munitions.

The CCM is an international treaty that bans all use, production, stockpiling, and transfer of cluster munitions. Member States must destroy their stockpiles within eight years and clear contaminated areas within ten years. It also acknowledges the rights of those impacted by cluster munitions and requires nations to provide support to affected individuals and communities.

The Convention opened for signature in Oslo, Norway, on December 3, 2008, and entered into force on August 1, 2010. Since then, 100% of all declared munitions have been destroyed, over 700 km² of contaminated land cleared, victim assistance standards developed, and innovative support and cooperation programs for affected communities established.

On behalf of the Mexican government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reaffirms its commitment to prohibiting and eliminating all indiscriminate weapons, and condemns their use by any actor under any circumstances.