Context: Lithuania quit an international convention banning cluster bombs, citing security concerns over neighbouring Russia in a move that has drawn criticism from human rights groups.
Background:
- NATO member Lithuania has said it wants to strengthen its defences following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fearing it could be next if Moscow succeeds.
Key takeaways
- The Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) is an international treaty that prohibits the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster bombs, which pose severe risks to civilians.
Key Features of the Convention
- Adoption: 30 May 2008 in Dublin, Ireland.
- Entry into Force: 1 August 2010 (after 30 countries ratified it).
- Signatories: 123 countries (as of 2023), but major powers like the USA, Russia, China, and India have not signed.
- Main Provisions:
- Total Ban on cluster munitions.
- Stockpile Destruction within 8 years.
- Clearance of Affected Areas within 10 years.
- Assistance to Victims (healthcare, rehabilitation, and reintegration).
Why Cluster Munitions are Controversial?
- Wide Area Effect: Cluster bombs release multiple submunitions over large areas, causing indiscriminate damage.
- Failure Rate: Unexploded bomblets become de facto landmines, harming civilians for decades.
- Humanitarian Crisis: Countries like Laos, Vietnam, Syria, and Ukraine suffer from past cluster munition use.
India’s Stand on CCM
- Not a Signatory: India has not signed or ratified the CCM.
- Reasons for Non-Signature:
- Believes in the legitimate defense use of cluster munitions.
- Calls for a balance between security and humanitarian concerns.
- Reluctant to accept legally binding disarmament treaties without universal participation (as major powers like the USA and Russia are not part of it).
Source: The Hindu