Lao PDR

Ms Sonam Yangchen Rana, UN Resident Coordinator and Mdm Onechanh Thammavong, the Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, are viewing one of the many the exhibition booths in the event. Here, UXO Lao presenting their work. Photo: UNDP Lao PDR/Inka Leisma

Hundreds of people gathered together in Vientiane on Sunday morning, 1 August, to celebrate the entry into force of the historic Convention on Cluster  Munitions. The celebrations started with giving alms to the monks at 7am, and after that, trucks full of drummers driving around town, beating the drum to ban cluster munitions. The celebration took place at the International Cooperation and Training Center (ICTC), where the trucks also arrived at 8am.

"The Convention on Cluster Munitions is a humanitarian instrument that protects human being. Therefore, this convention has gained a broader support from many countries worldwide. To date, 107 countries signed and 37 states ratified", said H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Minister continued emphasizing the importance of the upcoming First Meeting of States Parties, to be organised 9-12 November in Vientiane."This Meeting is extremely crucial for the implementation of the Oslo Convention, as it will determine directions and adopt practical measures including mechanisms for the implementation of the Convention."

In addition to the formal speeches, the audience was shown a video on the cluster munitions problem in Lao PDR. Many cluster bomb survivors were present at  the event. Audience got the possibility to test a wheelchair, play games, see traditional dancing and get more information on cluster munitions from the various exhibition booths that were set up.

Many UXO survivors took part in the event. Photo: UNDP Lao PDR/Inka Leisma

In the beginning of her speech, Ms Sonam Yangchen Rana, UN Resident Coordinator, quoted the statement made by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on the entry into force of the Convention.

"This new instrument is a major advance for the global disarmament and humanitarian agendas, and will help us to counter the widespread insecurity and suffering caused by these terrible weapons, particularly among civilians and children. I am particularly pleased that the Convention, which prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster weapons, enters into force in little more than two years since its adoption. This highlights not only the world’s collective revulsion at these abhorrent weapons, but also the power of collaboration among Governments, civil society and the United Nations to change attitudes and policies on a threat faced by all humankind. Such cooperation will be crucial as we seek now to implement the Convention, including through assistance to victims. The First Meeting of States Parties will be held in November 2010 in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, a country that has suffered tremendously from the impact of cluster munitions. I encourage all Member States to participate in this meeting to demonstrate their support for the Convention. And I call on those States which have yet to accede to the Convention, to do so without delay."

Several exhibition booths had remainders of cluster bombs for display. Photo: UNDP Lao PDR/Inka Leisma

The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) has since 2003 worked as a global network of civil society organisations and cluster bomb survivors. CMC campaigners held events in around 75 countries on all continents, including the co-organised event in Vientiane, to mark the Convention’s entry into force and “beat the drum to ban cluster bombs.” 

Watch a video on cluster munitions

We will soon post a video from the event!

Remarks by Ms Sonam Yangchen Rana, UN Resident Coordinator (pdf)

Remarks by H.E. Dr. Thongloun Sisoulith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs (pdf)