| Posted: April 26 2010,12:31 |
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Postal address of organization/institution
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Cluster Munition Coalition, 2nd Floor, 89 Albert Embankment, London, SE1 7TP
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E-mail address of organization/institution
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info@stopclustermunitions.org
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Website address of organization/institution
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http://stopclustermunitions.org
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Telephone of organization/institution
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+44 (0) 207 256 9500
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PRIORITIES: All of the organization's domains of culture of peace activity |
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
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TOP PRIORITY: The organization's most important culture of peace activity |
INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
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PARTNERSHIPS AND NETWORKS: What
partnerships and networks does your organization participate in, thus
strengthening the global movement for a culture of peace? |
The
CMC works through its members to change government policy and practice
on cluster munitions – especially through promoting universal adherence
to and full compliance with the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions –
as well as to raise public awareness of the problem and the ban treaty
through civil society campaigns and the media. Around 350 CMC member
organisations in some 90 countries work on disarmament, peace and
security, human rights, victim/survivor assistance, clearance, women’s
rights, faith issues and other related issues. Members include large
international NGOs such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch
as well as smaller nationally based organisations such as the Swedish
Peace and Arbitration Society and the Afghan Campaign to Ban Landmines.
See the following for full list:
http://stopclustermunitions.org/the-coalition/members
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ACTIONS: What activities have
been undertaken by your organization to promote a culture of peace and
nonviolence during the ten years of the Decade? If you already made a
report in 2005, your information from 2005 will be included in the 2010
report.
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2003
Nov.
13 The Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC) is launched in The Hague,
Netherlands at a conference hosted by Pax Christi Netherlands.
Dec. 11 HRW launches report, Off Target: The Conduct of the War and Civilian Casualties in Iraq
2004
Mar.
82 NGO participants from 21 countries gather at a CMC campaign workshop
hosted by DanChurchAid on the margins of a conference on cluster
munitions in the Danish Parliament.
2005
Pax Christi Netherlands launches report, Cluster Weapons: Necessity or Convenience?
April.
Following a joint briefing by Human Rights Watch, Netwerk Vlaanderen,
the Norwegian Petroleum Fund and Handicap International (HI) Belgium,
Senator Mahoux introduces a bill into the Belgian parliament that bans
“fragmentation bombs”. The bill is amended to ban “submunitions”.
Fall
HI Belgium mobilizes in Belgium to support the parliamentary process to
ban cluster munitions. CMC campaigners support efforts through a global
letter writing campaign to Belgian parliamentarians.
2006
Feb. 16 Belgian parliament passes first national law in the world banning cluster munitions.
Aug. 30 CMC hosts a CCW (Convention on Conventional Weapons) briefing on the impact of cluster munitions in Lebanon.
Pax Christi Netherlands launches report, Cluster Weapons: Necessity or Convenience?
Nov. 8-9 CMC hosts an international meeting for campaigners in Geneva.
2007
Feb. 22 Landmine Action launches report, Cluster Munitions in Kosovo: Analysis of use, contamination and casualties.
Feb. 28 Netwerk Vlaanderen issues report, Explosive Investments, Financial Institutions and Cluster Munitions.
Feb.
22-23 Norway hosts the Oslo Conference on Cluster Munitions, where 46
states agree an “Oslo Declaration” committing them to conclude an
international treaty on cluster munitions in 2008.
May Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) launches report, Yellow Killers: The impact of cluster munitions in Serbia and Montenegro.
May
Handicap International Belgium launches report, Circle of Impact: The
Fatal Footprint of Cluster Munitions on People and Communities.
Nov. 5 The CMC calls its first Global Day of Action to Ban Cluster Bombs, in which campaigners in 40 countries take action.
2008
Feb. 16 HRW launches report, Flooding South Lebanon: Israel’s Use of Cluster Munitions in Lebanon in July and August 2008.
Apr. 19 The second Global Day of Action to Ban Cluster Bombs is held, with actions taken by campaigners in 53 countries.
May
30 A total of 107 states adopt the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions
on the final day of the Dublin negotiations. The CMC and Mines Action
Canada launch the “People’s Treaty” petition.
Aug. 13 CMC
members hold candlelight vigils and other actions to mark the second
year since the cluster bombing of South Lebanon.
Aug-Sep. CMC members protest Georgia and Russia’s use of cluster bombs in South Ossetia.
Oct. 1 The ‘Ban Bus’ begins its eight-week-long awareness-raising journey from Belgrade to Oslo.
Oct. 27 The CMC calls its first Global Week of Action to Ban Cluster Bombs, in which campaigners in 74 countries take action.
Oct. 29-30 A European Faith Leaders Conference on Cluster Munitions is held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Dec.
3-4 Norway hosts the Oslo Signing Conference for the Convention on
Cluster Munitions, attended by 122 states. A total of 94 states sign
the Convention in Oslo in front of a CMC delegation of 250 campaigners.
2009
Mar. 10 Norwegian People's Aid launches report, The Impact of unexploded cluster munitions in Serbia.
Apr. 14 Human Rights Watch launches report, A Dying Practice: Use of Cluster Munitions by Russia and Georgia in August 2008.
May
1 Cluster bomb survivor Branislav Kapetanovic accepts the Tipperary
International Peace Award in Ireland on behalf of the CMC.
May
29 Landmine Action and Human Rights Watch launch report published by
Landmine Monitor, Banning Cluster Munitions: Government Policy and
Practice.
May 29 The CMC calls its second Global Week of Action Against Cluster Bombs, with campaigners in 58 countries taking action.
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PROGRESS: Has your organization
seen progress toward a culture of peace and nonviolence in your domain
of action and in your constituency during the second half of the
Decade? |
The following is adapted from remarks by CMC Coordinator, Thomas Nash on the lessons learned from the CMC campaign:
In
early 2006 few people believed a ban on clusters was possible, or even
a specific law restricting their use; but less than four years later we
have a global ban treaty signed by 103 countries.
We had to be
ready when progress was difficult to use the time wisely to build
strength and reach of network and depth of case and intellectual
framework
We doubled size of membership between 2003-2006; doubled again from 2007-2008.
Key reports were made by Rappert, Nash, Moyes 2005-2006.
Informal meetings between key players on the NGO, State and IO side took place in early 2006 – building a community of practice.
We took full advantage of opportunities when they arose:
The
Belgium ban process in 2005-06 and use of clusters in Lebanon in 2006
saw significant mobilisation by campaigners, media, researchers, etc.
Once
the opportunity arose we moved fast and kept up the momentum; we had an
external deadline to help keep up the pace. This is crucial in
order to maintain a sense of humanitarian urgency – we are not going to
spend years in negotiations while people are being killed and injured.
The period from the Lebanon conflict to the adoption of CCM was less than two years.
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OBSTACLES: Has your organization faced any obstacles to implementing the culture of peace and nonviolence? If so, what were they?
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Not reported
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PLANS: What new engagements are
planned by your organization in the short, medium and long term to
promote a culture of peace and nonviolence? |
The
following is excerpted from the Action Plan prepared by the Cluster
Munitions Coalition (CMC) for the First Meeting of States Parties on
the Convention on Cluster Munitions December 2009 (updated in March
2010) Cartagena, Colombia.
The CMC views rapid entry into force
and securing further signatures to the Convention on Cluster Munitions
key objectives in advance of the First Meeting of States Parties. The
CMC will call on all governments to participate in the 1MSP. We, as
campaigners, have identified the following objectives:
1) Urge
all signatory countries to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions
and to quickly secure the 30 ratifications needs for entry into force;
2) Push for more governments to sign the Convention;
3) Ensure that Lao PDR holds a successful First Meeting of States Parties (1MSP);
4) Encourage all governments to begin early implementation of the Convention.
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GLOBAL MOVEMENT: How do you think the culture of peace and nonviolence could be strengthened and supported at the world level??
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The
following excerpts from the remarks by CMC Coordinator, Thomas
Nash on the lessons learned from the CMC campaign are quite applicable
to the Global Movement for a Culture of Peace in general:
1.
Believe it’s possible: even when critics and mainstream observers
say the task is impossible, including your allies, it’s crucial to have
leadership that truly believes the goal is achievable and necessary;
without this it’s hard to succeed.
2. Be ready: when progress is
difficult use the time wisely to build strength and reach of network
and depth of case and intellectual framework; take full advantage of
opportunities when they arise.
3. Move fast: once the
opportunity arises, move fast and keep up the momentum; have an
external deadline to help keep up the pace; with momentum you can
foster a sense of inevitability of the outcome, stay on the front foot
and keep opponents on the back foot.
4. Dominate the data:
Important not to overstate the case, a conservative picture of the case
is bad enough, don’t give opponents any openings to attack you work
with.
5. Set the terms of the debate: not necessary to win an
argument you are presented with; better to reframe the problem in a way
that gives you the upper hand.
6. Constant focus on the human
impact: maintain a human focus in your arguments, communications,
representatives, materials; this makes it possible to keep the standard
high and challenge others to reach it, rather than lowering the bar to
allow others to meet it.
7. Leadership from those directly affected
8. Build a powerful coalition by being:
* Coordinated: have a common message that every member feels compelled to promote based on their own values and interests
* Diverse: across regions, linguistic groups, cultures, interest groups, gender balance, etc.
*
Inclusive: listen to the voices of the members; have a link between the
membership and the governance / leadership; be driven by the members
*
'Affiliative': leadership should foster a sense of belonging by
understanding the interests, approaches and contexts of members,
promoting shared interests, rather than laying down the approach for
all members to follow
* Cooperative: coalitions should share the work and use the skills of the different member organisations and individuals
9.
Foster strategic partnerships: key individuals from States and
International Organisations; forge partnerships with parliamentarians,
faith leaders, academics, journalists, other interest groups; Recognise
the importance of individuals, personalities and relationships –
sometimes the personal relationship is more important than the policy.
10.
Do a lot with a little: CMC budget was quite small: only one fulltime
staff person until beginning of 2007, now five fulltime; never had
budget for mass public mobilisation so focused on supporting members
(including small grants) and maximising strategic moments like key
conferences, etc.
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