Help Ban Cluster Bombs Now!

The Cluster Munition Coalition, in collaboration with Mines Action Canada, launched the People’s Treaty on 30 May 2008 – the final day of the Dublin Diplomatic Conference on Cluster Munitions after the 107 participating states negotiated and unanimously adopted the new treaty.

Following this, the treaty was opened for signature at the signing conference in Oslo, Norway on 3 and 4 December 2008. 94 governments signed the new treaty, and as well as signing the treaty, 4 countries ratified it at the same time. The treaty can now be signed and ratified at the United Nations in New York.

The campaign is now calling on all states that signed the treaty to ratify it to make it legally binding on that country. Also, 30 countries must ratify the treaty for it to ‘enter into force’ and become a legally-binding international instrument. We are also encouraging all states that have not yet signed the Convention to sign and ratify it as soon as possible.

Ten years ago on 3 December 1997 in Ottawa, Mines Action Canada (MAC), in collaboration with campaigners from around the world, launched the first “People’s Treaty”. While inside the conference hall 122 governments signed the historic Mine Ban Treaty banning antipersonnel mines, outside ordinary citizens demonstrated their personal commitment by signing the People’s Treaty.

The People’s Treaty was born out of the tremendous ground-swell of support from citizens around the world who wanted to stop the suffering caused by antipersonnel landmines. The People’s Treaty provided a vehicle for ordinary people to also “sign” the treaty committing themselves’ to ensuring the goals of the Mine Ban Treaty are realized and ensuring their government meets its obligations. Since that time, the People’s Treaty has received hundreds of thousands of signatures from all over the globe and provided a vehicle for the International Campaign to Ban Landmines to engage the public, generate media attention and put pressure on governments.

There are two ways to sign the treaty! As an individual citizen or as a community leader representing a group, constituency, congregation or organization.  On this website, you will find all the information you need to sign the treaty; promote it to friends, colleagues, schools, and like-minded groups. Tools to organize activities and educate yourself or others on the issue are also available.

Anyone can sign the People’s Treaty and everyone should. All signatures count!

It is now time to collectively ensure history is made again.  Be a part of history in the making!