LONDON Green MEP Jean Lambert has called for a new international treaty banning the use of cluster bombs after UN children's bureau UNICEF said they had caused more than 1000 child injuries since the US declared an end to hostilities in Iraq.
"Cluster bombs are indiscriminate and deadly. The bomblets they disperse act exactly as landmines, which were banned under the Landmine Ban Treaty six years ago this week," said Mrs Lambert.
"Each bomblet can lie undiscovered for years before being accidentally exploded by civilian disturbance. Children are particularly prone to injury, as the bomblets are often brightly coloured and attractive to children searching for war souvenirs.
"The
UK claims to be committed to eradication landmines, yet it continues to use cluster
bombs. It must use this anniversary - and the shocking number of child casualties
in Iraq - to end their use and promote a new
international treaty banning their
use once and for all."
Mrs Lambert pledged to champion a new international treaty banning cluster bombs at the European Parliament.
"With over 200,000 people being killed or maimed each year through the continued use of indiscriminate weapons, we need a new international law dealing with all weapons with potential to cause humanitarian problems similar to those posed by landmines."
ENDS
Note to Editors
The International Landmine Ban Treaty was signed in December
1997. For more information see www.landmineaction.org
For
more information please contact Ben Duncan on 020 7407 6280, 07973 823358 or at
press@greenmeps.org.uk