Cluster Munition Monitor 2011
Support for Mine Action
© Nora Sheets/West Virginia Campaign to Ban Landmines, 3 December 2010
US campaigners celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Under Article 6 of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, each State Party “has the right to seek and receive assistance” to ensure implementation of the convention’s obligations, including those to destroy stockpiled cluster munitions within eight years, clear areas contaminated by cluster munition remnants within 10 years, and provide victim assistance. States Parties “in a position to do so” are obligated to provide technical, material, and financial assistance to implement these measures.
From a survey of donor activities by 28 governments and the European Commission (EC), the Monitor has identified 12 donors that made cluster munition-specific contributions in 2010 totaling US$20.52 million. However, this certainly does not represent the full extent of global support provided worldwide to eliminate cluster munitions and help victims.
Several donor states are unable to break down expenditures on cluster munition-related activities.[1] The Monitor has not included funding that cannot be disaggregated specifically for cluster munition-related activities.[2] In June 2011, Australia stated “it is difficult, in many circumstances, to distinguish between the provision and utilisation of our funding for work in relation to cluster munitions, landmines and other explosive remnants of war.”[3] Funding for the clearance of cluster munition remnants and unexploded submunitions is often undertaken as part of mine action, including mine clearance, explosive ordnance disposal, and battle area clearance. Likewise, victim assistance is usually provided through a larger framework than the convention.
Contributions
In 2010, 11 states and the EC reported contributions toward cluster munition-related activities valued at US$20.52 million. Eight of the donors are States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions and the other three states had signed, but not ratified, as of 25 August 2011. Contributions from both Norway and the EC made up more than half (56%) of the total funding contributions.
International cluster munition-related contributions in 2010[4]
|
Donor |
Amount |
Amount ($) |
Activity |
|
Norway |
NOK35,626,259 |
5,893,411 |
Clearance, victim assistance, stockpile destruction, advocacy |
|
EC |
€ 4,280,282 |
5,676,082 |
Clearance |
|
Germany |
€ 1,979,806 |
2,625,421 |
Clearance, advocacy |
|
Switzerland |
CHF1,960,000 |
1,878,834 |
Victim assistance, clearance, advocacy |
|
Spain |
€ 1,025,492 |
1,359,905 |
Clearance, stockpile destruction, advocacy |
|
Ireland |
€ 996,400 |
1,321,326 |
Stockpile destruction, advocacy |
|
New Zealand |
NZ$1,140,000 |
822,624 |
Clearance, advocacy |
|
Australia |
A$560,381 |
515,551 |
Clearance, advocacy |
|
Belgium |
€ 150,000 |
198,915 |
Clearance, advocacy, victim assistance |
|
Austria |
€ 65,000 |
86,197 |
Advocacy |
|
Canada |
C$74,981 |
72,811 |
Advocacy |
|
France |
€ 50,000 |
66,305 |
Advocacy |
|
Total |
N/A |
20,517,382 |
Note: Bold indicate States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Just over three-quarters of total recorded international cluster munition-related contributions in 2010 went towards clearance activities. Eleven donors reported US$3.2 million for advocacy activities aimed at promoting the universalization and implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.[5]
International cluster munition-related contributions in 2010
|
Sector |
Amount |
% of total contribution |
|
Clearance |
15,827,911 |
77.14 |
|
Advocacy |
3,193,241 |
15.56 |
|
Victim assistance |
1,286,109 |
6.27 |
|
Stockpile destruction |
210,121 |
1.03 |
|
Total |
20,517,382 |
100 |
Recipients
Eight states and the EC reported contributing $17.82 million for cluster munition-related activities in six countries: three States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (Lao PDR, Lebanon, and Moldova) and three non-signatories (Georgia, Serbia, and Vietnam).[6] These contributions were made through international NGOs, UN agencies including UNDP, and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). There were no bilateral or direct contributions reported.
Lebanon and Lao PDR received 72% of all reported cluster munition-specific donor contributions. More than half (58%) of the contributions for Lao PDR in 2010 were made via the Cluster Munitions Trust Fund for Lao PDR.[7]
Recipients of international cluster munition-related contributions: 2010[8]
|
Recipient |
Amount ($) |
Donor |
Sector |
|
Lebanon |
9,324,441 |
Australia, Norway, Spain, EC |
Clearance |
|
Lao PDR |
5,451,714 |
Belgium, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Switzerland |
Clearance, victim assistance |
|
Global |
2,700,851 |
Australia, Austria, Canada, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Switzerland |
Victim assistance, advocacy |
|
Serbia |
1,588,063 |
Norway |
Clearance |
|
Vietnam |
1,242,192 |
Germany |
Clearance |
|
Moldova |
143,816 |
Norway, Spain |
Stockpile destruction |
|
Georgia |
66,305 |
Ireland |
Stockpile destruction |
|
Total |
20,517,382 |
|
[1] Of the 34 States Parties that have submitted an initial Article 7 report, 12 included information on their funding and other contributions specifically for cluster munition-related activities. Fifteen donors provided a comprehensive response to a Monitor questionnaire and five others provided partial information.
[2] For example, it does not include a C$1 million contribution by Canada for “humanitarian mine clearance” in Lao PDR, even though the funds were intended to support Lao PDR’s implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. Canada Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 Report, Form J, 30 April 2011.
[3] Statement of Australia, Convention on Cluster Munitions Intersessional Meetings, Session on Cooperation and Assistance, Geneva, 29 June 2011.
[4] Average exchange rates for 2010: US$1=NOK6.0451; €1=US$1.3261; US$1=CHF1.0432; NZ$1=US$0.7216; A$1=US$0.92; and US$1=C$1.0298. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 6 January 2011.
[5] Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland.
[6] The eight states that reported cluster munitions-related contributions to specific states in 2010 were: Australia, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland.
[7] Australia, Belgium, Canada, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, and Switzerland reported contributions to the fund in 2010.
[8] The breakdown of funds by activity for Lao PDR was: clearance ($3,010,165), victim assistance ($1,054,448), advocacy ($724,051), and stockpile destruction ($663,050). The global contribution went towards advocacy activities with the exception of $198,508 for victim assistance activities. Ireland provided €50,000 ($66,305) to the OSCE to destroy 1,085 units of RBK-250 and RBK-500 aircraft cluster bombs in Georgia. Ireland Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form I, 27 January 2011. Average exchange rate for 2010: €1=US$1.3261. US Federal Reserve, “List of Exchange Rates (Annual),” 6 January 2011.