Global prohibition regimes
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Cluster munition is a type explosive weapon, which does not hit its ultimate target directly, but releases or ejects smaller submunitions in order to kill personnel or destroy vehicles. Single cluster munition can hit a wide area with its bomblets, thereby reducing the firepower needed to cover it. While militarily sensible cluster munition is also a matter of substantial humanitarian concern. A large number of submunitions may easily cause collateral damage especially when the weapon is used in densely populated areas. Furthermore, most submunitions are less then hundred percent reliable. Significant number of unexploded ordnance may be left in the affected area later causing death and injury to civilians. These humanitarian concerns led to Oslo process, which culminated in the Convention on Cluster Munitions that bans most cluster munitions.     

Treaties
related with
CMs

Rome Statute 1998

negotiated  June 17, 1998
ratified  July 1, 2002
countries involved  122

CCM 08-10

negotiated  May 30, 2008
ratified  August 1, 2010
countries involved  84
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