DRC attends the 13th Meeting of State Parties of the Convention on Cluster Munitions

It has been 15 years since the Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force, with 123 states now signatories, and 42 years since the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons was adopted.  

Conflict is one of the main drivers of displacement and humanitarian needs and negatively impacts and delays recovery and development. Despite the success of the conventions in terms of creating a stigma against the use of these indiscriminate weapons and the potential and difference they have made in terms of saving lives, the world is seeing an increased use of weapons and more conflict-induced instability and violations of international norms.  

DRC’s active participation at these meetings ensures that good practices as well as operational challenges inform the discussions between affected state parties and donors. 

The Cluster Munition Monitor 2025, published last week, reports 314 casualties from cluster munitions in 9 countries over the past year, all civilians, of whom 42% were children. Cluster munitions affect wide areas, can remain unexploded for decades, and threaten livelihoods long after conflict ends. In countries like Iraq, Ukraine, and South Sudan, DRC and its national partners are witnesses of the threat that cluster munition and other explosive ordnance remnants represent for populations during conflict, as well as in the longer term. 

In this context, the Meeting of State Parties of the Convention on Cluster Munitions  took place from the 16th to 19th of September in Geneva to review implementation progress of the Convention. DRC shared its first-hand experience during the discussions and informal exchanges with partners in Geneva and reminded member states regarding the importance to uphold these life-saving norms. 

Moreover, DRC was also invited to present at the Meeting of Experts of the High Contracting Parties to Protocol V of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons on its victim assistance programming in Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Ukraine, and Yemen. Lisa Mueller-Dormann, Technical Advisor on Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding emphasized the importance of coordination across humanitarian actors, localisation through equal partnerships and accurate data collection. DRC’s work also highlights the need for flexibility to respond in emergencies, supported by mechanisms that ensure interventions are effectively planned, integrated, and delivered. 

Through its contributions to both CCM and CCW meetings, DRC demonstrates the value of field experience in informing international efforts to protect civilians and assist those affected by explosive remnants of war.