ICBL-CMC at First Committee 2024

The International Campaign to Ban Landmines - Cluster Munition Coalition (ICBL-CMC) is participating in the 79th session of the First Committee at the United Nations in New York. This annual gathering, held from 7 October to 8 November 2024, addresses critical disarmament and international security issues.

ICBL-CMC campaigners are actively engaged in this year’s session, delivering statements on the need to foster universal respect for the bans on landmines and cluster munitions, while also conducting crucial behind-the-scenes advocacy. Their interventions remind states that the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions are vital pillars of humanitarian disarmament worldwide.

Speaking on behalf of ICBL, Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan condemned the alarming resurgence of antipersonnel mine use, particularly by Russia and Myanmar. He urged states to reaffirm their commitments to the Mine Ban Treaty and called on the remaining 33 states to join the treaty ahead of the upcoming Review Conference in Siem Reap.

Similarly, Ayman Sorour, representing CMC, emphasized the urgent need to eliminate cluster munitions and prevent further casualties. His statement highlighted the CMC’s condemnation of Lithuania’s recent decision to withdraw from the convention, and called for an end to all use of cluster munitions by any actor under any circumstances.

The ICBL-CMC continues to call on all states to join these humanitarian disarmament treaties and vote in favor of the annual UN General Assembly resolutions supporting both conventions. For further details, you can access the statements through the links below.