The Convention on Cluster Munitions - which prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions - came into force on 1 August, just 21 months after it was opened for signature. Its provisions are now legally binding on the first 30 states that ratified the Convention and will take effect in the remaining eight states that have done so (including the UK) six months after the date on which they ratified.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said ""this new instrument is a major advance for the global disarmament and humanitarian agendas, and will help us to counter the widespread insecurity and suffering cause by these terrible weapons, particularly among civilians and children"".
States Parties will gather in Vientiane, Laos, in early November this year to set out an action plan for implementing the convention and procedures for regular monitoring of progress.
UNA-UK and its partners worked hard to push for this treaty and welcome its entry into force.
