Legislation which will allow New Zealand to ratify the
international Convention on Cluster Munitions passed its
first reading in Parliament tonight.
The Cluster Munitions (Prohibition) Bill forbids the use,
acquisition, possession, retention and transfer of the
weapons.
Cluster bombs are canisters dropped from aircraft that open
above ground and release large numbers of small bomblets.
Many do not explode on impact and remain lethal for years,
killing or maiming civilians.
Disarmament and Arms Control Minister Georgina te Heuheu is
in charge of the bill and said the convention had the
greatest potential to prevent the harm caused by the weapons.
"New Zealand was one of the leaders of the process to
negotiate a convention to ban cluster munitions and provide
assistance to victims of them," she said.
"We now need to get our own legislation in order."
