About Us
Our Research Products
Philippines
Cluster Munition Ban Policy
Commitment to the Convention on Cluster Munitions
|
Convention on Cluster Munitions status |
Signatory |
|
Participation in Convention on Cluster Munitions meetings |
Attended global conferences in Berlin in June 2009 and Santiago in June 2010, as well as a regional meeting in Bali in November 2009 |
|
Key developments |
Ratification process underway |
Policy
The Republic of the Philippines signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo on 3 December 2008. In June 2010 at the International Conference on the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Santiago, Chile, the Philippines stated that it hoped that it would complete its ratification process prior to the First Meeting of States Parties in November 2010.[1]
In November 2009, at the Regional Conference on the Promotion and Universalization of the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Bali, Indonesia, the Philippines stated that it was working to complete domestic procedures to ratify the convention, which involved several government ministries.[2] In March 2009, the Philippines stated that it “is undergoing internal procedures leading to the possible ratification” of the convention.[3]
The Philippines has continued to demonstrate strong interest in the convention. In addition to the Bali regional and Santiago international conferences, it participated in the Berlin Conference on the Destruction of Cluster Munitions in June 2009.
The Philippines joined the Oslo Process in December 2007 and participated in the international treaty preparatory conferences in Vienna and Wellington, as well as the formal negotiations in Dublin in May 2008. It was a strong proponent of the most comprehensive convention possible, and made several proposals that were agreed by the negotiators.[4]
The Philippines is party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW), but has not yet ratified Protocol V on explosive remnants of war. The Philippines has participated in CCW deliberations on cluster munitions in recent years but made few statements.
The Philippines has stated that it “is not a user, producer, stockpiler or supplier of cluster munitions.”[5] The Philippines has also stated that it “has no intention to assist, encourage or induce any state, group or individual to engage in any of the prohibited activities.”[6]
[1] Statement of the Philippines, International Conference on the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Santiago, 7 June 2010. Notes by AOAV/HRW.
[2] Statement of the Philippines, Regional Conference on the Promotion and Universalization of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Bali, 17 November 2009. Notes by AOAV.
[3] Letter from Leslie B. Gatan, Charge d’affaires, Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the UN in New York, 2 March 2009.
[4] For detail on the Philippines’ policy and practice regarding cluster munitions through early 2009, see Human Rights Watch and Landmine Action, Banning Cluster Munitions: Government Policy and Practice (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada, May 2009), pp. 144–145.
[5] Letter from Leslie B. Gatan, Permanent Mission of the Philippines to the UN in New York, 2 March 2009. The Philippines reiterated this during the Regional Conference on the Promotion and Universalization of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Bali, 17 November 2009. Notes by AOAV.
[6] Ibid.
Send us your feedback on this profile
Send the Monitor your feedback by filling out this form. Responses will be channeled to editors, but will not be available online. Click if you would like to send an attachment. If you are using webmail, send attachments to .