Religions for Peace

 Message from the Secretary General on Cluster Munitions 

8 December 2008

Dear Religions for Peace Colleagues:

Please permit me to extend appreciation to the senior religious leaders and faith communities in Religions for Peace who cooperated together to help ban cluster munitions, which—like landmines— indiscriminately kill and injure civilians. One hundred governments from around the world convened in Oslo, Norway, on 3 December 2008 to sign the most significant disarmament and humanitarian treaty of the decade. The treaty bans the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions, committing each government to provide victim assistance and to clear contaminated land.

Senior religious leaders and lay people of faith around the world in Religions for Peace helped advocate for the passage of this important treaty. Earlier this year, sixty religious leaders from Religions for Peace signed an international appeal advocating the ban. In October 2008, H.E. Dr. Mustafa Ceric, Reis-I-ulema of the Islamic Community in Bosnia and Herzegovina and a Co-President of the Religions for Peace World Council, hosted the European Faith Leaders Conference on Cluster Munitions in Sarajevo. Your advocacy and support is deeply appreciated.

Now, urgent action is needed. Each government is called upon to ratify the treaty so that it becomes legally binding. Those countries that have not signed the treaty should consider doing so. This treaty sets a new global standard for peace and human rights.

Conscience calls us to continue working together on this issue, which is integral to the Religions for Peace commitment to disarmament. It is important for Religions for Peace to respond to the changing threat of arms, including the threat of cluster bombs. A new tool, Cluster Munitions: A Resource Guide for Religions for Peace, has just been published to help equip religious communities to cooperate together on this issue. You may download a copy from our Web site.

Please join me in applauding the signing of this treaty and committing to further work together.

In peace,
 
Dr. William F. Vendley
Secretary General

Read more about cluster munitions.

Watch a video about the Oslo Treaty signing ceremony.