Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on world leaders on Monday to bolster the global prohibition on cluster munitions. This appeal follows the publication of the Cluster Munition Coalition's (CMC) 2025 report, which highlights continued use and production of these weapons by certain countries. HRW’s associate director for crisis, conflict, and arms, Mark Hiznay, emphasized the ongoing threat these weapons pose to civilians, often years after their initial deployment. He urged nations to adhere to the Convention on Cluster Munitions and to encourage non-member countries to cease their use immediately.

Cluster munitions are designed to release multiple bomblets over a wide area, which often fail to explode on impact, posing long-term dangers to civilians much like landmines. The Convention on Cluster Munitions, established in 2008, seeks to eliminate the use, production, storage, and transfer of these weapons. Despite the treaty's strong legal framework and compliance among its 112 member states, recent developments have posed significant challenges to its efficacy.

In a shocking move, Lithuania withdrew from the convention in March, marking the first withdrawal since the treaty’s inception. This action prompted formal objections from 47 countries. Moreover, the ongoing conflicts in regions like Ukraine have seen continued use of cluster munitions by non-treaty members such as Russia and Ukraine, with the United States also transferring such munitions to Ukraine between July 2023 and October 2024.

Iran and Thailand have also been implicated in recent uses of cluster munitions, against Israel and in a border conflict with Cambodia respectively. These actions underscore the complex geopolitical challenges that impede the universal adoption and enforcement of the ban.

Despite these setbacks, the treaty has seen substantial success among its adherents. All member nations have adhered to their obligations under the convention, including the destruction of stockpiles, which by 2023 had eliminated 1.49 million cluster munitions and 179 million submunitions.

HRW’s renewed call to action stresses the need for global leaders to not only enforce the ban more rigorously but also to expand its reach and stigma against the use of such indiscriminate weapons. The organization hopes that with strengthened international resolve and condemnation, further strides can be made towards the complete eradication of cluster munitions, safeguarding civilian lives and maintaining global humanitarian standards.