The Negative Impacts of Cluster Munitions and Findings from the Third Review Conference of the Convention on Cluster Munitions

The humanitarian consequences of most weapons are felt long after conflicts have ended. So-called ‘cluster munitions’ illustrate this quite clearly: They release small, unguided submunitions, also called ‘bomblets’, designed to explode over vast areas. They disproportionately impact civilians (who accounted for 87% of casualties recorded from cluster munitions in 2025 alone), either from direct attacks or remnants that are left behind. As many of these bomblets fail to detonate, they continue to cause deaths or injuries, block agricultural land and impede development. 

From 14 to 18 September, FES Geneva attended the Third Review Conference (3RC) of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) in Vientiane in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic – where these negative impacts could be observed directly: Lao PDR is the most heavily bombed country per capita in the world due to the aerial bombardment of cluster munitions by the United States during the Indochina War in the 1960s and 1970s.

Since then, Lao PDR has turned its legacy of conflict into responsibility and has lobbied alongside other affected states, courageous middle powers, survivors, civil society, experts and the United Nations for a ban of these weapons. Sixteen years ago, these efforts were successful and the Convention on Cluster Munitions entered into force to prohibit their use, development, production or direct and indirect transfer, among others.

As part of the treaty framework, Review Conferences, like the 3RC CCM, serve as forums to assess progress and for the 112 States Parties to reaffirm their commitment to this life-saving norm. Against the backdrop of rearmament and increased defence spending, international arms control mechanisms become more relevant, but they are also increasingly under pressure. 

In this regard, it is important to remember that in 2010 cluster munitions were not prohibited because they had no military utility, but because states concluded that their humanitarian consequences were unacceptable. This has not changed. A report presented by the humanitarian NGO Norwegian People’s Aid illustrated that these considerations regarding the negative humanitarian impacts continue to hold significance even with evolving technologies. See their latest report on "Safer" Cluster Munitions.

During the conference, member states adopted a new five-year action plan, as well as a declaration and a report. FES Geneva connected with affected communities, experts, civil society and member states to discuss how to strengthen the existing multilateral disarmament and arms control mechanisms, what new challenges new technology and climate change pose, and how development and humanitarian funding can best support recovery efforts in affected countries. 

As Geneva hosts the Convention’s annual and biennial Meetings of States Parties and serves as a hub for a number of arms control treaties, the FES Geneva office will continue to engage on these issues. Through this work, we seek to strengthen multilateral diplomacy, contribute to conflict resolution and, ultimately, help reduce human suffering.