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Cluster Bomb Treaty Comes Into Force - Nuclear Weapons Convention next?
In the week leading up to the 65th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombs, a global treaty banning cluster bombs has come into force.
The treaty gives hope to the worldwide movement pushing for a global Nuclear Weapons Convention.
The cluster bomb treaty has been signed by more than 100 countries including Australia, New Zealand, Britain and Germany.
US, Russia, China and Israel have so far refused to sign and ratify the treaty.
Cluster munitions contain a number of smaller bombs, which are designed to cover a large area and deter an advancing army.
But civilians have been the real target because most unexploded bombs litter the ground like landmines long after a conflict is over.
Cluster bombs are estimated to have killed nearly 500,000 people worldwide.
According to Red Cross spokesman Peter Herby:
"The scale of civilian suffering that was pointless - because most of it was after the conflict - is clearly unacceptable," he said.
"It's unacceptable in law, it's unacceptable morally and it's unnecessary militarily. To see a weapon that causes more injuries after a conflict than during the conflict - there's obviously something wrong."
Pope Benedict XVI also hailed the ban and urged all countries to sign up.
"My first thoughts go to the numerous victims who have suffered and continue to suffer serious physical and moral damage ... because of these insidious weapons," the pope said after leading the weekly Angelus prayer.
