Cluster Munition Use Continues Despite Global Ban ⁤- ‍2025 Report

(Geneva, ⁤September 15, 2025) – Governments should reinforce the global ban on cluster⁣ munitions and call upon those still using or producing thes indiscriminate weapons to promptly join the⁣ treaty banning them, Human Rights Watch said⁤ today in releasing⁣ the “Cluster munition Monitor 2025” by the Cluster Munition⁣ Coalition. In September 2025, Vanuatu became the 112th state to join the Convention, while in March 2025, Lithuania became the first ‍state ever to withdraw from the convention, a major‍ setback despite progress on humanitarian disarmament elsewhere.

The 109-page report‍ assesses all countries’ adherence to the 2008 Convention on cluster Munitions which prohibits the use, production, transfer, and stockpiling of cluster munitions and requires‍ destruction of stockpiles, clearance ⁣of areas contaminated by ‍cluster munition remnants, and ⁣victim assistance.

“Civilians around the world continue to lose their lives and limbs to cluster munitions, even from weapons used decades ‍ago,” said Mark Hiznay, associate crisis,⁤ conflict and arms director at Human rights Watch, and ⁣an editor of the Cluster Munition Monitor 2025. “Members of the⁤ Convention on Cluster Munitions should abide by the treaty’s provisions and encourage othre governments⁢ to immediately stop using‍ cluster munitions.”

Cluster munitions can be fired from the ground by artillery, rockets, missiles, or mortars, or dropped by⁣ aircraft. They typically open in the air, dispersing multiple explosive submunitions or bomblets over a wide area. Due⁤ to their wide area effect, they cannot ⁣distinguish between civilians⁢ and combatants, especially when used in populated areas. In addition, many submunitions‍ fail to explode on initial impact, leaving unexploded duds that can indiscriminately injure and kill ⁣like landmines for years, until they are found and destroyed.

While governments continue to make progress, the global ban on cluster⁢ munitions is being tested. Lithuania’s withdrawal from ⁣the convention on March 6, ⁣2025,⁣ triggered condemnation from at least 47 countries.

Countries that are not party to the convention, including Russia and ukraine ⁤ continued to use cluster⁢ munitions in⁢ 2024 and 2025. Russia has used stocks of old cluster munitions and newly developed models in Ukraine since 2022. ⁣Between July 2023 and ‍October⁤ 2024, the United⁢ States,⁢ which is not a treaty‍ member, announced at least seven ⁢trans