Dominica
Cluster Munition Ban Policy
Summary: Non-signatory Dominica indicated in 2010 that it had no plans to join the convention, but its current position is unknown. It has never attended a meeting on cluster munitions. Dominica said in 2010 that it has not used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.
Policy
The Commonwealth of Dominica has not acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
Dominica did not participate in the Oslo Process that created the convention and it has never attended a meeting on cluster munitions. In a 2010 letter to Cluster Munition Monitor, a Ministry of Finance official stated, “I have been directed to inform that the Government of Dominica has no interest in being a party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.”[1]
Nonetheless, Dominica voted in favor of the first UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 7 December 2015.[2] It has also voted in favor of UNGA resolutions condemning the use of cluster munitions in Syria.[3]
Dominica is party to the Mine Ban Treaty. It has not joined the Convention on Conventional Weapons.
Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling
Dominica stated in its 2010 letter to the Monitor that it has not used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.[4]
[1] Letter from H. Bazil, for the Financial Secretary, Ministry of Finance, 21 April 2010. The letter was in response to a Monitor letter addressed to the foreign minister requesting information on Dominica’s cluster munition policy and practice.
[2] “Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions,” UNGA Resolution 70/54, 7 December 2015.
[3] In 2013 and 2014, but it did not vote for UNGA Resolution 70/234, which “deplores and condemns” the continued use of cluster munitions in Syria. “Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic,” UNGA Resolution 70/234, 23 December 2015.
[4] Letter from H. Bazil, Ministry of Finance, 21 April 2010.
Mine Ban Policy
The Commonwealth of Dominica signed the Mine Ban Treaty on 3 December 1997 and ratified it on 26 March 1999, becoming a State Party on 1 September 1999. Dominica has never used, produced, imported, exported, or stockpiled antipersonnel mines, including for training purposes. Dominica has not enacted new legislation specifically to implement the Mine Ban Treaty. Dominica submitted its initial Mine Ban Treaty Article 7 report in 2002 and its fifth report in 2008, but has not provided annual updates since.
Dominica did not attend any Mine Ban Treaty meetings in 2011 or the first half of 2012.
Dominica is not a party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.