Summary: Non-signatory Kiribati has shown interest in the convention, but does not appear to be considering accession. It voted in favor of a UN resolution on the convention in December 2015. Kiribati attended a meeting of the convention in 2011, where it stated that it has never used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.

Policy

The Republic of Kiribati has not acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

The status of accession is not known. In September 2011, Kiribati made its only public statement on the convention, when a representative informed States Parties said that the government was considering its position on joining the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Kiribati did not participate in the Oslo Process.

Kiribati did not attend a meeting of the convention until September 2011, when it participated as an observer in the Second Meeting of States Parties in Beirut, Lebanon.[1] Kiribati also attended the convention’s intersessional meetings in Geneva in April 2013.

On 7 December 2015, Kiribati voted in favor of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution supporting the Convention on Cluster Munitions, which urges states outside the convention to “join as soon as possible.”[2] Kiribati did not explain the reason for its vote in support of the non-binding resolution that was adopted by 140 countries, including many non-signatories.

Kiribati has voted in favor of UNGA resolutions condemning the use of cluster munitions in Syria.[3]

Kiribati is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty. It has not joined the Convention on Conventional Weapons.

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

In September 2011, Kiribati confirmed that it “has never used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.”[4]

Kiribati is affected by unexploded ordnance, particularly Betio and South Tarawa, but is not believed to be contaminated by cluster munition remnants.[5]