Dominica

Cluster Munition Ban Policy

Last updated: 05 July 2017

Summary: Non-signatory Dominica said in 2010 that it did not intend to join the convention, but it is unclear if this is still its position. Dominica voted in favor of a UN resolution promoting the convention in December 2016. It has never attended a meeting on cluster munitions. Dominica says it has never 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. Dominica voted in favor of key UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolutions in December 2016 and 2015 that call on states outside the Convention on Cluster Munitions to “join as soon as possible.”[1] It has voted for UNGA resolutions condemning the use of cluster munitions in Syria.[2]

Dominica has not provided its views concerning accession to the convention since April 2010, when a Ministry of Finance official wrote to Cluster Munition Monitor stating that: “I have been directed to inform that the Government of Dominica has no interest in being a party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.”[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] See, “Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions,” UNGA Resolution 71/45, 5 December 2016; and “Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions,” UNGA Resolution 70/54, 7 December 2015.

[2] Most recently, in 2014.

[3] Letter to Cluster Munition Monitor from H. Bazil, for the Financial Secretary, Ministry of Finance, 21 April 2010. The letter was in response to a Monitor letter requesting information from Dominica’s foreign minister on cluster munition policy and practice.

[4] Letter from H. Bazil, Ministry of Finance, 21 April 2010.


Mine Ban Policy

Last updated: 05 October 2012

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.