Kiribati

Cluster Munition Ban Policy

Last updated: 17 July 2017

Summary: Non-signatory Kiribati has shown interest in the convention, but it has not taken any steps to join it. Kiribati voted in favor of a key UN resolution on the convention in December 2016. 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.

Kiribati does not appear to have taken any steps towards joining the convention. In September 2011, Kiribati made its first and to date only public statement on the convention, when a representative informed States Parties that the government was considering whether to join the Convention on Cluster Munitions.[1]

Kiribati did not participate in the Oslo Process.

Kiribati has participated as an observer in two meetings of the convention: the Second Meeting of States Parties in Beirut, Lebanon, in September 2011 and intersessional meetings in 2013.

In December 2016, Kiribati voted in favor of a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that urges states outside the Convention on Cluster Munitions to “join as soon as possible.”[2] It voted in favor of the first UNGA resolution on the convention in December 2015.[3]

Kiribati has voted in favor of UNGA resolutions expressing outrage at the use of cluster munitions in Syria, most recently in December 2016.[4]

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 stated that it “has never used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.”[5]

Kiribati is affected by unexploded ordnance, particularly in Betio and South Tarawa, but is not believed to be contaminated by cluster munition remnants.[6]



[1] Statement of Kiribati, Convention on Cluster Munitions Second Meeting of States Parties, Beirut, 16 September 2011.

[2]Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions,” UNGA Resolution 71/45, 5 December 2016.

[3]Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions,” UNGA Resolution 70/54, 7 December 2015.

[4]Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic,” UNGA Resolution 71/203, 19 December 2016. Kiribati voted in favor of similar previous resolutions in 2013–2014.

[5] Statement of Kiribati, Convention on Cluster Munitions Second Meeting of States Parties, Beirut, 16 September 2011.

[6] The government has stated that Kiribati is not affected by antipersonnel landmines. Statement of Kiribati, Mine Ban Treaty Second Review Conference, Cartagena, 4 December 2009.