Jamaica

Cluster Munition Ban Policy

Last updated: 03 July 2018

Summary: Signatory Jamaica has expressed interest in ratifying the convention, but the current status of its ratification is unknown. It voted in favor of a key United Nations (UN) resolution promoting universalization of the convention in December 2017. Jamaica has attended a couple of the convention’s meetings, but not since 2014.

Jamaica is not known to have ever used, produced, or transferred cluster munitions. Jamaica said in 2012 that it does not possess any stocks.

Policy                 

Jamaica signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 12 June 2009, becoming the first Caribbean country to join.

Jamaica has committed to ratify the convention on several occasions, but the current status of its ratification is unknown.[1]

Jamaica participated in the Oslo Process and advocated strongly for the most comprehensive convention text possible during the formal negotiations in Dublin in May 2008.[2]

Jamaica has participated in a couple of Meetings of States Parties of the convention, but not since 2014.[3] It has participated in regional workshops on cluster munitions.

In December 2017, Jamaica voted in favor of a key UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution on the Convention on Cluster Munitions that urges states outside the convention to “join as soon as possible.”[4]

Jamaica has voted in favor of UNGA resolutions expressing outrage at the use of cluster munitions in Syria.[5]

Jamaica is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty. It is also party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons.

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

Jamaica is not known to have ever used, produced, or transferred cluster munitions. In 2012, a government representative told States Parties that “Jamaica does not possess cluster munitions.”[6]



[1] In October 2015, Jamaica stated that it was working to ratify “at the earliest opportunity,” while the high commissioner in Ottawa told Canadian campaigners in July 2015 that Jamaica hopes to ratify “at the earliest opportunity.” Statement of Jamaica, UNGA First Committee on Disarmament and International Security, New York, 26 October 2015; letter to Paul Hannon, Mines Action Canada, from Janice Miller, High Commissioner for Jamaica to Canada, Ottawa, 8 July 2015.

[2] For details on Jamaica’s cluster munition policy and practice up to early 2010, see ICBL, Cluster Munition Monitor 2010 (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada, October 2010), pp. 156–157.

[3] Jamaica attended Meetings of States Parties of the convention in 2012 and 2014.

[4]Implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions,” UNGA Resolution 72/54, 4 December 2017. Jamaica voted in favor of previous UNGA resolutions promoting the convention in 2015 and 2016.

[5]Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic,” UNGA Resolution 72/191, 19 December 2017. Jamaica voted in favor of similar resolutions in 2013–2016.

[6] Statement of Jamaica, Convention on Cluster Munitions Third Meeting of States Parties, Oslo, 11 September 2012.