Summary: Non-signatory Tuvalu has not elaborated its views on cluster munitions or position on acceding to the convention. It voted in favor of a key United Nations (UN) resolution on the convention in December 2017. Tuvalu is not known to have ever used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.

Policy

Tuvalu has not yet acceded to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

In February 2018, Tuvalu attended the Pacific Conference on Conventional Weapons Treaties and adopted the conference’s “Auckland Declaration,” acknowledging “the clear moral and humanitarian rationale for joining” the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The declaration states that during the meeting “some states not yet party to the Convention undertook to positively consider membership of it.”[1]

Tuvalu did not participate in the Oslo Process and has never attended a meeting on cluster munitions or made a public statement on the convention.[2] In August 2016, a government representative said Tuvalu is interested in joining the convention but faces financial challenges.[3]

In December 2017, Tuvalu voted in favor of a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution that urges states outside the Convention on Cluster Munitionsto “join as soon as possible.”[4] It voted in favor of previous UNGA resolutions promoting the convention in 2015 and 2016.[5]

Tuvalu has also voted in favor of UNGA resolutions expressing outrage at the use of cluster munitions in Syria, most recently in December 2017.[6]

Tuvalu is a State Party to the Mine Ban Treaty.

Use, production, transfer, and stockpiling

Tuvalu is not known to have ever used, produced, transferred, or stockpiled cluster munitions.