Summary: Non-signatory Tuvalu has never commented on cluster munitions or its position on joining the convention. It attended a regional workshop on cluster munitions in June 2019 and voted in favor of a United Nations (UN) resolution on the convention in December 2018. 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.

Officials indicate that Tuvalu is interested in joining the convention but faces financial challenges. [1] In February 2018, Tuvalu attended a Pacific Conference on Conventional Weapons Treaties and adopted a declaration that acknowledges “the clear moral and humanitarian rationale for joining” the Convention on Cluster Munitions. [2]

Tuvalu did not participate in the Oslo Process.

Tuvalu has never commented on cluster munitions or attended a meeting of the convention. [3] It attended a regional workshop on the convention in Manila, Philippines on 18–19 June 2019. [4]

In December 2018, Tuvalu 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.” [5] It has voted in favor of the annual UNGA resolution promoting the convention since it was first introduced in 2015.

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.

Policy

Tuvalu acceded to the Mine Ban Treaty on 13 September 2011.

In early August 2011, the Mine Ban Treaty’s Implementation Support Unit (ISU) stated that Tuvalu could join the Mine Ban Treaty “in coming months.”[1] The announcement came after a three-day visit to Tuvalu by Prince Mired Raad Zeid Al-Hussein of Jordan, the Mine Ban Treaty’s Special Envoy on Universalization. Prince Mired met with Prime Minister Willy Telavi and other government representatives to discuss Tuvalu’s accession to the Mine Ban Treaty.[2]

In June 2011, Tuvalu participated in the intersessional Standing Committee meetings in Geneva, its first-ever participation in a meeting of the Mine Ban Treaty. A Ministry of Foreign Affairs official informed States Parties, “Tuvalu is here to listen and hopefully become a member in the near future” and expressed concern at the social, health, and economic problems caused by mines. The official said that, “a report will be made possible to our cabinet, once our position is finalized this will be then conveyed to your good office at the earliest.”[3] Tuvalu has not since participated in a meeting of the treaty. It was invited to, but did not attend, the Third Review Conference in Maputo in June 2014, and more recently the Seventeenth Meeting of States Parties in Geneva in November 2018.

Tuvalu has yet to submit its initial Article 7 transparency report, which was due on 28 August 2012.

Tuvalu is not party to the Convention on Conventional Weapons, nor is it party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions.

Use, production, transfer, and stockpile

Tuvalu has stated several times that it does not use, produce, import, or stockpile antipersonnel mines.[4]