Dominican Republic

Cluster Munition Ban Policy

Last updated: 03 July 2018

Summary: State Party the Dominican Republic ratified the convention in December 2011. It has participated in some meetings of the convention, most recently in September 2017, and voted in favor of a key United Nations (UN) resolution promoting the convention in December 2017.

In 2017, the Dominican Republic provided its initial transparency report for the convention, which formally confirms it has never produced cluster munitions and does not possess any stocks, including for research and training.

Policy

The Dominican Republic signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions on 10 November 2009, ratified on 20 December 2011, and the convention entered into force for the country on 1 June 2012.

In 2017, the Dominican Republic submitted its initial Article 7 transparency report for the Convention on Cluster Munitions.[1] Under national implementation measures, the report lists Articles 26 and 252 of the country’s constitution, an October 2008 resolution approving the Inter-American Convention Against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Ammunition, Explosives, and Other Related Materials, and an August 2016 law regulating various arms, munitions, and related materials.[2] The Dominican Republic’s Senate approved the country’s ratification of the convention in March 2011.[3]

The Dominican Republic actively participated in the Oslo Process and supported a strong convention text during the Dublin negotiations in May 2008.[4]

The Dominican Republic has participated in several meetings of the convention, most recently the Seventh Meeting of States Parties in Geneva in September 2017. It has also attended regional workshops on cluster munitions.

In December 2017, the Dominican Republic voted in favor of a UN General Assembly (UNGA) resolution promoting implementation of the Convention on Cluster Munitions.[5]

The Dominican Republic has also voted in favor of UNGA resolutions expressing outrage at the use of cluster munitions in Syria, most recently in 2016.[6]

The Dominican Republic has yet to elaborate its views on certain important issues relating to interpretation and implementation of the convention, such as the prohibition on transit, the prohibition on assistance during joint military operations with states not party that may use cluster munitions, the prohibition on foreign stockpiling of cluster munitions, the prohibition on investment in production of cluster munitions, and the retention of cluster munitions for training and development purposes.

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

Use, transfer, production, and stockpiling

According to its transparency report, the Dominican Republic has never produced cluster munitions and does not possess any stocks, including for research and training.[7] Previously, in 2008, the Dominican Republic stated that it “does not use, stockpile, produce, or have anything to do with cluster munitions.”[8]



[1] The report is dated 13 October 2016, but covers the period up to September 2017. It was originally due by 28 November 2012.

[2] Convention on Cluster Munitions Article 7 Report, Form A, 13 October 2016. None of the legislative measures listed specifically address cluster munitions.

[3] The ratification bill was number 00249-2011-PLO-SE. Senate of the Dominican Republic Secretary-General, Order of the Day, No. 00032, 2 March 2011, AGENDA00032-PLO-02-03-2011-SE. See also, Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), Cluster Munition Monitor 2011 (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada, October 2011), p. 207.

[4] For details on the Dominican Republic’s cluster munition policy and practice up to early 2010, see ICBL, Cluster Munition Monitor 2010 (Ottawa: Mines Action Canada, October 2010), p. 144.

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

[6]Situation of human rights in the Syrian Arab Republic,” UNGA Resolution 71/203, 19 December 2016. The Dominican Republic voted in favor of similar resolutions on 18 December 2014 and 15 May and 18 December 2013. The Dominican Republic abstained from votes on similar resolutions on 19 December 2017 and 23 December 2015.

[8] Statement of the Dominican Republic, Wellington Conference on Cluster Munitions, 22 February 2008. Notes by the CMC.