Field of action 1: Promotion of the normative framework

Switzerland is involved in the specialised committees of the conventions and actively participates in the annual meetings of states parties. It also promotes civil society initiatives such as the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL-CMC) and Mine Action Review, whose priorities coincide with those of Switzerland and which also contribute to transparency. Finally, Switzerland is committed to ensuring that other states accede to the conventions. 

Universalisation workshop in Yaoundé, Cameroon

The Peace and Human Rights Division (PHRD) of the FDFA supported a workshop for francophone states in Africa to increase awareness of the Convention on Cluster Munitions and to encourage other countries to accede to it. The meeting took place on 15 and 16 February in Yaoundé, Cameroon, and served as a platform for an in-depth exchange on the opportunities and challenges of ratification. Switzerland had already supported a similar event in Abuja, Nigeria, last year. In the meantime, Nigeria and South Sudan - both participants in the 2022 workshop - have acceded to the Convention.

More information on the workshop can be found on the Convention on Cluster Munitions website.