“President Obama has articulated a vision of a changed world — one in which we no longer have to fear nuclear weapons, one in which there is respect for international law and a recognition that no individual, no single country, can change the world alone. I think that in awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Committee wants to underscore the desperate need for the fulfillment of that vision. The awarding of the Prize, then, is call to action,” said today Jody Williams, who received the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the ICBL. “Specifically regarding landmines and cluster munitions, we hope he will demonstrate vision and leadership by immediately announcing his decision that the United States will join the Mine Ban Treaty and the Convention on Cluster Munitions.”

Malawi and The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia became the 22nd and 23rd countries to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions on October 7th and 8th respectively. Seven more countries need to ratify before the treaty becomes international law.

On September 23, 2009, Cyprus and St. Vincent & the Grenadines signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions bringing the total number of signatories to 100.

21 countries have now ratified the Convention. France, Burundi, Uruguay and Malta are the latest to ratify.

Only 9 more countries need to ratify before the treaty enters into force.