Draft Convention to Ban Uranium Weapons Now Ready

A draft convention to ban uranium weapons has now been prepared by Manfred Mohr and A. Samsel of IALANA. The convention has been adopted by ICBUW and can now be used in campaigning work to advance its progress into the United Nations as a treaty. Entitled a "Draft Convention on the prohibition of development, production, stockpiling, transfer and use of uranium weapons and on their destruction".

The Draft Convention contains a general and comprehensive prohibition of the development, production, transport, storage, possession, transfer and use of uranium ammunition, uranium armour-plate and of any other military use of uranium. The Convention also outlines obligations concerning the abolition of uranium weapons and the destruction of uranium weapons construction facilities.

The Convention obliges signatories to decontaminate or to ensure a rapid decontamination of contaminated areas at most five years after its entry into force, emphasising the protection of and assistance to civilians living in these areas. Each State Party that uses uranium weapons in a conflict is responsible for the consequences, including compensation of the victims.