Statement made on 31 March 2009 by Senator Yoine Goldstein (retired)
Hon. Yoine Goldstein:
Honourable senators, I want to congratulate Senator Hubley for having initiated this inquiry with respect to cluster munitions. Prior to initiating this inquiry, Senator Hubley had asked a question of the Leader of the Government in the Senate about Canada's adherence to the treaty to ban cluster munitions. She was assured that Canada was abiding by that treaty.
However, in a supplementary question, I pointed out that the press had indicated that while Canada might not be manufacturing cluster munitions any more, it was giving storage privileges to a number of countries. The honourable senator indicated that she would verify this, but to date we have not had a response.
Honourable senators, slowly and imperceptibly, we are witnessing a significant change in the nature of international dispute resolution. In the 19th century, the concept of banning certain weapons of war and, indeed, the concept of creating a code of laws of war was quite unimaginable.
However, in the 20th century, we witnessed the creation of international instruments such as Geneva conventions, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty to prevent unnecessary suffering and destruction during modern warfare.
In addition, as a result of the Nuremberg and Tokyo trials of leading German and Japanese officials after World War II, the world also witnessed the creation of a code governing war crimes and crimes against humanity. It established that state actors could no longer, with impunity, terrorize civilian populations or destroy innocent lives.
Although laws of war are surely an oxymoronic concept, it nevertheless reflects our progressive efforts to criminalize illegal use of force. This is a slow, but necessary, march towards a better civilization.
The Ottawa Treaty on the banning of landmines, by itself, constitutes a significant step in decreasing the reckless loss of life as a result not only of war, but of the post-war consequences of armed conflicts. The Convention on Cluster Munitions represents further significant step in this direction. Cluster bombs rank among the most perfidious and inhumane weapons of war when they are spread in areas known to be used by civilians.
Therefore, I support Senator Hubley's inquiry and congratulate her for having initiated it. This reflects Senator Hubley's continuing concern for life, human beings, education and a host of other principles and causes, which she continues to display, both in this chamber and elsewhere. I wholly support the thrust of the inquiry, which is intended to encourage the permanent banning of cluster bombs.
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