Report on the Use of Cluster Munitions and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Violation of International Law and a Setback for SDG 16

Amnesty International has reported that the use of cluster munitions by Iranian forces in populated areas of Israel during the June 13-24 conflict constitutes a significant violation of international humanitarian law. This action directly undermines the principles of Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, which seeks to promote peaceful societies and provide access to justice for all. The deployment of inherently indiscriminate weapons in civilian areas demonstrates a disregard for the legal frameworks designed to protect non-combatants in conflict zones.

Erika Guevara Rosas of Amnesty International highlighted that such actions show a “clear disregard for international humanitarian law.” The organization’s call for both Iran and Israel to accede to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions aligns with SDG 16’s target of strengthening global governance and adherence to international agreements that foster peace and security.

• The 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions prohibits the use, development, production, and stockpiling of these weapons.
• Neither Iran nor Israel is a signatory to the convention.
• Article 51(4) of Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions also prohibits indiscriminate attacks that cannot be directed at a specific military objective.

Impact on Civilian Safety and Sustainable Communities

The report details several incidents between June 19 and June 22 where ballistic missiles carrying cluster submunitions struck densely populated urban and suburban areas. These attacks pose a direct threat to multiple Sustainable Development Goals.

1. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: Attacks on the Gush Dan and Rishon LeZion areas near Tel Aviv, and the city of Beersheba, threaten the safety and security of human settlements. The presence of unexploded submunitions renders public spaces, infrastructure, and homes hazardous, impeding progress towards creating inclusive, safe, and resilient cities.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: While no immediate casualties were reported from the initial strikes, the unexploded bomblets left behind create a long-term lethal threat to civilians. This ongoing risk of death and severe injury directly contravenes the goal of ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.

Broader Implications for the Global Sustainability Agenda

The consequences of using such weapons extend beyond immediate security concerns, affecting the broader framework of sustainable development.

• Threat to Livelihoods: The contamination of land with unexploded ordnance can hinder economic activity, impacting SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) by making areas unsafe for agriculture, commerce, and reconstruction.
• Disruption of Services: The presence of explosive remnants of war can disrupt access to essential services, including education, undermining SDG 4 (Quality Education) by making routes to schools and playgrounds unsafe for children.
• Exacerbating Inequality: The effects of conflict and unexploded ordnance disproportionately harm vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly, thereby working against SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities).

Conflict Background and Munition Details

The attacks occurred during the “12 Day War,” an intense conflict from June 13-24 initiated by Israeli airstrikes on Iranian sites, which were met with Iranian missile and drone retaliation. Cluster munitions are weapons that release numerous smaller submunitions, or bomblets, over a wide area. Their indiscriminate nature and high failure rate, which results in unexploded ordnance, are the primary reasons they are prohibited under international law, as they fail to distinguish between military targets and civilians, a core tenet of international humanitarian law and a prerequisite for achieving sustainable peace.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

• The article directly addresses issues of armed conflict, violence, and the rule of law, which are central to SDG 16. The discussion revolves around the “12 Day War” between Iran and Israel, the use of specific weapons (cluster munitions), and the resulting casualties and destruction. The entire piece is framed around the violation of international humanitarian law, specifically the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks on civilians. Amnesty International’s call for both nations to join the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions and adhere to the Geneva Conventions underscores the goal of promoting peace and justice through strong international legal frameworks and institutions.

Specific Targets Identified

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   • The article highlights an intense armed conflict that resulted in “numerous casualties and destruction of infrastructure.” It specifically details the use of cluster munitions in populated areas, which, while not causing immediate deaths in the reported incidents, pose an “ongoing risk of injury or death to civilians” due to unexploded submunitions. This directly relates to the goal of reducing violence and preventing conflict-related deaths.

2. Target 16.4: By 2030, significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows, strengthen the recovery and return of stolen assets and combat all forms of organized crime.

   • While not about illicit financial flows, this target’s focus on reducing arms flows is relevant. The article centers on the use and transfer of cluster munitions, which are prohibited for state parties by the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions. Amnesty International’s call for Iran and Israel to join the convention is a direct effort to curb the proliferation and use of these specific weapons, aligning with the target’s aim to reduce the flow of arms.

3. Target 16.a: Strengthen relevant national institutions, including through international cooperation, to build capacity at all levels, in particular in developing countries, to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.

   • The article emphasizes the importance of international legal frameworks like the Geneva Conventions and the Convention on Cluster Munitions as institutions for preventing violence. The condemnation by Amnesty International represents international cooperation aimed at holding states accountable. The core argument that Iran’s actions were a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law” points to the need for strengthening adherence to these international legal institutions to prevent future violence.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Indicator for Target 16.1

   • Conflict-related deaths and injuries: The article mentions “numerous casualties” and the “ongoing risk of injury or death to civilians” from unexploded bomblets. An indicator would be the number of civilian deaths and injuries resulting directly from the conflict and indirectly from unexploded ordnance left behind. The report of “no immediate deaths or injuries” from specific cluster munition strikes, contrasted with the overall “numerous casualties” of the war, shows how this data is tracked.

2. Indicator for Target 16.4

   • Adherence to international treaties on arms control: The article explicitly states that “neither Iran nor Israel is a party to the [2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions] treaty.” An implied indicator of progress towards reducing the flow of these weapons would be the number of countries, particularly those mentioned in the conflict, that ratify or accede to this convention.

3. Indicator for Target 16.a

   • Violations of international humanitarian law: The article is centered on Amnesty International’s declaration of a “blatant violation of international humanitarian law,” specifically citing the prohibition on indiscriminate attacks under Article 51(4) of an Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions. An indicator for measuring institutional strength would be the number of documented and verified violations of such laws during armed conflicts.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: jurist.org