Soraj Ghulam Habib was born into a world of conflict in Afghanistan. He was a primary school student in Herat in 2002 when a single cluster munition changed his life, leaving him wheelchair-bound.

Playing with friends one afternoon, a bright yellow ‘can’ caught the attention of the curious group of boys.  When Soraj kicked the can, it exploded, blowing his legs off, killing his cousin and injuring 4 of his friends.

Cluster munitions are larger weapons that release smaller munitions, such as bomblets if deployed from the air, or grenades if launched from the ground.  As the clusters are widely dispersed, they do not differentiate between civilians and military targets.  Some 30% of cluster munitions do not detonate, laying dormant for years in some cases.  The munitions are generally brightly coloured, often yellow or blue, so do not appear a threat, especially to curious children, who make up a third of recorded casualties.

Some 98% of victims of cluster munitions are civilians, with 60% injured while going about daily activities.  Livelihoods are affected, impacting on activities such as agricultural production for individuals and the community.

In the coming weeks, the Australian Senate will debate and approve proposed legislation to allow Australia to ratify the ‘Convention on Cluster Munitions’.  What are the consequences and obligations of Australia signing onto and then ratifying this convention?  As it stands, the convention means Australia is obliged, amongst other things, to:

• NOT produce cluster munitions
• NOT use cluster munitions
• NOT assist other nations/states to use cluster munitions
• ACTIVELY discourage other nations/states to use cluster munitions
• PROMOTE universalisation of the convention with states not party to the convention, with best efforts to discourage prohibited acts such as cluster munitions use, and notify non-state party allies of its obligations under the convention
• ASSIST in clearance of contaminated areas, victims and other state parties to meet their obligation under the convention

However, the proposed Australian legislation to allow ratification of the Convention has a few loopholes, allowing such things as:

• Australian troops to assist other countries in using cluster munitions during joint military operations 
• foreign forces to stockpile or transit cluster munitions on Australian territory
• indirect investment of either public or private funds in the development and production of cluster munitions 

The proposed Bill to meet Australia’s obligations under the ‘Convention on Cluster Munitions’ is due to be debated in the Senate soon.

“With the current loopholes in the legislation, groups such as the Cluster Munition Coalition Australia, of which World Vision Australia is a member, are calling for the bill to be amended to meet and uphold the intent  and spirit of the Convention,” said World Vision's Anthea Spinks, Head of Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs. 

With its purpose being ‘to put an end for all time to the suffering and casualties caused by cluster munitions at the time of their use, when they fail to function as intended or when they are abandoned’.

“World Vision wants the Australian Government to fix the current loopholes in the legislation so children in the future won’t suffer like Soraj,” said Ms Spinks.

Now 19, Soraj is an active global campaigner against cluster munitions, one of the youngest in the movement.

“I don’t want my children to face the same problems I have. As a victim of cluster bombs who lost his legs, I propose to those who produce, use and transfer these harmful weapons: Please stop cluster bombs: you would stop them for sure if your own children faced such a disastrous destiny. Let’s sign and approve the total banning of cluster bombs...... Let’s work for PEACE, PEACE, PEACE, not just for me, but for all humanity,” said Soraj.

Soraj also works for a better deal for cluster munition survivors in Herat, Afghanistan.  He works on projects for socio-economic inclusion and physical accessibility, as well as psycho-social peer-to-peer support.

World Vision recommends supporting strong Australian legislation with no loopholes.  Ask the Government to ‘Fix the Bill’ on cluster munitions to uphold the true intent of the ‘Convention on Cluster Munitions’ and be a responsible global citizen.