September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows unequivocally denounces the production, sale, or use of cluster munitions around the globe, and specifically by the United States. Our organization, founded by individuals whose family members were killed in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, has since 2002 been committed to ending civilian casualties in war and holding all nations accountable to abiding by the principles of the Geneva Conventions and International Humanitarian Law.
Cluster bombs and munitions kill and maim all living beings in their range, especially children who are often attracted by the colorful remains of the bombs and are injured or killed when they handle them. Peaceful Tomorrows’ members have visited Afghan civilians who themselves were harmed by cluster munitions, or whose family members were killed by their indiscriminate harm. We have witnessed small children at a Red Crescent center in Afghanistan being fitted for prosthetic limbs after touching cluster bombs. Cluster bombs are the epitome of cruelty, with effects lasting decades into the future.
Cluster bombs should be banned from use forever. The United States should not be sending these weapons to Ukraine, but should rather sign The Convention on Cluster Munitions and encourage all other nations to do so as well.
