The International Action Network on Small Arms Women Network-Nigeria (IANSAWNN) has called for grassroots and gender-inclusive approaches to strengthen the implementation of international disarmament treaties, stressing that victims’ needs must be prioritized in conflict and post-conflict zones.
In a press statement signed by its Coordinator, Dr. Mimidoo Achakpa, the Nigerian-based non-governmental organization, which focuses on curbing the misuse of small arms and its impact on women and children, said civil society groups remain vital in bridging the gap between high-level treaty commitments and realities on the ground.
According to the statement, organizations like IANSAWNN play key roles in mine clearance, victim assistance, legal reforms, and public awareness campaigns. The group described Nigeria’s combined model of government leadership and civil society activism as a powerful example for other African nations in ratifying, implementing, and advocating for humanitarian disarmament norms.
“Civil society actors like IANSAWNN help bridge gaps between treaty obligations and on-the-ground realities—especially in conflict or post-conflict settings where clearance, victim assistance, legal reforms, and awareness raising are needed,” the statement read.
The call comes as the Cluster Munition Monitor 2025 report revealed both major progress and persistent challenges in global efforts to end the use of cluster munitions.
The report noted that in 2024, States Parties to the 2008 Convention on Cluster Munitions destroyed more remnants than in the previous five years, releasing over 100 km² of land for civilian use. So far, nearly 1.5 million cluster munitions have been destroyed, with no State Party using, acquiring, or transferring them since joining the treaty.
However, setbacks persist. Lithuania’s withdrawal from the treaty in March 2025 marked the first time a state has exited a humanitarian disarmament convention. Ongoing use of cluster munitions by non-signatory states, including Russia, Ukraine, and Myanmar, continues to cause civilian casualties. The report also flagged the controversial transfer of cluster munitions by the United States to Ukraine, which it said threatens the credibility of the treaty.
Nigeria was highlighted as a leading African champion of the Convention, having pushed for wider adoption of the treaty across Africa using platforms like ECOWAS and the African Union. The country has also pushed for stronger victim assistance, contributed to clearance and mine action across the continent, and acted as a bridge-builder in international forums by representing the concerns of conflict-affected communities.
“Nigeria’s combined state leadership and civil society activism represent a valuable model in Africa for how the Convention’s norms can be upheld not only through ratification, but through domestic implementation, advocacy, and support for survivors,” the statement affirmed.
As the September 2025 Meeting of States Parties begins in Geneva, the report said Nigeria’s leadership will be crucial in addressing challenges such as Lithuania’s withdrawal and reinforcing the treaty’s credibility.
Tamar Gabelnick, Director of the Cluster Munition Coalition, stressed that a cluster munition-free world is achievable but only if “champions like Nigeria stand firm in defending humanitarian principles and continue pushing for universal adherence to the treaty.”
The report concluded with a renewed call for global commitment to accelerate universalization of the treaty, strengthen survivor support, and prevent any erosion of the convention’s humanitarian achievements.
“Seventeen years after the adoption of the Convention on Cluster Munitions, the goal of a cluster munition–free world remains within reach. But this will only be possible if states, including champions like Nigeria, stand firm in defending humanitarian principles and continue pushing for universal adherence to the treaty,” the report said.
