Cluster bomb ban set for approval by parliament
The House of Representatives has agreed in principle to ratify an international convention to ban the use, production, stockpiling and acquisition of cluster bombs.
A majority on Wednesday voted against a recommendation by a house committee in October to reject the proposal.
The bill now goes back to the committee for further discussion.
Rightwing and centre-right opponents of the ban argued it would weaken Switzerland’s defence capacity, while supporters pointed out refusal to agree the convention would harm Switzerland’s humanitarian reputation and international efforts to protect civilians.
The other parliamentary chamber, the Senate, agreed the ban earlier this year, falling into line with the government.
More than 110 countries have signed up to the convention, and more than 60 have ratified it.
In the 1980s and 1990s the Swiss armed forces acquired about 200,000 cluster bombs worth SFr652 million ($701 million).
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