The Peace Studies Institute Launches a Campaign on Banning Cluster Bombs
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Alexandria—
Ambassador Ali Maher, Director, Peace Studies Institute, affiliated to The Suzanne Mubarak Women for Peace Movement (SMWPM), spoke on the damages and hazardous risks facing civilians as a result of the use of cluster bombs, majority of which do not explode instantly, but remain for years threatening lives of civilians.
The Ambassador's speech was part of the expert group closed session to formulate a strategy to launch a campaign on banning cluster bombs held on Monday, 19 March 2007. The expert group meeting was attended by General Ahmed Fakhr, Director of Center for Future Studies, Ambassador Abdel Raouf El-Reedy, Director of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Laila Omara, Member of the SMWPM, Ambassador Nabil El-Araby, Former Judge, The International Court of Justice and Partner, Zaki Hashem & Partners Attorneys at Law, Dr. Azza l-Kholy, Deputy Director, Peace Studies Institute. Dr. Khaled Azab, Director, BA Media Department, Dr. Ahmed Abdel Halim, Member of the Egyptian Shura Council, and Dr. Abdel Fattah M. Mady, Political Sciences Department, Faculty of Commerce, Alexandria University.
The meeting resulted into several proposals including, convening an international conference, and photo exhibition on the victims of cluster bombs. Participants also agreed on engaging different authorities in planning for the campaign, including governments, parliaments, international organizations, nongovernmental organizations, and media.
The first meeting of the expert group, was held in implementation of the plan of action of the roundtable of the brainstorming session on" Building a Protective Environment for Civilians in Armed Conflict" chaired by Mr. Suzanne Mubarak, in January 2007.