UNITED NATIONS, March 19 (UPI) -- The U.N. deputy secretary-general called on the international community Wednesday in New York to sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo signed onto the convention Wednesday. Asha-Rose Migiro, U.N. deputy secretary-general, called on the international community to join Congo and the 95 other nations that have signed the global pact and bring an end to the use of the dangerous weapons, the United Nations reported.
The use of cluster bombs in past military conflicts has left several regions around the world with leftover remnants of the bombs. The explosives often go unseen by civilians who step on them, causing death or serious bodily harm.
Officials said the convention, which has been ratified by five countries, still requires 25 more countries to ratify the pact in order for it to enter into force.
"We must step up our efforts so women, men and children can walk free of the terrible injuries these munitions inflict," Migiro said, according to the United Nations.
"We need to consign cluster munitions to the pages of history."
