It is expected that this parliamentary decision might put pressure on the Dutch government to start negotiations with allies such as the United States and the United Kingdom in view of the dismantling of their uranium weapon arsenals.

The motion was submitted by Dutch MP Harry Van Bommel (SP, Socialist Party). “Already since many years, the Socialist Party advocates for a ban on these weapons systems, which have caused great harm among civilians and children in Iraq. The Dutch government will now be obliged to actively make efforts in pleading for a UK and US moratorium on uranium weapons,” Van Bommel explained. If these efforts happen to be fruitful, they could ultimately lead to a global ban of uranium weapons.

MP Krista van Velzen (SP) has been active for many years against the use of uranium weapons. Since 2004, together with the union of military personnel AFMP, she has advocated for the abolition of munitions that contain depleted uranium. She has organised many expert meetings, including one in the Second Chamber of the Parliament. In relation to the voting she commented: “This is a huge step forward. The Dutch government has been opposing a moratorium in a way that would not contradict the official view point of the US and the UK. The Second Chamber has now called on the Dutch government to play an active role in achieving a moratorium at an international level. I will remind the government of this subject,” she added.

Dutch NGO and ICBUW member IKV Pax Christi said that it was surprised and delighted by the acceptance of the motion and hoped that the government would quickly take steps to galvanize the initiative into concrete action within the international community.

IKV Pax Christi’s Wim Zwijnenburg, who is campaigning on this issue said: ”This motion is a recognition of the work done by several different national and international organisations and political parties, that have been pleading for more research and a stronger stance from the Dutch Government on the use and effects of these weapons.” He continued: “We believe that it is an ideal opportunity for the Dutch government to seek international support for banning uranium weapons whose potential health effects on civilians and the environment are a breach of international humanitarian law.”

IKV Pax Christi believes that diplomatic support for an international moratorium would send a strong signal to the users of uranium weapons. It would also show that the Netherlands take human security in armed conflict seriously.

Based on the latest up-to-date peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed scientific data, IKV Pax Christi is pleading for the following actions:

- An international moratorium on uranium weapons, using the precautionary principle as a compass, as long as there is no absolute clarity on the potential effects of uranium weapons on the human health and the environment.

- Support for cellular research and long-term and epidemiological studies in the affected areas to end the uncertainty over the effects of uranium weapons.

- The launch of negotiations towards a Uranium Weapons Convention, which will deal with the ban the testing, manufacture, sale, use, trade and transfer of uranium weapons, as well as providing victim assistance to the affected areas.

They are supported by the Dutch military trade union AFMP and ACOM, the Dutch Association of Medical Polemology and the Laka Research Foundation on Nuclear Issues.

See also

• 

  International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons

  Dutch NGO IKV Pax Christi launch 'Time for Clarity' - a report on uranium weapons

  On the 29th of June, IKV Pax Christi organized a seminar where they presented their report on the discussion on depleted uranium (DU), called ‘ Time for Clarity’. In this report, IKV Pax Christi is appealing to the Dutch government to implement a moratorium on uranium weapons, as well as promoting extended field and laboratory research on the effects of depleted uranium on human health and the environment.
  

  8 July 2009 - Wim Zwijnenburg