Maat Issues Briefing Paper on Humanitarian and Human Rights Risks of Cluster Munitions Exports to Ukraine

Okeil: U.S. Government is Obligated to Disclose Details of Cluster Munitions Exports to Protect Civilians

Mokhtar: United States Insists on Violating International Humanitarian Law

Maat for Peace, Development, and Human Rights has issued a briefing paper titled "Humanitarian Impact of U.S. Cluster Munitions Exports to Ukraine" regarding the risks of exporting cluster munitions from United States to the Ukrainian armed forces. This was released in the context of the 2025 periodic meetings of the Convention on Cluster Munitions. The paper comes at a critical time, as humanitarian crises are escalating in conflict zones worldwide. Maat paper highlights that exporting cluster munitions to Ukraine raises numerous human rights concerns and serious humanitarian consequences, especially in the absence of adequate guarantees to regulate their use and avoid harm to civilians.

In this context, Ayman Okeil, Chairman of Maat, emphasized that exporting cluster munitions to Ukraine raises significant questions about the U.S. commitment to international humanitarian law. He asserted that relying on military necessity to justify the export of these weapons is inconsistent with the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law, pointing out that the lack of transparency from the U.S. government regarding the details of the munitions sent—such as failure rates and shelf life—poses an additional threat to civilians in Ukraine.

Furthermore, Mohamed Mokhtar, director of the International Humanitarian Law Unit at Maat, added that the prohibition on the use of cluster munitions in armed conflicts is a fundamental part of customary international humanitarian law due to the severe and indiscriminate harm these weapons cause to civilians. Despite this prohibition, United States has sent seven shipments of cluster munitions to Ukraine between July 2023 and October 2024, complicating the humanitarian situation and increasing the risk of injuries and fatalities among civilians.

Maat stresses the urgent need for measures to ensure transparency and accountability in the use of cluster munitions, calling on the U.S. government to strictly adhere to international humanitarian law and work to protect civilians in Ukraine from the devastating effects of these weapons.

Download File

Download File