Overview

The Convention on Cluster Munitions prohibits all cluster munitions deemed to cause unacceptable harm to civilians. It entered into force on 1 August 2010. As of 1 September 2011, 47 states signed the Convention and 63 are States Parties.

The impetus for the negotiation of the Convention was concern over the impact of these weapons on civilians. Norway launched the “Oslo Process” after discussions within the auspices of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) at the United Nations in Geneva failed to make progress on cluster munitions. The Oslo Process sought to negotiate and conclude a treaty outside of the CCW. It included a series of global conferences to discuss draft versions of the proposed Convention. The Second Meeting of States Parties took place in Lebanon from 12 to 16 September 2011. The Third Meeting of States Parties will take place in Oslo from 10 to 14 September 2012. In the meantime, an Intersessional meeting will take place in Geneva, from 16 to 19 April 2012.

• Second Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (September 2011)
  www.clusterconvention.org/msp/2msp/

• First Intersessional Meeting of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (June 2011)
  www.clusterconvention.org/work-programme/work-programme-2011/
  
  

• First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions (November 2010)
  www.clusterconvention.org/msp/1msp/
  
  
• Regional Conference on the Promotion and Universalization of the Convention on Cluster Munitions (November 2009)
  www.bali-ccm-conference.org
  
  
• Berlin Conference on the Destruction of Cluster Munitions (June 2009)
  www.berlin-ccm-conference.org