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 March 2013, 30 States have signed and 78 States have ratified or acceded to the Convention.
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 Convention was adopted on 30 May 2008 in Dublin, Ireland and signed on 3 December 2008 in Oslo, Norway. The Fourth Meeting of States Parties will take place in Zambia from 10 to 13 September 2013. In the meantime, an Intersessional Meeting will take place in Geneva, Switzerland, from 15 to 18 April 2013.
- Convention on Cluster Munition website
www.clusterconvention.org