Convention on Cluster Munitions
The Convention on Cluster Munitions is an international law banning the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of cluster munitions.
The Convention (also known as the Oslo Treaty) was opened for signature in December 2008 in Oslo, Norway. It entered into force on 1st August 2010, and is now binding international law for all states who have signed.
States choose whether or not to sign up to the Convention. By joining it, countries commit to respect all the obligations it contains. As of 16th March 2011, 108 states have signed the Convention and 54 have ratified it.
A number of challenges remain, including universalisation of the Convention to include large non-signatory countries which continue to produce and stockpile cluster munitions, such as the U.S., Russia, India, China and Israel.
The states having signed the Convention represent:
- the majority of countries in Europe, Africa, Latin America and the Pacific
- most of the countries affected by cluster munitions
- the majority of the 27 members of the European Union
- most of the 28 members of NATO
- a third of countries having used cluster munitions
- 40% of countries having produced these weapons
- half of countries having exported them
- a third of stockpiling countries
Non-signatory States to the Convention represent:
- the majority of countries in Asia, Middle East, Northern Africa and the Caribbean
- nearly two third of countries having used cluster munitions
- two thirds of stockpiling countries, the biggest stockpilers being the United States, China and the Russian Federation
- 17 countries suspected of still producing cluster munitions in 2009
- Half of exporting countries, of which the largest are the Russian Federation and the United States. However the United States has passed a law to forbid the export of most of their cluster munitions
- Ban Cluster Bombs walk in Dublin May 2009 (c) Mette Eliseussen
Main commitments of the Convention
Article 1: General obligations
Each State Party undertakes never to:
- use, stockpile, produce and transfer cluster munitions
- assist, encourage or induce anyone to engage in any activity prohibited to a State Party.
Article 3: Storage and stockpile destruction
Each State Party undertakes to destroy all stockpiled cluster munitions under its jurisdiction and control as soon as possible but not later than 8 years after the entry into force of the Treaty for that country.
Article 4: Clearance
Each State Party must clear and destroy cluster munitions located in contaminated areas under its jurisdiction or control. This must be completed as soon as possible but not later than 10 years from the entry into force of the Treaty for this country.
Article 5: Victim assistance
Each State Party must provide assistance to cluster munition victims in areas under its jurisdiction or control.
This assistance covers:
- Data collection
- Healthcare
- Physical rehabilitation
- Psychological support
- Social and economic inclusion
- National laws and policies on disability
Article 6: International cooperation and assistance
Each State Party in a position to do so shall provide assistance to any other State Party on the overall obligations of this Treaty.
Article 7: Transparency measures
Each State Party must provide an annual report on its implementation of the Treaty, covering issues such as national implementation measures, quantity and type of weapons stockpiled and destruction of stockpile.
> CMC briefing paper on the Cluster Munition Convention
> CMC policy paper on the Cluster Munition Convention
