The Oslo Process, or The Oslo Conference on Cluster Munitions (OCCM), is a series of conferences aimed at producing an international ban on cluster bombs.

In November 2006 Norway declared that it would spearhead negotiations towards an international ban on cluster bombs following the failure of an arms control conference in Geneva to move against the weapons. Norway’s announcement was prompted by the failure of states parties to the 1980 Convention on Conventional Weapons (CCW) to agree to begin negotiations on cluster munitions.

Following the deadlock at the CCW Norway officially called on states, the International Committee on the Red Cross, and the relevant NGOs to draw up a legally-binding instrument specific to cluster bombs. The process formally began on 22 February 2007 when 49 states met in Oslo. Handicap International and numerous other non-governmental organizations and UN bodies were in attendance to inform and draw attention to the historical event.

The second meeting in a series of five took place in Lima from 23-25 May. This is to be followed by meetings in Vienna in December 2007, Wellington in February 2008 and finally Dublin in early 2008.

If subsequent summits are successful, it will mark a turning point in the history of international humanitarian law. A similar initiative by Canada in 1997 led to the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, which has now been signed by 154 countries.