For decades, the use of cluster munitions has caused unacceptable humanitarian suffering, both during conflicts and long after hostilities have ceased, due to huge numbers of lethal, unexploded duds.
The Convention on Cluster Munitions was signed in Oslo on 3 December. Photo: John Andreas Poulsson
The Oslo Process
For many years, the international community had been unable to start a process towards an international ban on cluster munitions. However, in the autumn of 2006 the Norwegian Government announced an initiative that ultimately proved successful. Norway’s Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre invited all states who wanted to work towards a ban to a conference in Oslo. In close cooperation with humanitarian organisations, the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross, 46 states committed themselves to negotiate a legally binding instrument banning cluster munitions by the end of 2008.
The negotiations were concluded in May 2008, when over 100 states adopted the new Convention on Cluster Munitions in Dublin. The Convention is a complete and categorical ban on all cluster munitions, and it prohibits the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of such weapons.
Historic agreement
On 3 December, the Convention, which is the first humanitarian disarmament agreement to have been negotiated since the Mine Ban Convention in 1997, was opened for signature in Oslo. Norway’s Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg was the first to sign the Convention in Oslo City Hall.
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg signed the Convention on behalf of Norway in Oslo City Hall. Photo: Gunnar Mjaugedal / catchlight.no
“Today, we are a step closer to a safer and better world. Today we have prohibited cluster munitions for ever,” Mr Stoltenberg commented, with satisfaction.
Laos and Lebanon, two of the most severely affected states were also among the first to sign the Convention. During in the Signing Conference in Oslo, Afghanistan also decided to sign. The message from President Hamid Karzai was unexpected, and was received with cheers in Oslo City Hall. The fact that Afghanistan signed the Convention is particularly significant, because the country is seriously affected by cluster munitions, and because it is still ravaged by conflict.
Afghanistan was one of 94 countries to sign the Convention during the signing conference in Oslo. Photo: Gunnar Mjaugedal / catchlight.no
Assistance to victims and their communities
The 94 states that signed the Convention in Oslo, and all future signatories takes upon them the obligation to never use, produce, transfer or stockpile cluster munitions. They have also committed themselves to assist victims of cluster munitions, including their families and communities, and to clear cluster munitions remnants and to destroy stockpiles within set deadlines.
“Right now I am perhaps the happiest person in the world, even though I have been injured,” Serbian Branislav Kapetanovic (43) told the Norwegian News Agency (NTB). Mr Kapetanovic attended the signing ceremony himself, as a spokesperson for the Cluster Munition Coalition (CMC), a network of around 300 civil society organisations from more than 80 countries.
Branislav Kapetanovic from Serbia lost his hands and feet, as well as his sense of hearing in one ear and his eyesight for five months, when he was clearing unexploded duds eight years ago. Since then he has fought tirelessly for a ban of the weapons, along with other cluster munition victims. Photo: John Andreas Poulsson
The road ahead
The signing conference in Oslo is now over, but more countries are expected to sign the Convention at UN Headquarters in New York in the weeks and months ahead.
“Now the next phase begins, which will involve getting more countries to sign and step up the efforts to assist the victims of cluster munitions,” Norway’s Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre commented.
Norway, Ireland, Sierra Leone and the Holy See have already ratified the Convention. Mr Støre is optimistic, and hopes this will become a reality during the first half of 2009.