In 2007, Norway and a group of like-minded countries, who were dissatisfied with the efforts in the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) to address the unacceptable humanitarian harm caused by cluster munitions, convened an international meeting in Oslo that decided to conclude by 2008 an international instrument banning cluster munitions.  The draft Treaty that was produced, by what became known as the “Oslo Process”, was adopted at a conference in Dublin in May 2008. A signing ceremony was held in Oslo in the December of the same year. 

It was adopted on the 30th of May 2008 and opened for signature on the 3rd of December 2008. It was entered into force on the 1st of August 2010. Japan signed the Convention on Cluster Munitions (CCM) on the 3rd of December 2008 and ratified it on the 14th of July 2009.

A total of 118 states have joined the Convention, as 98 States parties and 20 Signatories (March 2016)

In order to address effectively the humanitarian problems caused by cluster munitions, the CCM prohibits the use, development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, possession and transfer, as well as obligates the destruction of cluster munition stockpiles.  Furthermore, it also establishes a framework for cooperation and assistance that ensures adequate provision of care and rehabilitation for victims.

19-20 May 2016: Intersessional Meetings of the Mine Ban Treaty, Geneva  

5-7 September 2016: 6th Meeting of States Parties to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, Geneva