Norwegian led cluster munitions ban a step closer

Moldova and Burkina Faso have become the latest countries to submit their instruments of ratification for the Norwegian-led Convention on Cluster Munitions during a United Nations meeting last week. The announcements mean that the mandatory minimum of thirty countries has now been reached, which will allow the new Convention to be implemented in August.

“It’s finally clear that the ban will take effect. Through this convention we’ve contributed to making the world safer, we’ve strengthened international humanitarian law and those affected will now finally get help,” said Jonas Gahr Store, the Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs. “Norway will in accordance with the Convention destroy all its cluster munitions in the course of the next few months. We will also contribute over NOK 100 million (USD 17 million) a year for de-mining efforts and help to the victims of cluster munitions,” said the Foreign Minister.

To date, 104 states have supported the international cluster munitions ban since the Convention opened to signatories on the 3rd of December, 2008. Under the Convention, all storage, use, transfer and production of cluster munitions is outlawed. Countries signing the agreement are also obligated to eliminate any stockpiles and assist other nations affected by the issue in the removal of the deadly devices that still exist on the ground. The Convention also ensures that victims of cluster munitions have the proper avenues for seeking help according to Norway.org. Of those 104 countries, 30 have now ratified the ban.

Dubbed the Oslo Process, The Convention on Cluster Munitions is a Norwegian initiative that was negotiated in 2008 in Dublin under a unique collaboration between the member states, humanitarian groups, the International Red Cross and the United Nations.