Oslo Conference on Cluster Munitions, 22-23 February 2007

For more than 40 years, the use of cluster munitions has been the cause of unacceptable human suffering during and after conflicts throughout the world. The Oslo Conference on Cluster Munitions, 22-23 February 2007 was the first step in a process that could lead to an international ban on cluster munitions who causes unacceptable human suffering.

In the Norwegian Government’s view, certain types of cluster munitions have such serious humanitarian consequences that their use cannot be justified. Norway has therefore for several years promoted the need to start negotiations for an international ban on cluster munitions that have unacceptable humanitarian consequences. The present Norwegian Government has taken an active stance by including their commitment to work for an international ban on cluster munitions in their Government Platform.

When the States Parties to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons (CCW) failed in November 2006 to agree on a mandate to start real negotiations addressing the humanitarian problems cluster munitions causes, Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre invited interested states and organisations to a meeting in Oslo. The aim of the meeting is to start a process towards an international instrument on cluster munitions together with other concerned states and humanitarian actors.

The meeting was held in Oslo on 22 and 23 February, and was a first step in a process that could lead to an international ban on cluster munitions that causes unacceptable human suffering.

• Oslo Conference - Speeches and Statements
• Oslo Conference - Final declaration (pdf-format) (updated 23/2) (in french) (in Norwegian) (in Spanish)
• List of participants (updated 1/3) (pdf-format)
• Programme for "Oslo Conference on Cluster Munitions" (pdf-format) (Updated. 20/2)
• Background paper for the conference (pdf-format)
• Oslo Conference on Cluster Munitions - invitation (pdf-format)
• Media advisory
• The Norwegian Foreign Minister's opening statement (Web TV) 
• Press conference after opening statement (Web TV)
• Contact the secretariat of the conference